Quote:
Originally Posted by WatchChain
See the big picture is exactly right. More than just selling records, Fleetwood Mac should be focused on creating their FINAL artistic masterpiece. It is entirely possible. At this stage in their career, these iconic legends of rock and roll should not be worried about Top 40 pop hit records and selling millions of copies. Their status has already been cemented. Why not take the high road and create a beautifully layered album that will stand as a masterpiece? Another "Tusk" is within their reach.
For example, when Bob Dylan was nearly 57 years old, he created one of the greatest albums of his career in "Time Out Of Mind". For many fans and critics, the album marked Dylan's artistic comeback after he appeared to struggle with his musical identity throughout the 1980s. "Time Out of Mind" is hailed as one of Dylan's best albums, and it went on to win three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year in 1998. It was also ranked in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003. The record included some of his most sublime songs including "Not Dark Yet" and "To Make You Feel My Love". QUESTION: Do you think Dylan was worried about Top 40 hits and record sales at that stage in his career? I think not. Dylan's status as a legend had already been established. Similar examples include Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around" and Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" (both produced by Rick Rubin). These men were making the greatest music of their careers as older artists who cared little about "record sales".
Thus, back to Fleetwood Mac. For anyone in this group to care about record sales and Top 40 hits at 70 years old is DEMEANING! It's beneath them to strive for huge record sales that will never come. They are millionaires many times over and can still fill arenas rehashing their old dinosaur hits. If they care ANYTHING about their artistic legacy and leaving behind some sense of respect, they will immediately set about making a serious, layered, artistic record with a groundbreaking studio producer.
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Yes, they need to think about their overall legacy. Sadly I often think Stevie feels like she's made her legacy, and somehow that legacy will be tainted if she does things that don't sell in the same numbers. Very short-term thinking. Right now the historical perspective will be on albums, because concerts live on in the minds of those who attended, and in published reviews, but really it's the albums that people in the future will have access to to try and understand why someone was so popular "back in the day". I for instance can't fully understand how crazy Sinatra fever was back in the day and the girls screaming at his concerts etc but I can listen to his records and understand what his amazing talent was, and then from there imagine why people went nuts to see him live. A big part of Stevie's legacy, and one she put a LOT of energy into, is her visual image. She's spent gazillions of hours in front of mirrors perfecting poses and outfits and makeup etc.... I'd like her now to put a lot of that energy into songs. In her early days, the songs got more of her energy.
