The Dance Vs Hell Freezes Over

David A · #1 11-21-2013, 07:47 PM

Ive always wondered, granted one was in 1997 and the other 1994. Which album/tour was better ? I would say the Eagles tour was better granted because they played a ton of dates more than The Dance

But album wise, its a tough call, Id say The Dance because it just seemed more personal, and I think the Eagles and Mac are the 1 and 2 best bands of all time, The Dance album to me is better and I think sold better

But my question, is which one helped them better going forward , another tough call, I think The Eagles could have came back anytime and been huge, however I think the power of The Dance , and all the stuff that came along with it, really helped FM have a future, meaning it game them oppurtunities, maybe a ton of missed ones as well, and also gave LB exposure to do solo records. So, im saying The Dance was more important for FM because its eventual succcess really allowed them to have a future, where as the Eagles could have come back whenever, and would have been big , and this is coming from a guy who thinks FM is better

FYI, say History Of The Eagles, and Frey and Henley are the bigees A HOLES ever, and I would say LB is a better guitarist than any of the Eagles players, even though Felder is damn good, just got Felders new solo album

The Eagles Vs Fleetwood Mac. wow what a match up

louielouie2000 · #2 11-21-2013, 08:21 PM

I agree with you on most all counts.

1. The Dance was far more pivotal to Fleetwood Mac's legacy & career than Hell Freezes Over was to the Eagles. I don't think the Eagles had ever gone out of fashion the way Fleetwood Mac did. By the 1990s, Fleetwood Mac could not have been less relevant or cool. The Dance single handedly changed the trajectory of the band. I think because the Eagles had been out of the spotlight for so very long, forged a timeless sound that was somewhat country, their return could have happened at any time and been HUGE. Fleetwood Mac kept on trudging through the 1980s & 1990s making progressively worse music, kept losing their biggest stars, and thus their image kept deteriorating. I don't think The Dance could have happened without Hell Freezes Over, either. It set the stage for a Fleetwood Mac return; it made 70s super bands cool again. Blondie followed suit with No Exit. The Go-Go's reunited later. The list goes on.

2. Regarding which album/reunion was better... again, I have to default to the Eagles. They did it first. They set the stage. Fleetwood Mac followed suit using the same exact formula. Because of this, the Dance reunion has always seemed a bit hokey to me. Believe me, at the time, I was completely bonkers that the Fireflies had reunited. I am still giddy about it nearly 17 years later. It just doesn't seem as organic as it could have been, though.

3. I do agree that Hell Freezes Over was a bit clinical. There has always been more emotion to Fleetwood Mac's live performances vs the Eagles. The Eagles have stated many times it's their preference to replicate their songs live as closely to the original recording as possible. Fleetwood Mac is far more jazz like in their approach to live music... their performances evolve & change. So even though the Eagles did it first & better, I still love Fleetwood Mac the most.

AnthonyMI · #3 11-22-2013, 10:15 AM

I think Elliot Schiener was producer of both shows. He is an unsung hero of FM in 1997. His production values really made The Dance sound like the OLD Fleetwood Mac. Special care was taken to make almost every song sound like the original as far as the instrumentation and vocals. A few songs were changed to give it a MTV Unplugged sound, but take Gypsy for example... when did FM EVER perform Gypsy pretty much note for note like the album version? Not even in 1982!

vivfox · #4 11-22-2013, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnthonyMI

take Gypsy for example... when did FM EVER perform Gypsy pretty much note for note like the album version? Not even in 1982!

Maybe this is the reason why I'm not fond of The Dance album(with the exception of Silver springs). The last thing I ever want to hear in a live setting is a note for note studio sounding song. I love the live versions where each track takes on a new life of its own.

PenguinHead · #5 11-25-2013, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivfox

Maybe this is the reason why I'm not fond of The Dance album(with the exception of Silver springs). The last thing I ever want to hear in a live setting is a note for note studio sounding song. I love the live versions where each track takes on a new life of its own.

I'm fully on board with those sentiments. Take for example the song Gypsy. If you had to select one representative live version (say, to put on a dream compilation live box set like Tom Petty did), would you choose the more refined version from The Dance (b-side), or the 1982 Mirage tour version, which is gritty, raw and has so much more power and emotion, with less instruments?

That's why I'm on the fence about all the backup musicians that a lot of groups bring on tour. It adds a lot to songs as much as it takes away the elements of nuance and edge. The performances become more rote, with little room for improvisation and variance.

TerraRhiannon · #6 11-25-2013, 10:12 AM

I own both these records, and DVDs, and I just have to share that the live versions from both of these albums of Silver Springs and Hotel California are two of my most favorite songs of all time. I vote for The Dance though.

chiliD · #7 03-08-2014, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivfox

The last thing I ever want to hear in a live setting is a note for note studio sounding song. I love the live versions where each track takes on a new life of its own.

EXACTLY the reason I can't stand the Eagles in concert! For what they charge for tickets, I could buy a bunch of Allman Bros live albums and hear 6 or 7 different versions of "Whipping Post" played on nearly consecutive nights.

BlueDenimLamp · #8 11-23-2013, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David A

The Eagles Vs Fleetwood Mac. wow what a match up

The Eagles "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" is tied with "Thriller" for the #1 spot with 29 million copies sold...

"Rumours" 19 million copies sold...

"Hotel California" 16 million copies sold...

Eagles "Greatest Hits II" 11 million copies sold...

RIAA

Villavic · #9 11-24-2013, 03:46 PM

Hard to ask that to a FM fan. I traveled thousand of miles to see The Reunion concert in 1997. Didn't do that for the Eagles reunion.

However, I do like far more the new songs of HFO than The Dance's.

lovethemac1 · #10 03-08-2014, 07:45 PM

But my question, is which one helped them better going forward , another tough call, I think The Eagles could have came back anytime and been huge, however I think the power of The Dance , and all the stuff that came along with it, really helped FM have a future, meaning it game them oppurtunities, maybe a ton of missed ones as well, and also gave LB exposure to do solo records. So, im saying The Dance was more important for FM because its eventual succcess really allowed them to have a future, where as the Eagles could have come back whenever, and would have been big , and this is coming from a guy who thinks FM is better

I agree 100%

FYI, say History Of The Eagles, and Frey and Henley are the bigees A HOLES ever, and I would say LB is a better guitarist than any of the Eagles players, even though Felder is damn good, just got Felders new solo album.

Just watched History of The Eagles, and read Heaven and Hell by Felder, I agree 100% that Frey and Henley are the biggest a**holes around, and I think it would soooo cool to see Felder and Lindsey on the same stage.