Tusk at 40: FM's defining record

[Macfan4life]

There is a similar theme I brought up in the Mirage thread about Stevie being used so little. IMHO, the Mac knew of Stevie's popularity and how the crowd roared when she spun around on stage or hit the bathroom when she left the stage. It annoyed them she sometimes would be referred to as the "lead singer' of Fleetwood Mac. I believe the band mostly from Lindsey went out of the way to make sure she was not seen controlling the band or as a lead singer. Stevie never had the lead single off any Fleetwood Mac album even after Christine left. Stevie never had the lead song off any album except one (Angel on Tusk which was a double album). Coincidence, I think not.
Things really got extreme during Mirage. Stevie just came off a hugely successful Bella Donna and the band was not going to budge but to give Stevie 3 songs.
Stevie had incredible material in 1982. The Mac created this wonderful demo of Sleeping Angel that she ended up recording almost exactly like the Mac demo and giving it away to Fast Times soundtrack. She had amazing demos like Smile At You yet they were passed over for Oh Diane? If the band was objective they would make sure the best songs went on the album even if it meant taking one song from Lindsey and give another spot to Stevie. But no way in hell they were going to showcase Stevie's songs after Bella Donna.