Analyzing album covers: Mirage

Villavic · #1 02-11-2013, 05:47 PM

Let's continue commenting an album cover. What you like, what you dislike, what you think about this, how a member looks, etc. This time, MIRAGE

Probably it's better to show the whole Mirage photo, I mean back an front, cause it's seems to be one unique long photograph.

Mick and John looks too formal dressed, accoding to the typical Fleetwood Mac look. However it may coincide with a phrase from Mick Fleetwood's book: "Gypsy" is one of Fleetwood Mac's greatest works of art; for me it really crystallises that whole period of the early 1980s, when we were in our mid-thirties and beginning to look back on our lost youth.

I never knew why they called it Mirage until I read the theory about the hidden old woman face in the handshake. Still not sure if that's the reason.

I'msoAfraid95 · #2 02-11-2013, 06:00 PM

Its kind of creepy. I think that's too dark of a photo for Fleetwood Mac.

Artemis · #3 02-11-2013, 06:18 PM

See, I really like the Mirage album cover... until I stare at it too long. Then the god-awful alteration job they did on Stevie's neck freaks me out. Not to mention the creepy old lady face in their hands.

Villavic · #4 02-11-2013, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artemis

. Then the god-awful alteration job they did on Stevie's neck freaks me out.

There is no alteration. The secret is revealed!! Stevie Nicks is a man!!

WatchChain · #5 02-11-2013, 06:20 PM

I've always loved the "Mirage" album cover. It's probably my 2nd favorite right below "Rumours". It has an elegant feel and I love the suits and formal feel. Up to this point, I don't think we'd seen this from some of the band members.....For example, we finally get John out of beach clothing. As the previous poster commented, it does have a dark feeling to it, but the band has produced many tunes full of darkness and mystery.

The most obvious interpretation is what appears to be a vampire theme. Are Chris and Lindsey preparing to bring Stevie to "the other side"? Stevie looks absolutely stunning. Chris and Lindsey finally get an album cover, as up to this point, they were the two members who had never appeared on a cover.

Andrew Smith · #6 02-11-2013, 06:40 PM

I've always seen this album as the forgotten Fleetwood Mac album. Whenever I watch a documentary on FM, the Mirage album is hardly ever mentioned. I happen to think that it's one of their best albums. I would even go as far as saying that it's as good as Rumours. I know some people may not agree, but that's just my opinion.

cantgoback · #7 02-11-2013, 06:52 PM

At first glance, it's a really cool cover but then you see Stevie's neck and long skeleton arm and you're like "what were they thinking?" but it's alright.

WatchChain · #8 02-11-2013, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Smith

I've always seen this album as the forgotten Fleetwood Mac album. Whenever I watch a documentary on FM, the Mirage album is hardly ever mentioned. I happen to think that it's one of their best albums. I would even go as far as saying that it's as good as Rumours. I know some people may not agree, but that's just my opinion.

This comment is quite interesting. While I've always loved the "Mirage" album, I never thought of it that way. As a child in 1982, "Mirage" was in heavy rotation on my record player. I wore it out for about 2 years, then, put it away. Though I own a copy on cd, I have not listened to it in entirety for MANY YEARS. I just popped it in. While I'm not sure it's as great at "Rumours", it's a brilliant record. It's all coming back to me now and you make a strong point. It is the forgotten record, but it stands the test of time. There are MANY standout cuts that were NEVER played in concert or on the radio........"THATS ALRIGHT", "BOOK OF LOVE", "WISH YOU WERE HERE", "ONLY OVER YOU", "STRAIGHT BACK", "CANT GO BACK"...........Some of these deserve to see the light of day and be added to the 2013 set list.
If Chris decides to come on stage in England, her sitting alone at the piano singing "Wish You Were Here" would be beautiful. Would love to hear Stevie and Lindsey harmonize on "CANT GO BACK".........

michelej1 · #9 02-11-2013, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WatchChain

Are Chris and Lindsey preparing to bring Stevie to "the other side"?

Yes the conspiracy between Lindsey and Christine is a focal point. All 5 of the Macsters look good on the cover as well. It's my favorite.

As for the title, I would think it has something to do with the band and some sort of conversation they had and not the old lady puzzle.

I like the way that title is played out in the Hold Me video with the desert. For me, the idea is not only that things are not what they seem, but that you want something that really doesn't exist. You've deluded yourself into thinking it's within grasp and it's not. Like water in the Mohabi. You want it, need it, but it's inaccessible. The thing is, it doesn't seem hopeless, it only seems elusive and you feel if you just tried hard enough it could be yours. That's the cruelest of all, because it can't be.

Michele

FierySequences · #10 02-12-2013, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelej1

Yes the conspiracy between Lindsey and Christine is a focal point. All 5 of the Macsters look good on the cover as well. It's my favorite.

As for the title, I would think it has something to do with the band and some sort of conversation they had and not the old lady puzzle.

I like the way that title is played out in the Hold Me video with the desert. For me, the idea is not only that things are not what they seem, but that you want something that really doesn't exist. You've deluded yourself into thinking it's within grasp and it's not. Like water in the Mohabi. You want it, need it, but it's inaccessible. The thing is, it doesn't seem hopeless, it only seems elusive and you feel if you just tried hard enough it could be yours. That's the cruelest of all, because it can't be.

Michele

Yep, hammer to nail head, you hit it. Obviously, Hold Me (video) was inspired by the title or vice versa. Also inspired by the lost love, or something you can't touch. Even if Nancy Buckingham inspired the title, I think that the feel of the album is very much Old Hollywood. think Debbie Reynolds/Liz Taylor. Even if the band didn't know exactly what they were doing (image wise) the photographer/videographer translated the album perfectly.

Villavic · #11 02-12-2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FierySequences

Even if Nancy Buckingham inspired the title, I think that the feel of the album is very much Old Hollywood. think Debbie Reynolds/Liz Taylor.

Mick wrote in his book: Tired of being typecast as the archetypalno rthern California hippie, Lindsey had now veered from his New Wave sound into a 1955 Eddie Cochrane rock and roll feel.

And about Hold me song, and the videos: Chris's songs, especially "Hold Me," reflected her bittersweet reflections on her relationship with Dennis Wilson, which had almost resulted in marriage but had ended instead the previous December, when Dennis had moved out of Chris's house and her life...
..... It didn't hurt that Rolling Stone had crowned Stevie "The Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll," and that a new cable television channel called MTV was broadcasting our new videos ("Hold Me" set in desert dunes, "Gypsy" in a Stevie fantasy world) to the American suburbs twenty-four hours a day. Mirage went to number one, and it felt great to be back on top for a while.

bluecalmsea · #12 02-11-2013, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WatchChain

I've always loved the "Mirage" album cover. It's probably my 2nd favorite right below "Rumours". It has an elegant feel and I love the suits and formal feel. Up to this point, I don't think we'd seen this from some of the band members.....For example, we finally get John out of beach clothing. As the previous poster commented, it does have a dark feeling to it, but the band has produced many tunes full of darkness and mystery.

Totally agree! I like the darkness/drama/romance feel of the whole thing. Very much like many of their songs. Love this cover

Jondalar · #13 02-11-2013, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluecalmsea

Totally agree! I like the darkness/drama/romance feel of the whole thing. Very much like many of their songs. Love this cover

Darkness and Drama is what it is

I'msoAfraid95 · #14 02-11-2013, 09:24 PM

I don't see the face either.

britt0308 · #15 02-11-2013, 07:05 PM

beginning to look back on our lost youth.

Always thought the above was a very poignant phrase. Or statement for that matter.

I never knew why they called it Mirage until I read the theory about the hidden old woman face in the handshake

Can anyone elaborate on this? I don't recall that theory..

Edited: nevermind the "face" in the joined hands..got it!