Question about "Cleaning Lady" version of Sara

[ERigby818]

Who is the woman singing backups/harmony in the "cleaning lady" version of Sara? Somebody is singing "heartbeat" "ooh-aah" and "laces" in the background and I can't figure out who it is.
It's not Christine, It sounds like it might be Sharon, which is possible since Bella Donna was already in the works around then, but it doesn't sound like Lori. I though maybe it could be Stevie's pal Sara Recor? I don't know what she sounds like. I'd offer to email for those who haven't heard it but the file is too darn big.
Thanks!
-Sonia

[Johnny Stew]

The "cleaning lady" demo of "Sara" has been the subject of some heated discussion in the past. Some people feel that those background vocals have to be Lindsey and Christine... feeling that Fleetwood Mac would have never had Stevie's background singers on one of their tracks.

Others feel it has to be either Sharon, or Lori, or both... since the vocals don't sound like Chris or Lindsey.

I feel that both sides of the argument are right.
IMHO, I think some of those backing vocals we hear definitely belong to Sharon (and probably Lori).

Stevie met Sharon in Hawaii in 1978, so they were already working together... and Stevie knew Lori thru Lori's then-husband, Gordon Perry, who had a studio in Dallas... which is, in fact, where the original demo for "Sara" was recorded (this tidbit was revealed when a woman from Grand Rapids, MI. tried to sue Stevie in 1980, claiming that she had written "Sara." At one point during the case, Stevie presented her first demo of the song, which was recorded in TX., in 1978, at Gordon Perry's studio).

Since the "cleaning lady" version is merely a working demo that the Mac were obviously adding tracks to, I don't see why it *couldn't* be "the girls."
We know now that, at this point in time, Stevie was recording her demos seperate from the band, and we also know that FM used her basic piano demo to record around (Yep, the piano-line in "Sara" is played by Stevie, not Christine).
And none of the background vocal parts in question are in the final mix of the song... which would make sense, given the valid opinion that the Mac would not have had Stevie's background singers on one of their albums at the time.

So basically, it seems that the "cleaning lady" version is a hybrid of Stevie's original demo, recorded in Dallas, TX., and the instrumentation Fleetwood Mac was adding to it.
Eventually, those particular background vocals were stripped away, and the song was edited down to the version we hear on Tusk.



Hope that explains it!
Johnny Stew

[ERigby818]

Wow. You always have answers to all my questions! Thanks!
-Sonia

[ricohv]

Is that version or the "16 minute-epic" version posted anywhere? I keep hearing about them but never seem to find them anywhere. Especially the 16 min. one w/ supposedly all sorts of additional lyrics. And was it the Tango tour (I think) that was the last tour that song was played live? Anyone ever heard that or seen that live version posted anywhere? Sara is probably my favorite song but it seems to always allude me as far as finding live or different versions....I heard there was a f*ckin' groove dance mix of that song on AudioGalaxy but I am apparently not computer savvy enough to figure out how to use AudioGalaxy!

[joe]

I'm glad this was brought up as i have had the same question for some time now. For some reason i believe this is Sharon in the background. It doesn't sound like Chris or Lindsey. Also, I believe the "demo" that was recorded in Texas was the one where it was just Stevie and a piano track which i found on a bootleg...in that recording, you hear Stevie comparing the song to "Be My Baby" ("Ronnie and the Ronnettes')...which it is very similar...the chord structure is the same (during 'drowning in the sea of love...' parts...try singing 'be my baby' to it or vice versa and you'll see!)

The cleaning lady version is actually a stripped down and unedited version of the final song...i believe there are two piano tracks...Stevie is playing on one and Chris (or Lindsey or Stevie) is playing on the other...Put the record on (the released version) and listen to the left channel and then the right channel and you hear two different piano tracks. You'll see!

Personally, i like the added "i care..." at the end of the "Hold on...the night is coming" verse"...i thought it was a nice touch...

Also, i always used to turn the volume up to 10 when the song faded out (of the album version) to hear any 'extra' stuff...i'm glad this bootleg surfaced...it's my FAVORITE song. I just wish Stevie would find it in her heart to do it once more live. I could die a happy man... =)

PS..how about that St Louis version (Tusk tour documentary)???
What magic!!!

[AmbrFireflie]

Sharon and Lori

[Sorcerer386]

And was it the Tango tour (I think) that was the last tour that song was played live?

Actually Sara was last in the actual set list of the Rock a Little tour, which later was dropped from the set. Then, she opened one Fleetwood Mac Behind the Mask show in New Jersey with Sara, and that's the last anyone has heard of it. I've been trying for months now to get a copy of that last live version of Sara...can't seem to find it anywhere. If anyone actually has the whole New Jersey show on video, please pm me if you would be willing to copy it (a two for one type thing)...that is, unless the quality is poor.

As far as the extra lyrics are concerned, my favorite line from Sara isn't in "Sara," but only the Cleaning Lady version. The line, Dreaming, and the wind became crazy..." I don't know why, but I love that line.