Gwen Stefani/Long Way To Go

[Mageboy25]

Well I was just looking at Gwen Stefani's new solo album tracklistings. Her last track is Long Way To Go. OFCOURSE if this was the 1st single off of Stevie's TOSOFM it maybe would of sold better. Maybe it would of sold better, maybe it wouldn't of. Oh well I guess Gwen's song is totally different I guess (haven't heard the album yet)...........

[ShangriLaTroubl]

I dont think it wouldve done any better. Rooms on Fire was the perfect single for radio..sometimes albums just arent smashes no matter what single you pull..

Everyone said "if thrown down was a single Say You Will would sell much better." Well they did release it as a single to radio, and it did nothing

Chris

[skcin]

Everyone said "if thrown down was a single Say You Will would sell much better." Well they did release it as a single to radio, and it did nothing

Chris

I stand by my opinion that it would have done MUCH better had it not been released at the exact time that most radio stations that would have played it went to their annual "all Christmas" format! :mad:

Paula

[dissention]

I dont think it wouldve done any better. Rooms on Fire was the perfect single for radio..sometimes albums just arent smashes no matter what single you pull..

I think it would have done much better if LWTG was the first single. Rooms On Fire isn't a rocker and this was the point in her career where she had shifted from being a tough female rocker to being a an ultra-feminine love fairy. She needed to jolt her audience and Rooms On Fire just didn't do that very well. But, then again, LWTG wasn't very representative of the album, so it might have been a mistake. Who knows?

Everyone said "if thrown down was a single Say You Will would sell much better." Well they did release it as a single to radio, and it did nothing

Chris

Whoever said that must have had their CoCoa Puffs whizzed in. Thrown Down was a terrible choice for a single, it's the epitome of Adult Contemporary sludge. They needed to release something provocative to radio and they failed three times. They needed to prove that they were still fresh and capable of kicking ass and as good as some of the singles are as songs, they just don't cut the mustard elsewhere. They should've gone balls to the wall and released Miranda or Running Through the Garden or Come; something different. The audience for classic rock stations would be listening to Skynyrd and then Thrown Down would come on and they'd roll their eyes.

[Johnny Stew]

I think "Rooms On Fire" was a great first single for 'The Other Side Of The Mirror.' It possesses vivid imagery and a terrific chorus, along with other hallmarks of a strong single (and here in the Pittsburgh area, it won our local Top 40 station's "Battle Of The New Sounds" for three or four weeks in a row).

The ball was dropped when "Two Kinds Of Love" was released as the second single though. It wasn't a strong enough song, and Bruce Hornsby's popularity had already waned considerably by that point, so his presence wasn't going to boost its airplay potential.

"Whole Lotta Trouble" should have been the second single, with "Long Way To Go" as the third.

[amber]

Miranda or Running Through the Garden or Come; something different. .
My exact choices as well. Although i do Looooove thrown down, I think it should've been one of these. Come woulda kicked.

[joe68]

What about Ooh My Love?

[ontheEdgeof17]

I think "Rooms On Fire" was a great first single for 'The Other Side Of The Mirror.' It possesses vivid imagery and a terrific chorus, along with other hallmarks of a strong single (and here in the Pittsburgh area, it won our local Top 40 station's "Battle Of The New Sounds" for three or four weeks in a row).

The ball was dropped when "Two Kinds Of Love" was released as the second single though. It wasn't a strong enough song, and Bruce Hornsby's popularity had already waned considerably by that point, so his presence wasn't going to boost its airplay potential.

"Whole Lotta Trouble" should have been the second single, with "Long Way To Go" as the third.


Nah. Long Way To Go should have been the first, with Rooms on Fire as the second single. Nothing else on the album is single-worthy. WLT as the third, but like then, it wouldn't do well.

[Johnny Stew]

Whoever said that must have had their CoCoa Puffs whizzed in. Thrown Down was a terrible choice for a single, it's the epitome of Adult Contemporary sludge. They needed to release something provocative to radio and they failed three times. They needed to prove that they were still fresh and capable of kicking ass and as good as some of the singles are as songs, they just don't cut the mustard elsewhere. They should've gone balls to the wall and released Miranda or Running Through the Garden or Come; something different. The audience for classic rock stations would be listening to Skynyrd and then Thrown Down would come on and they'd roll their eyes.

Despite your dislike of that song, I have talked to a good many "casual fans" who love "Thrown Down."
Paula is right... Warner Bros. screwed up royally when they released it right as its target formats were switching over to Christmas music.
It wouldn't have been a "smash single" to rival FM's highest charters, but it would have done quite well for itself if the timing had been better.

I disagree with anyone who feels that Fleetwood Mac should avoid appealing to the Adult Contemporary audience.
Now, I'm not saying they should craft their songs to INTENTIONALLY fit into the AC format (*gag* Phil Collins *gag*)... but if they have a few songs on an album which fit the format, then, by all means, they should release them to AC.
The people who listen to AC stations make up a core group of their audience, and they should be courted, too... rather than just assuming they'll automatically by the album.

But I do agree, however, that "Miranda" should have been a single.
"Everybody Finds Out" should have, as well (though I'm less enthusiastic about "Running Through The Garden" or "Come" as singles).

This album contains quite a number of songs that fit quite a number of formats, and Warners could have easily promoted the album with multi-format appeal, rather than focusing in on any one target audience.

[Johnny Stew]

Nah. Long Way To Go should have been the first, with Rooms on Fire as the second single. Nothing else on the album is single-worthy. WLT as the third, but like then, it wouldn't do well.

Well, given that "Rooms" is catchier, it probably would have still done quite well, even as the second single behind "Long Way To Go"... so that would have probably worked well.

I think "Whole Lotta Trouble" died on the vine because the momentum of the album was destroyed by "Two Kinds Of Love."
Had it followed "Rooms," it would have done quite well, IMHO.

[Johnny Stew]

What about Ooh My Love?

"Ooh My Love" might have made an interesting dark horse choice for a single. Edited down a little though, of course.

(I love that song.)

[Johnny Stew]

Come woulda kicked.

Yep... the bucket. :laugh:

Sorry, I just don't see "Come" having legs as a single. I honestly don't see even Classic Rock or Alternative Rock stations picking that one up to any major degree.

When I played it for my brother... the alternative rock guru... he turned his nose up and said, "way too overproduced." And that was that. :shrug:

Now "Murrow," on the other hand, might have worked. But then, I'm biased, because I think "Murrow" is one of the Top 5 best songs Lindsey Buckingham has ever recorded. :)

[AliceLover]

Wait so did Gwen do a cover of Stevies Long Way to Go?

I can't really talk about OSOTM thing because I love everysong on that album.

Jimmy

[dissention]

But I do agree, however, that "Miranda" should have been a single.
"Everybody Finds Out" should have, as well (though I'm less enthusiastic about "Running Through The Garden" or "Come" as singles).

Releasing EFO as a single would have killed them. They would have been laughed off the airways. That song is an acquired taste in fan circles. :laugh:

I can only speak from what I've heard on the radio in Western Mass and the Boston areas, but they rarely played the actual singles that were released. Come was big on lots of playlists, as were Miranda and, to a lesser degree, Running Through the Garden. I only assume that they got a positive response because those were the ones I heard the most.

Out of all the songs on the album, they went for the three safest, most mainstream ones. They could have tried something a new and actually gotten a few more copies sold if they had released different singles. The ones they released just seemed as if they were made to cater to the AC audience and no one else. Peacekeeper, the biggest single, was even changed dramatically from the original version and smacks of AC cheese at times, IMO.

[GateandGarden]

Nah. Long Way To Go should have been the first, with Rooms on Fire as the second single. Nothing else on the album is single-worthy. WLT as the third, but like then, it wouldn't do well.I think a single version of "Juliet" might have worked.

Hillary

[strandinthewind]

I think EFO sould have worked if they remixed it and took out some of that silly comp. "One of Our Submarines" (kudos to anyone who gets that reference :laugh: ) voice. It is downright danceable IMO.

Also, I think PK and more so SYW (the song) would have been better received had it not been for the millions who saw them in that AWFUL Good Morning America performance when, and I LOVE him, LB was way off key and Stevie stood there in a coat and barely moved because it was like 30 degrees. The Leno show did not help matters either. They appeared too stiff - almost drab. So, while I love them, I think some energy in those performcance could have significantly helped. I mean I had at least 20 people who know I am a HUGE fan tell me how sorry they were about the GMA performace alone and that it was embarrasing :eek:

Note: I love FM, but sometimes they are allowed to fall and they did then.

[Johnny Stew]

Releasing EFO as a single would have killed them. They would have been laughed off the airways. That song is an acquired taste in fan circles. :laugh:Yeah, but I usually consider the source when it comes to the ones who grumble about that song. ;)

In my opinion, Stevie wrote one hell of a song (and nails it with her delivery), and Lindsey did a sublime production job on it.

I think anyone who complains that it sounds "too '80s," is missing the point. I believe those retro-sounding touches were intentional, and, for me, it adds even more to the charm of the song.

By the way, I'm not talking Rock/Classic Rock stations when I say that "EFO" should have been released... I think it should have been serviced to Top 40 radio, where No Doubt, Sugar Ray, and a few others have had major hits with '80s-tinged singles.

And remixed, it would have been a MAJOR dance-club hit.

I can only speak from what I've heard on the radio in Western Mass and the Boston areas, but they rarely played the actual singles that were released. Come was big on lots of playlists, as were Miranda and, to a lesser degree, Running Through the Garden. I only assume that they got a positive response because those were the ones I heard the most.

Out of all the songs on the album, they went for the three safest, most mainstream ones. They could have tried something a new and actually gotten a few more copies sold if they had released different singles. The ones they released just seemed as if they were made to cater to the AC audience and no one else. Peacekeeper, the biggest single, was even changed dramatically from the original version and smacks of AC cheese at times, IMO.

I'm really impressed those three songs got airplay in your area. Around here, I only heard "Peacekeeper," "Say You Will" and "Thrown Down."
I never heard "Steal Your Heart Away" or anything else.

I mainly agree with you, in that I feel they should always push the envelope a little when it comes to one or two of the singles from each album... but, I don't think they should avoid the AC/mainstream audience altogether.

In my personal opinion, I think Warner Bros. felt that, because they didn't have a bankable Christine McVie-penned hit single, they needed to play it safe, to show that FM still had their pop-sensibilities even without Christine.

Not that they were correct in feeling they had to do that, just that I think it was their line of thinking when it came to promoting this album.

[dissention]

Yeah, but I usually consider the source when it comes to the ones who grumble about that song. ;)

In my opinion, Stevie wrote one hell of a song (and nails it with her delivery), and Lindsey did a sublime production job on it.

I think anyone who complains that it sounds "too '80s," is missing the point. I believe those retro-sounding touches were intentional, and, for me, it adds even more to the charm of the song.

By the way, I'm not talking Rock/Classic Rock stations when I say that "EFO" should have been released... I think it should have been serviced to Top 40 radio, where No Doubt, Sugar Ray, and a few others have had major hits with '80s-tinged singles.

And remixed, it would have been a MAJOR dance-club hit.

I think that's where it would have flourished, in dance clubs. I don't think it would have made an impression elsewhere. :sorry: But, I love the song, so it doesn't matter. One of her best vocals in twenty years.

[strandinthewind]

I think that's where it would have flourished, in dance clubs. I don't think it would have made an impression elsewhere. :sorry: But, I love the song, so it doesn't matter. One of her best vocals in twenty years.

Yep - and if La Nicks had been IMO (which is all that matters :rolleyes: :laugh: ) smart(er :cool: ) - she would have had the fresh out of rehap La Young and maybe some hot, up and coming dance DJ over and made KILLER versions on RTTG, EFO, and perhaps Illume - I mean I can hear Illume Illume Illume a la "You won't forget You won't forget You won't forget"

I mean Stevie has a HUGE gay fan base that was only expanded with the HUGE success of the POTU remix :shrug: But, I could NEVER see LB doing that - EVER :laugh:

[dissention]

But, I could NEVER see LB doing that - EVER :laugh:

"...don't come come come come come come..." I can imagine hearing that in a club. :laugh:

[strandinthewind]

"...don't come come come come come come..." I can imagine hearing that in a club. :laugh:

Lord - considering some of the dance floors in some of the clubs/parties where it would be played :eek: :eek: :eek:

:laugh: :laugh:

[dissention]

Lord - considering some of the dance floors in some of the clubs/parties where it would be played :eek: :eek: :eek:

:laugh: :laugh:

Oy, I'd hate to see the bathroom at the end of the night.

[amber]

"...don't come come come come come come..." I can imagine hearing that in a club. :laugh:
That would be great!!!! Thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump...
I'd be dancing my ass off...

[Dreammms]

lol :laugh:

amber i love your new signature

sexy :xoxo:

[amber]

lol :laugh:

amber i love your new signature

sexy :xoxo:
:xoxo: now that you said that, i love you... :laugh: :laugh:
sesly, thanks.

[MacMan]

In Canada... The next single off of OSOTM, or a track that was played on radio over and over was "Ghost"! Never heard Two Kinds of Love or Whole Lotta Trouble at all. But Ghost sounded pretty good coming over the airwaves

[amber]

I think Ghosts would have made a great single (I know Diss would dissagree...). IMO it should've been like this: Long Way To Go, Rooms on Fire, Ghosts or Ooh My Love.

Two kinds of Love should never have been released, or recorded for that matter! :nod:

by the way, I like your pic Amber! Smokin' :wavey:
thanks, moon! :xoxo: I concur, only, transferred to mean your sig! Wait, should i be worried that i've got compliments from all the gay boys???? :laugh: :p
You really hate TKOL that much? it's not my fav, but it does have a good harmony...

[celestenadia]

I think a single version of "Juliet" might have worked.

Hillary

One of my all time favs of TOSOTM...however IMHO I don't find it single worthy. One of the things I like about TOSOTM is the running order/track listing and I'll bet our Stevie did it.
I think that ROF was the most logical pick.
What I find REALLY funny is how The Strokes latest disc it entitled Room on Fire. TOO funny.
I do agree that "Two Kinds of Love" is kinda lame:( The "bridge" is like its only saving grace.
I myself am going through a phase where "Doing The Best That I Can" is on repeat, CONSTANTLY.

Regarding the Say You Will single tangent, I can honestly admit that the track that sorta knocked my socks of on first listen was "Miranda". If they really wanted to "push the envelope" they shoulda spit that one out first.
I'm still mourning "Smile At You". I think a "proper" rendition ala the "non-angry" version coulda transferred live almost to the extent of "Silver Springs". I've even given the demo version to some pedestrian youngens whose virgin Mac purchase was SYW and they're FLOORED by the older version....

[skcin]

I myself am going through a phase where "Doing The Best That I Can" is on repeat, CONSTANTLY.

.

I NEVER, EVER tire of this song - the vocal performance ("here it is...in little pieces" is genius), the lyrics and that haunting music. Love it.

"ahh-hah...AHH-HAH!"

Paula

[kak125]

Yeah I am totally in love with Doing The Best That I Can. It is my favorite song from TOSOTM. I love everything about it and it is such a personal and honest song.

[SuzeQuze]

My exact choices as well. Although i do Looooove thrown down, I think it should've been one of these. Come woulda kicked.

Totally!!! Then the story about the song would have had to come out which would have made it ultra popular! A girl can dream...

I also love Thrown Down and wanted it to be a single. I love Lindsey's guitar work on that one. It is a bit of a sleeper though but it is sentimental and that's why I like it. Did anyone else see the scene on Friends when this song was played?

[amber]

Totally!!! Then the story about the song would have had to come out which would have made it ultra popular! A girl can dream...

I also love Thrown Down and wanted it to be a single. I love Lindsey's guitar work on that one. It is a bit of a sleeper though but it is sentimental and that's why I like it. Did anyone else see the scene on Friends when this song was played?
Yeah, definitely happy bonus friends viewing.

[SuzeQuze]

Yeah, definitely happy bonus friends viewing.

That was so cool, I get so excited when Stevie songs come on TV, you would think they were MY songs! :D

[Johnny Stew]

Just wanted to express my love for "Doing The Best That I Can."

In my opinion, it's one of Stevie's finest moments, period... and one of the instances on 'Mirror' where the marriage between Stevie's songs and Rupert Hine's production, clicked. :)

[ricohv]

In my love for OSOTM I just wanted to remind everyone that Rooms on Fire actually went to #1 on the "ROCK" music chart of Billboard, which i think at the time was based on airplay alone at rock and aor stations. Long Way to Go went to the top 10 in that same chart, and therefore to me seemed the logical choice as the next single. If it's already getting played enough on the radio to be in the top 10 on the rock chart then many people would recognize it and it might have been as big or bigger than ROF on the pop chart. I don't mind 2KOL, but I beleive that choice as a single killed any momentum OSOTM had. Especially since ROF was a small hit on the pop charts (#16 I think?), I think they needed the follow up single to be a strong, obvious choice...and with the airplay LWTG was getting, it was really the best choice, whether its your personal choice or an album favorite or whatever. I really like WLT-I dont know if it could've worked on radio -but it came too late. Does anyone remember that WLT was nominated for a Grammy for Female Rock Vocal performance? Weird, huh? The video to WLT was good too-a pretty snappy live performance, with Stevie looking great in top hat and boots doing the cute "bouncing around in the boots" dance that sadly we will never see again-I mean, she didn't even bounce in the orthopedic tennies, but I'd better not get started on that.... Ricoh

[Sorcerer386]

The thing with TKOL, I think, is that it works perfectly within the album and it's format, but taken out of the album it just fails to produce much. The saxophone worked for Talk to Me, but doesn't do so much for TKOL. I know WLT failed to sell well, which is way it didn't do anything on Billboard, but wasn't it played a lot? I remembered it VERY slightly when I heard it whenever it was that I bought OSOTM (probably around '98 or '99), and considering that I would have been 8 when it was released, that should say that it was played at least somewhat frequently. As for Ooh My Love, i used to think it should have been a single, and I still kind of do, but I think ROF, LWTG, and WLT would have been the best singles. OML should have been a live song though, definitely.

As for the SYW singles, I think EFO screams of what pop-rock is like today. If What You Waiting For by Gwen Stefani is a hit (which, btw, I LOVE this song and LOVE the video even more), then EFO probably would have been. The only thing is FM would have had to reach out to a new audience, and I don't think anyone wanted to bank on it. EFO certainly wouldn't have faired well if marketed toward the AC group like the rest of the album was.

[Johnny Stew]

I know WLT failed to sell well, which is way it didn't do anything on Billboard, but wasn't it played a lot? I remembered it VERY slightly when I heard it whenever it was that I bought OSOTM (probably around '98 or '99), and considering that I would have been 8 when it was released, that should say that it was played at least somewhat frequently.

"Whole Lotta Trouble" received a pretty decent amount of radio play around here (I never heard "Long Way To Go" though).
Our local stations picked up on it around the time "Two Kinds Of Love" was released, but by the time "Whole Lotta Trouble" was released as an official single four months later, our stations had pretty much moved on.

"Two Kinds Of Love" didn't get played a lot around here (certainly not in comparison to "Rooms On Fire" or even "Whole Lotta Trouble"), but it was played occasionally. In fact, my mom's boss asked me about the song because she had heard it on the radio, and she ended up buying the cassette single (though I tried to get her to buy the entire album *lol*).

[whitesoxx]

Back to the original topic of this thread: Gwen Stefani's "Long Way To Go" is NOT a cover of Stevie's song!

Rick

PS "Doing The Best That I Can" has made me cry on more than one occasion, IMO it's one of Stevie's most haunting songs...

[flyfirefly]

Hah, I replied here to say the same thing. This thread is really off-topic.

But just to reiterate, no Gwen Stefani's "Long Way to Go" is not a cover. Woah, by far. Produced by Outkast's Andre 3000, if you want to imagine Stevie in that scenario. Stefani's album is pretty awesome though. In stores today.