Save Me A Place [Archive]

takenbythesky

12-05-2004, 02:24 PM

"Save Me A Place" is one my favorite songs from TUSK; it is one of Lindsey's very best. There's one thing that I've always wondered about, though: whose is that deep, male voice singing in the background? Mick? It most certainly isn't Lindsey....Or is it? Anyway, if anyone could clear this up for me I'd really appreciate it.

Don't know why I have to work
Don't know why I cannot play
Turn me off turn me out
But don't turn me away
Save me a place
I'll come running if you
love me today

Don't know why I have to go
Don't know why I can't stay
Guess I want to be alone
And I guess I need to be amazed
Save me a place
I'll come running if you
love me today
I'll come running if you
love me today

Les

12-05-2004, 02:31 PM

It most certainly isn't Lindsey....Or is it?

It is Lindsey. All of the voices in that song - high, middle and low - are Lindsey's. And I agree, Save Me A Place is a great song and one of my favorites.

wondergirl9847

12-05-2004, 02:34 PM

It was a grower on me and now I adore it. It's certainly a unique song in it's pacing and his vocals.

I really love these two lines.

Guess I want to be alone
And I guess I need to be amazed

takenbythesky

12-05-2004, 02:36 PM

Wow. Thank you, Les. I had no idea Lindsey's range went that deep. Guess you really do learn something new every day!

Thanks again for solving one of my "Mac Mysteries!"

Les

12-05-2004, 02:45 PM

No problem, Justin. :) I'm not sure if it's really all natural vocal range. I suspect he could have used a little studio manipulation to get the lowest lows in that range, but I do think he can sing lower than you might ordinarily imagine based on his relatively high-pitched speaking voice.

Hawkeye

12-05-2004, 03:06 PM

Save Me a Place is (as most probably know) the only Lindsey song on Tusk I don't like. I think it sucks. I'd say it's Lindsey's worst Fleetwood Mac song ever.

amber

12-05-2004, 03:50 PM

Save Me a Place is (as most probably know) the only Lindsey song on Tusk I don't like. I think it sucks. I'd say it's Lindsey's worst Fleetwood Mac song ever.
:lol: :laugh: I wasn't going to rain on the thread's parade, but...actually, I think the lyrics are STELLAR, but i don't love it much.

dissention

12-05-2004, 03:52 PM

Love it. One of my favorite Lindsey songs ever. It's beautiful. :nod:

amber

12-05-2004, 03:53 PM

Love it. One of my favorite Lindsey songs ever. It's beautiful. :nod:
Talk about being satisfied by mediocrity... :laugh:

dissention

12-05-2004, 03:58 PM

Talk about being satisfied by mediocrity... :laugh:

Sorry, I wasn't talking about Angel or Sara. :xoxo: :wavey:

wondergirl9847

12-05-2004, 04:02 PM

Sorry, that made me laugh out loud, sesly.

amber

12-05-2004, 04:02 PM

Sorry, I wasn't talking about Angel or Sara. :xoxo: :wavey:
right, you were talking about SMAP. mediocre. By the way, i don't care much for sara. But i love Angel. It's fun, it makes me happy, it's kicky, it's fun to sing..

NicksIllume

12-05-2004, 04:04 PM

I don't care much for it on Tusk. On the other hand, I love live versions of it.

dissention

12-05-2004, 04:06 PM

right, you were talking about SMAP. mediocre. By the way, i don't care much for sara. But i love Angel. It's fun, it makes me happy, it's kicky, it's fun to sing..

Sara sucks on the album, but kicks ass live.

Angel has some stunning lyrics, but the song just does nothing for me.

Save Me A Place is my favorite, next to The Ledge. The beauty is in its simplicity, IMO.

ontheEdgeof17

12-05-2004, 04:07 PM

I :heart: SMAP. One of his best with Fleetwood Mac! When I first bought Tusk, it was only the song that I actually liked. Now that I like the whole album, SMAP is still the star.

NicksIllume

12-05-2004, 04:12 PM

takenbythesky

12-05-2004, 04:32 PM

I :heart: SMAP. One of his best with Fleetwood Mac! When I first bought Tusk, it was only the song that I actually liked. Now that I like the whole album, SMAP is still the star.
Save Me A Place is my favorite, next to The Ledge. The beauty is in its simplicity, IMO.

Nice to know there are others who think "Save Me A Place" is a masterpiece! :thumbsup:

-Justin

dontlookdown

12-05-2004, 04:43 PM

Whoever said that the lows were Lindsey's is correct. Tusk was the first time Lindsey started slowing and speeding up the tape to get different ranges on vocals - he used it a lot on Law + Order and even more so on Mirage and Tango - (and Say You Will). It's a nifty little trick that Brian Wilson made famous but was also used heavily by the Beatles. Matthew Sweet does it frequently too. It's very similar process to running a tape in reverse for guitars, etc. - which is also a big Lindsey thing. You can hear it on the Beatles Revolver album. Check out "I'm Only Sleeping" from that album.

Christine also got into the trickery on Mirage and Tango with the same technique. I think it's cool because it originated as a tape/analog thing and has nothing to do with synthesizers or Pro Tools, etc.

For vocals, Lindsey just slows the tape speed down, or speeds it up, and then corrects the pitch so the key stays the same. It's a great thing for people who put tracks together when they work solo.

I have always loved Save Me A Place. It has a very George Harrison-like quality to it. And I think people that really respond to old harmony singing like The Kingston Trio or The Mamas and the Papas get into it also.
It's not the kind of track that your average FM top 40 fan will like - it requires some thought and participation to really appreciate it for what it is, and that's asking a lot of your average joe who justs wants to be entertained.
Save Me A Place is an important song because it was the first Fleetwood Mac song released where people who appreciated true artists finally took notice of the band. It was a risky move for Lindsey (as was the rest of Tusk) but for me - it's the reason I fell in love with Fleetwood Mac.

He took it one step further, but with higher vocals on Walk A Thin Line. What a gorgeous song that is. I still love it and put it up there among my top 5 FM songs.
Also - if you listen to "Smile At You" , there's a section where guitars run in reverse which is pretty cool - it happens in the bridge.

Can you imagine how bland Tusk would have been if Lindsey didn't push the project in the direction that he did?

dissention

12-05-2004, 04:46 PM

Can you imagine how bland Tusk would have been if Lindsey didn't push the project in the direction that he did?

I think we all can. :laugh:

takenbythesky

12-05-2004, 04:50 PM

Fascinating post, dontlookdown. Thank you!

Speaking of "Walk A Thin Line," it's the first song that made me really appreciate those soundscapes (somehow visual and aural all at once, supremely textured) only Lindsey can do...

Time to bust out my vinyl copy of TUSK for a listen.

-Justin

David

12-05-2004, 06:11 PM

Save Me A Place is an important song because it was the first Fleetwood Mac song released where people who appreciated true artists finally took notice of the band.Come again?

David

12-05-2004, 06:14 PM

When I bought Tusk, I listened to Stevie's songs first, Christine's songs next, and somewhat listened to Lindsey's contributions. There are some that I skip no matter what. I'll hold out my hand so it may be hit.You like what you like. "Tusk" isn't a social studies lesson that you dutifully need to "explore." It's a piece of pop music -- listen to any part you want to listen to, & tell others to go to hell if they harass you about it.

flyfirefly

12-05-2004, 07:23 PM

There's no telling in what direction FM would've gone without Lindsey's push with Tusk. It could've solidified their at-the-moment success. Without a doubt, Tusk is one of my favourite albums a SMAP is definitely one of the highlights. Ever so pleased to have heard it at last year's Soundstage. Too lucky.

I don't really understand being satisifed with mediocrity. I think dontlookdown has easily detailed how un-mediocre SMAP is. I guess you hear what you want to hear.

strandinthewind

12-05-2004, 07:29 PM

I LOVE this song :nod: It is LB at his best!!!!!!!! :woohoo:

ontheEdgeof17

12-05-2004, 07:32 PM

Can you imagine how bland Tusk would have been if Lindsey didn't push the project in the direction that he did?

It's called Mirage. :D

strandinthewind

12-05-2004, 07:32 PM

It's called Mirage. :D

Which is one of my fav.s EVER by any group LOL :cool:

dontlookdown

12-05-2004, 07:40 PM

Come again?

i'm coming again.

I suppose the single "Tusk" best fits that description - but once listeners got the album in their sweaty palms, Save Me A Place was the first song they heard that was a true departure - a signal of what was to come for the rest of the album.
I grew up in New York and in 1979 there were a handful of pretty adventurous dj's on the radio - and they ate Tusk up like it was the best thing they had heard in ages. The New York shows were pretty spectacular also - very uncommercial - but very loud and raw. Which is how I like Fleetwood Mac best - when maybe the harmonies aren't perfect, with no back-up singers, no additional musicians - just the band as they were meant to be. That's what Tusk was for me.

skcin

12-05-2004, 07:49 PM

It was a grower on me and now I adore it. It's certainly a unique song in it's pacing and his vocals.

I really love these two lines.

Guess I want to be alone
And I guess I need to be amazed

Get out of my head woman! :laugh: I was the same way - HATED this song, now it's one of my faves on Tusk.

Paula

Sugar

12-05-2004, 08:15 PM

It's called Mirage. :D

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Lots o' SMAP love here!

wondergirl9847

12-05-2004, 08:25 PM

Get out of my head woman! :laugh: I was the same way - HATED this song, now it's one of my faves on Tusk.

Paula

I was the same way with Time Bomb Town. As a kid, I had the record and listened to it endlessly, except for that one and the Eric Clapton song. They were two songs I just hated. Now, TBT is one of my fave songs!

Hawkeye

12-05-2004, 08:46 PM

i'm coming again.

I suppose the single "Tusk" best fits that description - but once listeners got the album in their sweaty palms, Save Me A Place was the first song they heard that was a true departure - a signal of what was to come for the rest of the album.
I grew up in New York and in 1979 there were a handful of pretty adventurous dj's on the radio - and they ate Tusk up like it was the best thing they had heard in ages. The New York shows were pretty spectacular also - very uncommercial - but very loud and raw. Which is how I like Fleetwood Mac best - when maybe the harmonies aren't perfect, with no back-up singers, no additional musicians - just the band as they were meant to be. That's what Tusk was for me.

The Ledge is #2 on the album and I think it's the first that departs. And The Ledge also kicks SMAP's ass. The Ledge is a masterpiece. As is Not That Funny and Tusk and I Know I'm Not Wrong, and one that just very recently grew on me, Walk a Thin Line. But this thread is about the awful Save Me a Place, so I have to be raining on a parade :laugh:

gldstwmn

12-05-2004, 08:49 PM

This is Lindsey at his minimal best. I loved this song from the first listen

Somajoseph

12-05-2004, 11:14 PM

I also enjoyed the band and their performances in the Tusk era. I remember seeing them in Los Angeles 3 times on that tour, and I recall that they played "Save Me A Place". I enjoyed it live much more than on the album.
Back in those days it was great to just hear the 5 onstage, without extra musicians and vocalists. It was raw, but alot more powerful, as someone just mentioned.

sodascouts

12-05-2004, 11:22 PM

SMAP is not my favorite Lindsey song on Tusk, but I certainly find its harmonies and mood appealing. After hearing it live at his Soundstage, I gained a renewed appreciation for its simplistic but effective artistry. I can understand why some people don't think it's his best, but the passionate hatred some exhibit towards it completely mystifies me!

Now THE LEDGE - there is something to passionately hate. ;)

Someoneouttasomeoneouttasomeoneouttasomeoneotta.....

Johnny Stew

12-06-2004, 12:03 AM

I have a love/hate relationship with "Save Me A Place." (Well, I think "hate" is way too strong of a word.)
I disliked it when I first heard it... started to enjoy it for a while, several years back... and then disliked it again.

It's a song that I love the various parts of, but dislike how they were brought together.
I like the lyrics in all their minimalist glory, I like the harmonies, I like the central theme and the conviction with which Lindsey conveys it... but, for me, the enjoyment ends there. But I won't get into why, since I have already done so in the past, and since this is supposed to be an appreciation thread.

So, basically, the song isn't my favorite, but it's cool that others love it... and, at the end of the day, anything that brings enjoyment to someone else is OK in my book.

diamondsnake

12-06-2004, 12:11 AM

I don't like this song. It is kind of a snooze fest.

GateandGarden

12-06-2004, 01:08 AM

I don't like this song. It is kind of a snooze fest.Those are my feelings for it at the moment. People often rave about the pacing being perfect (though some say the opposite), and the production and passion he puts into it making it one of his masterpieces, but there's one thing I can't really understand--the reverence for the lyrics. I guess someone has certainly explained their significance on this board before, but I have a hard time seeing why people like the lyrics, since I can't find a thing to like about them. But I guess it's a "to each his own" kind of thing, since I love most of the lyrics in "The Ledge," and some people don't care for them at all. :shrug:

Hillary

Les

12-06-2004, 02:08 AM

Moony

12-06-2004, 02:26 AM

The Ledge is #2 on the album and I think it's the first that departs. And The Ledge also kicks SMAP's ass. The Ledge is a masterpiece. As is Not That Funny and Tusk and I Know I'm Not Wrong, and one that just very recently grew on me, Walk a Thin Line. But this thread is about the awful Save Me a Place, so I have to be raining on a parade :laugh:

:thumbsup:
I would rate Lindsey's Tusk songs like this:

I Know I'm Not Wrong
Walk A Thin Line
Not That Funny
The Ledge
Tusk
That's All for Everyone
That's Enough for Me
...
..
.
Save Me A Place

SMAP has the most annoying chorus EVER.

Les

12-06-2004, 02:29 AM

SMAP has the most annoying chorus EVER.

Or not. ;)

HomerMcvie

12-06-2004, 03:16 AM

Not.
dot dot dot

macfan 57

12-06-2004, 07:30 AM

I like "Save Me A Place" alot. It's one of my favorite songs of Lindsey's on Tusk. But as good as it is on the album, it was even better live on the Tusk tour with the Chris & Stevie harmonies added. Same thing with "The Ledge". I like the album version, but it was even better on that rehearsal bootleg. "Not That Funny" is just the opposite. I like the album version, but I hate the live versions on the Tusk, Mirage & especially the Dance tours. "Walk A Thin Line" is pretty slow & sludgy on Tusk, but Mick's solo version on The Visitor is terrific. "I Know I'm Not Wrong" is my favorite Lindsey song on Tusk. It was just as great on that rehearsal bootleg tape, too.

NicksIllume

12-06-2004, 08:30 AM

I like "Save Me A Place" alot. It's one of my favorite songs of Lindsey's on Tusk. But as good as it is on the album, it was even better live on the Tusk tour with the Chris & Stevie harmonies added.

I have a VHS of Largo from '79. The harmonies aren't perfect, but they're on there. Besides, Christine with a guitar. Another added bonus to SMAP live.

strandinthewind

12-06-2004, 09:07 AM

What's to like about the lyrics? They're vulnerable and sweet and a little bit helpless and that's kind of irresistible to me. It's only my interpretation of the lyrics, but what I like about them is his honesty. He knows he's been working too much, and he knows he can't really come up with an explanation that will be satisfactory for her because he can't fully explain himself why he hasn't been able to tear himself away from the work, so he's telling her to get mad at him, give him the cold shoulder, to do all of these things that he probably deserves for not being around enough. But today, just let him know in some small way that he's still loved, because as long as he knows that, he'll be there with her in a heartbeat (because he's in love even if he sometimes falls down on the job about showing her). There's a strong implicit message about his love for her that emerges between the lines. That's what I like about the lyrics.

ITA - AND - as I have said before, it reminds me of the Negro Spirituals I grew up listening to. It has that bluesey quality. I think this song is brilliant!!!!!! I do think, however, Stevie and Chris are somewhere in that harmony mix - I can hear them in the "I'll come runnin'." Stevie and LB sounded to me alot alike in this period because both of their voices could be so high.

ALso, I do not have a live version of it. Would some kind soul PLEASE (with sugar on top) send me one at [email protected]

Thanks in advance!!!!!! :cool: :wavey:

skcin

12-06-2004, 09:18 AM

I have a VHS of Largo from '79. The harmonies aren't perfect, but they're on there. Besides, Christine with a guitar. Another added bonus to SMAP live.

Exactly! That performance really made me like the song a lot more. Love that show.

Paula

Les

12-06-2004, 11:49 AM

I do think, however, Stevie and Chris are somewhere in that harmony mix - I can hear them in the "I'll come runnin'."

I think their voices can sound a lot alike too sometimes, but it was an interview that Stevie gave that first confirmed for me that it's only Lindsey's voice on the track. The interviewer questioned her about all of the vocal layers in the song and she said it was all Lindsey's voice.

I've got a video clip of a tour rehearsal of Save Me A Place on my Tusk (http://www.madnessfades.net/Tusk!.htm) page if you're interested. The link to it is listed just after the second picture on the right. The three voices are great together and you do see Christine with a guitar. :)

markolas

12-06-2004, 12:51 PM

amber

12-06-2004, 12:55 PM

Save Me a Place is an amazing song, so all the h8ers need to step off! ;)

It's kind of a folky little number, and I have to wonder how many of the people who don't like this song also dislike folk and old country/bluegrass/stringband music.
I think the difference is, that kind of music is often fast, whereas SMAP is slooooowww..
Amber "h8er" g.

markolas

12-06-2004, 12:58 PM

I think the difference is, that kind of music is often fast, whereas SMAP is slooooowww..
Amber "h8er" g.

That kind of music is as slow as often as it is fast. That's your beef with SMAP? That it's slow?

amber

12-06-2004, 01:00 PM

That kind of music is as slow as often as it is fast. That's your beef with SMAP? That it's slow?
Basically. And the tune sounds really droning, as opposed to melodic, to me. I mean, it's ok, the lyrics are good, but yeah...objectively i know it's a good song, but subjectively, i don't enjoy listening to it much. :wavey: :sorry:

markolas

12-06-2004, 01:06 PM

Basically. And the tune sounds really droning, as opposed to melodic, to me. I mean, it's ok, the lyrics are good, but yeah...objectively i know it's a good song, but subjectively, i don't enjoy listening to it much. :wavey: :sorry:

Hmm...

I know a lot of Ledgies are into hard rock from the '70s and '80s, and I kind of figured that they wouldn't like SMAP because it sounds "too country." I have a friend who basically thinks that any music with acoustic guitar in it is "country."

I thought perhaps some SMAP-h8tin Ledgies might follow the same logic. :rolleyes:

amber

12-06-2004, 01:12 PM

Hmm...

I know a lot of Ledgies are into hard rock from the '70s and '80s, and I kind of figured that they wouldn't like SMAP because it sounds "too country." I have a friend who basically thinks that any music with acoustic guitar in it is "country."

I thought perhaps some SMAP-h8tin Ledgies might follow the same logic. :rolleyes:
it's not so much the country, i was raised on some country too. And i love Angel which i think has a bit of a country "vibe" and i like some other country sounding mac...Yeah, i have friends like that too... :p

strandinthewind

12-06-2004, 01:32 PM

I think their voices can sound a lot alike too sometimes, but it was an interview that Stevie gave that first confirmed for me that it's only Lindsey's voice on the track. The interviewer questioned her about all of the vocal layers in the song and she said it was all Lindsey's voice.

I've got a video clip of a tour rehearsal of Save Me A Place on my Tusk (http://www.madnessfades.net/Tusk!.htm) page if you're interested. The link to it is listed just after the second picture on the right. The three voices are great together and you do see Christine with a guitar. :)

Ah Ha - I never read that one - just goes to show ya that just when you think you have read everything . . . :eek: :laugh: Seriously, thanks for clearing that up :nod:

For YEARS - I thought Stevie was singing the "yeah" in the ending chorus of Say You Love Me - but I think it is LB :laugh:

Also, thanks for the download!!!!!!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE - I just saw it!!!!!!!!! FAB.

:cool:

MACFAN

12-06-2004, 04:49 PM

Someone posted about living in NY around the time TUSK was realeased. Alot of it was played on the radio. I also went to the MSG shows. PURE RAW ROCK AND ROLL. I was a freshman in high school and I remember it being very loud. They were all great. Stevie :D , I really thought she was going to levitate during Rhiannon. She was so crazy sexy cool (I was in the tenth row both nights courtesy of my friends dad who had connections... ). There was something about the whole TUSK era that was just phenomenal. They all looked so great in all the different photos, The live shows were really raw and exciting. All the friction etc..etc

Back to Save Me A Place, I love all of Lindsey's work on the album as well as Stevie and Christine's. However may favorite of lindsey's on TUSK would be What Makes You Think You're The One. Studio version is great, Live Versions Kick......."And the name of it is......." :nod: