What is the "Fleetwood Mac sound" anyway? [Archive]

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SortaSavageLike

08-13-2006, 08:31 PM

I'm referring to the Bob Welch and Rumours eras specifically. I've heard the term "Fleetwood Mac sound" bandied about a bit. Someone might be talking about one of Lindsey's Tusk songs, or For Your Love, and say that the song doesn't have that "Fleetwood Mac sound."

However, I've never been able to figure just what that "sound" is. If I were to play someone who'd never heard a Fleetwood Mac song instrumental versions of Tusk, Landslide, and Oh Daddy, would they recognize them as being from the same band? Oddly enough the closest I've come to identifying the Fleetwood Mac sound was Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London, but even then it was just because Mick and John played on it. :shrug:

Little Nicki

08-13-2006, 09:03 PM

I've always assocated the mid-tempo numbers with Fleetwood Mac. Songs like Gypsy, Dreams, Thrown Down, You Make Loving Fun, practically any Christine song! I think it's mostly about the rhytm section when people talk about "that sound".

foxyluva

08-13-2006, 10:12 PM

Yeah, Its probably the rhythm section. On songs like "Sable on Blonde" you can really hear a typical Mick Fleetwood style of drumming, even though that is not a Mac song, you could still pick out that that is Mick on drums.

John's bass is pretty distinctive too....

David

08-13-2006, 10:27 PM

I think it includes that approach of microarrangement that the producers gave the band (or wrenched out of it), plus the very distinct sound of each of the instrumentalists, who are all slightly weird, musically speaking.

SteveMacD

08-13-2006, 10:31 PM

And "Werewolves Of London" certainly qualifies as classic mid-tempo Fleetwood-McVie. I've often wondered this one isn't part of their regular set. Zevon covers are certainly acceptable, and really, it would be as much of a "cover" in a modern Fleetwood Mac show as "Oh Well."

BlackWidow

08-14-2006, 10:14 AM

FM is the Buckingham/Nicks sound!

shackin'up

08-14-2006, 10:33 AM

FM is the Buckingham/Nicks sound!

you're not a Fleetwood Mac fan.

period.

HomerMcvie

08-14-2006, 11:08 AM

you're not a Fleetwood Mac fan.

period.

Don't waste your time.

BlackWidow

08-14-2006, 12:38 PM

Don't waste your time.
Buckingham/Nicks are FM....:thumbsup:

skcin

08-14-2006, 01:03 PM

you're not a Fleetwood Mac fan.

period.

Don't feed the troll. Just makes it worse.

michelle2677

08-14-2006, 01:22 PM

Buckingham/Nicks are FM....:thumbsup:

Actually Buckingham/Nicks are Buckingham Nicks. They had a self title solo album. Have you heard it? Fleetwood Mac consists of several other people INCLUDING Buckingham Nicks.

Just thought I'd clear that up.

HomerMcvie

08-14-2006, 01:28 PM

Don't feed the troll. Just makes it worse.

Very true. Maybe we should ALL use the ignore feature!:thumbsup:

skcin

08-14-2006, 01:32 PM

Very true. Maybe we should ALL use the ignore feature!:thumbsup:

Like Steve, I've never been so tempted. But I don't play that way. I feel I must pay attention to all members' posts, if only to point out inaccuracies, confront lies & fight for the northern star. :laugh:

BlackWidow

08-14-2006, 02:12 PM

Don't feed the troll. Just makes it worse.
be careful darling..glass houses...

mikeschmike

08-14-2006, 02:13 PM

Like Steve, I've never been so tempted. But I don't play that way. I feel I must pay attention to all members' posts, if only to point out inaccuracies, confront lies & fight for the northern star. :laugh:

No speed limit baby.

BlackWidow

08-14-2006, 02:21 PM

skcin

08-14-2006, 02:59 PM

No speed limit baby.

I do love the fast lane. :xoxo:

I don't know about a "Fleetwood Mac sound." I think there's a Zep sound, a Who sound, an Eagles sound. But Mac is so eclectic, I don't know how I would describe it. :shrug:

Sugar

08-14-2006, 03:17 PM

Villavic

08-14-2006, 03:25 PM

I think is mostly a matter of marketing. When OOTC was released, I remember the package had a sticker that said "The new solo album from the architect of the Fleetwood Mac sound".. or something like that.. I guess the "FM sound" concept started there, or so it was spreaded

IMHO it's the style Lindsey and Dashut (and Ken C.) gave to the productions they made together. For example BTMask is clearly different from how Tango or Mirage sounded.

But all of this is relative, anyway, for example Rumours had the same producers but since it was made 10 years before Tango, obviously it sounded DIFFERENT.

SteveMacD

08-14-2006, 03:46 PM

skcin

08-14-2006, 03:46 PM

I would like to take a moment out from our regularly scheduled programming to remind folks that personal feuds will not be tolerated on this board, which is what this is starting to look like (In combination with what's going on in the 2007 set list thread as well).

To me the "FM sound" is somewhere in the combination of the distinctive and often dominant rhythm section and the vocal blends.

OK. :sorry:

Nice to see you again, btw, didn't know if you were still around.

Sugar

08-14-2006, 03:49 PM

Nice to see you again, btw, didn't know if you were still around.

Oh, yeah...I'm around. I've never been a real big poster, but I'm forever lurking...lurking...lurking...;)

HomerMcvie

08-14-2006, 04:22 PM

Oddly enough, it would seem that all of the "personal feuds" seem to involve the same person/troll.

And I thought it was Ledge policy, that if someone was determined to be a troll, that the strike system isn't even necessary for removal.
This person IS trolling, IMO.

shackin'up

08-14-2006, 04:39 PM

And I thought it was Ledge policy, that if someone was determined to be a troll, that the strike system isn't even necessary for removal.
This person IS trolling, IMO.

exactly. burn the witch.

chiliD

08-14-2006, 04:55 PM

exactly. burn the witch.

From Monty Python & The Holy Grail:

CROWD: Burn her! Burn! Burn her! Burn her!
BEDEVERE: How do you know she is a witch?
VILLAGER #2: She looks like one.
CROWD: Right! Yeah! Yeah!
BEDEVERE: Bring her forward.
WITCH: I'm not a witch. I'm not a witch.
BEDEVERE: Uh, but you are dressed as one.
WITCH: They dressed me up like this.
CROWD: Augh, we didn't! We didn't...
WITCH: And this isn't my nose. It's a false one.
BEDEVERE: Well?
VILLAGER #1: Well, we did do the nose.
BEDEVERE: The nose?
VILLAGER #1: And the hat, but she is a witch!
VILLAGER #2: Yeah!
CROWD: We burn her! Right! Yeaaah! Yeaah!
BEDEVERE: Did you dress her up like this?
VILLAGER #1: No!
VILLAGER #2 and 3: No. No.
VILLAGER #2: No.
VILLAGER #1: No.
VILLAGERS #2 and #3: No.
VILLAGER #1: Yes.
VILLAGER #2: Yes.
VILLAGER #1: Yes. Yeah, a bit.
VILLAGER #3: A bit.
VILLAGERS #1 and #2: A bit.
VILLAGER #3: A bit.
VILLAGER #1: She has got a wart.
RANDOM: [cough]
BEDEVERE: What makes you think she is a witch?
VILLAGER #3: Well, she turned me into a newt.
BEDEVERE: A newt?
VILLAGER #3: I got better.
VILLAGER #2: Burn her anyway!
VILLAGER #1: Burn!
CROWD: Burn her! Burn! Burn her!...
BEDEVERE: Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.
VILLAGER #1: Are there?
VILLAGER #2: Ah?
VILLAGER #1: What are they?
CROWD: Tell us! Tell us!...
BEDEVERE: Tell me. What do you do with witches?
VILLAGER #2: Burn!
VILLAGER #1: Burn!
CROWD: Burn! Burn them up! Burn!...
BEDEVERE: And what do you burn apart from witches?
VILLAGER #1: More witches!
VILLAGER #3: Shh!
VILLAGER #2: Wood!
BEDEVERE: So, why do witches burn?
[pause]
VILLAGER #3: B--... 'cause they're made of... wood?
BEDEVERE: Good! Heh heh.
CROWD: Oh, yeah. Oh.
BEDEVERE: So, how do we tell whether she is made of wood?
VILLAGER #1: Build a bridge out of her.
BEDEVERE: Ah, but can you not also make bridges out of stone?
VILLAGER #1: Oh, yeah.
RANDOM: Oh, yeah. True. Uhh...
BEDEVERE: Does wood sink in water?
VILLAGER #1: No. No.
VILLAGER #2: No, it floats! It floats!
VILLAGER #1: Throw her into the pond!
CROWD: The pond! Throw her into the pond!
BEDEVERE: What also floats in water?
VILLAGER #1: Bread!
VILLAGER #2: Apples!
VILLAGER #3: Uh, very small rocks!
VILLAGER #1: Cider!
VILLAGER #2: Uh, gra-- gravy!
VILLAGER #1: Cherries!
VILLAGER #2: Mud!
VILLAGER #3: Uh, churches! Churches!
VILLAGER #2: Lead! Lead!
ARTHUR: A duck!
CROWD: Oooh.
BEDEVERE: Exactly. So, logically...
VILLAGER #1: If... she... weighs... the same as a duck,... she's made of wood.
BEDEVERE: And therefore?
VILLAGER #2: A witch!
VILLAGER #1: A witch!
CROWD: A witch! A witch!...
VILLAGER #4: Here is a duck. Use this duck.
[quack quack quack]
BEDEVERE: Very good. We shall use my largest scales.
CROWD: Ohh! Ohh! Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Ahh! Ahh...
BEDEVERE: Right. Remove the supports!
[whop]
[clunk]
CROWD: A witch! A witch! A witch!
WITCH: It's a fair cop.
VILLAGER #3: Burn her!
CROWD: Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn! Burn!...
BEDEVERE: Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?
ARTHUR: I am Arthur, King of the Britons.
BEDEVERE: My liege!
ARTHUR: Good Sir Knight, will you come with me to Camelot and join us at the Round Table?
BEDEVERE: My liege! I would be honored.
ARTHUR: What is your name?
BEDEVERE: 'Bedevere', my liege.
ARTHUR: Then I dub you 'Sir Bedevere, Knight of the Round Table'.

Sugar

08-14-2006, 04:57 PM

^^^ :lol: Well done...one of my favorites...:lol:

shackin'up

08-14-2006, 05:30 PM

I was referring to that one, chili. I saw that movie 19 times. The 19th time i pissed my pants......... again.

estranged4life

08-14-2006, 05:49 PM

the sound of coin hitting Mick Moneybag's bank account about twice a decade...

**Ca-ching**

michelle2677

08-14-2006, 06:05 PM

And I thought it was Ledge policy, that if someone was determined to be a troll, that the strike system isn't even necessary for removal.
This person IS trolling, IMO.

eh...or could be just a REALLY energetic person who doesn't know any better. :shocked:

michelle2677

08-14-2006, 06:06 PM

the sound of coin hitting Mick Moneybag's bank account about twice a decade...

**Ca-ching**

ha ha...I'll second that!! :thumbsup:

shackin'up

08-14-2006, 06:07 PM

eh...or could be just a REALLY energetic person who doesn't know any better. :shocked:

yeah with a brick wall on her forehead.

michelle2677

08-14-2006, 06:10 PM

yeah with a brick wall on her forehead.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

his though ;)

chiliD

08-14-2006, 06:15 PM

I was referring to that one, chili. I saw that movie 19 times. The 19th time i pissed my pants......... again.

I think I'm on about #50 and I still get sideaches from laughing so hard during the opening credits...I'm almost too sore to laugh once the movie even begins!! It's definitely a painful movie to watch! :laugh:

shackin'up

08-14-2006, 06:19 PM

I think I'm on about #50 and I still get sideaches from laughing so hard during the opening credits...I'm almost too sore to laugh once the movie even begins!! It's definitely a painful movie to watch! :laugh:

I'm an audiovisual communication teacher. Everytime someone asks me what is the best movie ever they expect some classic title, and then I say:

You have to cut the biggest tree in the forest with.....a haring!!!!

Serious. It's the best movie ever.

chiliD

08-14-2006, 06:28 PM

I'm an audiovisual communication teacher. Everytime someone asks me what is the best movie ever they expect some classic title, and then I say:

You have to cut the biggest tree in the forest with.....a haring!!!!

Serious. It's the best movie ever.

And bring me a....SHRUBBERY!!!

Sugar

08-14-2006, 06:39 PM

I warned you, but did you listen to me? Oh, NO, you "KNEW," didn't you?! Oh, it's just a "harmless little BUNNY," isn't it?!

:thumbsup:

I'm sitting here giggling just typing it...

skcin

08-14-2006, 07:12 PM

eh...or could be just a REALLY energetic person who doesn't know any better. :shocked:

Oh, come on. Have you read his posts? He's no innocent newbie.

Whatever. I'm done with it. I'm not about to let his ignorance & baiting bother me.

BlackWidow

08-14-2006, 07:15 PM

I would like to take a moment out from our regularly scheduled programming to remind folks that personal feuds will not be tolerated on this board, which is what this is starting to look like (In combination with what's going on in the 2007 set list thread as well).

To me the "FM sound" is somewhere in the combination of the distinctive and often dominant rhythm section and the vocal blends.
Hi Sue,
Thanks for the intervention..it is appreciated.
I guess sometimes we get a little too passionate regarding our personal
opinions. It is hard especially when someone is "baiting" you.

BlackWidow

08-14-2006, 07:19 PM

Oh, come on. Have you read his posts? He's no innocent newbie.

Whatever. I'm done with it. I'm not about to let his ignorance & baiting bother me.
..As Paula continues to bait & stir the pot..so much for ":sorry: "

skcin

08-14-2006, 07:35 PM

Hi Sue,
Thanks for the intervention..it is appreciated.
I guess sometimes we get a little too passionate regarding our personal
opinions. It is hard especially when someone is "baiting" you.

It is hard, isn't it? I, for one, have decided to ignore your baiting from now on. Hopefully others can do the same.

..As Paula continues to bait & stir the pot..so much for ":sorry: "

I'm not the one people are talking about ignoring. :shrug: But OK, I'll leave you alone & we'll see if you start posting nicer, well thought out, intelligent posts.

BlackWidow

08-14-2006, 07:51 PM

It is hard, isn't it? I, for one, have decided to ignore your baiting from now on. Hopefully others can do the same.

I'm not the one people are talking about ignoring. :shrug: But OK, I'll leave you alone & we'll see if you start posting nicer, well thought out, intelligent posts.
Paula,
I have tried to be nice to you..it is challenging.
You get what you put out Paula. If you do not want a response from me - then stop baiting me with your passive/aggressive posts. If you want intelligent & nice posts..then extend the courtesy.

JazmenFlowers

08-16-2006, 08:32 AM

BlackWidow

08-16-2006, 08:58 AM

ryan8472

08-16-2006, 10:04 AM

Well, I would say that, among other things, the McVie/Nicks/Buckingham harmonies certainly could be considered the FM sound. :nod:

michelle2677

08-16-2006, 01:06 PM

I think the Fleetwood Mac sound (the Rumours/SYW era lineup at least) is a fusion of great hooks and melodies, combined with expertly layered vocal arrangements. their sound relies on the vocal layering and the great songwriting.

ok, that didn't answer the question really. :rolleyes:

ha ha.. amidst the other posts...this reminded me of a "la la....look at the sky...see how blue it is...laa ddeee daaa" :laugh:

Good expression of their sound though.
:nod:

shackin'up

08-16-2006, 02:01 PM

:lol: :lol: :lol:

his though ;)

The widow is a HE?...........

.......

yeah the widow is a he!

......

......

burn her burn!

SuzeQuze

08-16-2006, 02:40 PM

I think the Fleetwood Mac sound (the Rumours/SYW era lineup at least) is a fusion of great hooks and melodies, combined with expertly layered vocal arrangements. their sound relies on the vocal layering and the great songwriting.

ok, that didn't answer the question really. :rolleyes:

Plus that thick bottom end, the rhythm section of Mick and John that is the foundation of the band. I frigging love them.

JazmenFlowers

08-16-2006, 05:11 PM

ha ha.. amidst the other posts...this reminded me of a "la la....look at the sky...see how blue it is...laa ddeee daaa" :laugh:

Good expression of their sound though.
:nod:
who? moi?

laa ddeee daaa

BlackWidow

08-17-2006, 10:24 AM

The widow is a HE?...........

.......

yeah the widow is a he!

......

......

burn her burn!
I'll sting you....:xoxo: ;)

chiliD

08-17-2006, 10:29 AM

Well, I would say that, among other things, the McVie/Nicks/Buckingham harmonies certainly could be considered the FM sound. :nod:

Hmmmm...that doesn't describe the Dog & Dustbin album, nor Mr. Wonderful, norThen Play On, nor Kiln House, nor Future Games, nor Bare Trees, nor Penguin, nor Mystery To Me, nor Heroes Are Hard To Find, nor Behind The Mask, nor Time...all of which had "the FM sound", too.

jbrownsjr

08-17-2006, 01:30 PM

Don't feed the troll. Just makes it worse.

hahaha you need to put that in your sig...

PLEASE DONT FEED THE TROLL

michelle2677

08-17-2006, 01:31 PM

^^ or it will result in a $1,000 fine

jbrownsjr

08-17-2006, 01:38 PM

i am not going to answer the question

but i was listening to the Heroes title track and thought how does a song like this still have the FM sound to it...

i love McVie's punchy rolling piano on this track... and to me it has that sound... but then again i can find this sound on LB solo, SN solo, BWelch solo etc.... it's really a cool thing really

even billy creates that same sound to his credit....

chili... i got most of those in... u take the rest...

jbrownsjr

08-17-2006, 01:39 PM

^^ or it will result in a $1,000 fine

:D :angel: :D

SortaSavageLike

08-17-2006, 01:43 PM

Hmmmm...that doesn't describe the Dog & Dustbin album, nor Mr. Wonderful, norThen Play On, nor Kiln House, nor Future Games, nor Bare Trees, nor Penguin, nor Mystery To Me, nor Heroes Are Hard To Find, nor Behind The Mask, nor Time...all of which had "the FM sound", too.

Semantics, semantics, semantics...

(Oh, and you forgot English Rose.)

chiliD

08-17-2006, 04:19 PM

(Oh, and you forgot English Rose.)

I didn't forget...English Rose was just a bastardized US only version of Mr. Wonderful and the subsequent singles.

Wouter Vuijk

08-17-2006, 04:56 PM

I didn't forget...English Rose was just a bastardized US only version of Mr. Wonderful and the subsequent singles.

And even then, how about "the Pious Bird of Good Omen" and "Blues Jam at Chess"?:thumbsup:

chiliD

08-17-2006, 05:05 PM

And even then, how about "the Pious Bird of Good Omen" and "Blues Jam at Chess"?:thumbsup:

Well, if you combine Mr. Wonderful & Pious Bird, elminate the duplicate songs and the Eddie Boyd tunes, toss in "Something Inside Of Me", you HAVE English Rose.

And, Blue Jam At Chess really DOESN'T show the "Fleetwood Mac sound" (whereas their own albums do), it is Fleetwood Mac doing their best Chicago blues band imitation.

SteveMacD

08-18-2006, 10:07 PM

Well, if you combine Mr. Wonderful & Pious Bird, elminate the duplicate songs and the Eddie Boyd tunes, toss in "Something Inside Of Me", you HAVE English Rose.

Sorta, kinda. "Pious Bird" is a compilation album. It has some stuff with Brunning, some stuff from Dog & Dustbin and "Mr. Wonderful," the Eddy Boyd stuff, and some singles and b-sides.

Now, I've always viewed "English Rose" and "Pious Bird" as one full-length album, at least in terms of material. Take out the songs from the first two Mac albums on "Pious Bird," the "Mr. Wonderful" stuff on "English Rose," and combined what was left, here's the album:

I Believe My Time Ain't Long
The Big Boat
Jigsaw Puzzle Blues
Something Inside of Me
Black Magic Woman
One Sunny Day
Need Your Love So Bad
Without You
Just The Blues
Rambling Pony
Albatross