DISCUSSION: Lindsey's songs from the 1975 Fleetwood Mac album

[MacShadowsBall]

Week 2 begins with Lindsey's songs from the 1975 album. Songs up for discussion...:]

1. Blue Letter
2. Crystal
3. I'm So Afraid
4. Monday Morning
5. World Turning

I realize that Stevie wrote "Crystal" but since Lindsey is lead vocalist on it, I feel it is up for discussion in this contest. "World Turning" is a collaboration between Christine and Lindsey; his contributions to the song can be discussed here.

What do you think of these songs?
Also check out the sticky thread here on the Rumours forum for updates on the countdown. I will update the first post every weekend. :D

[HowStillMyLove]

I love ALL of those songs. But my favorites are Blue Letter & Im So Afraid. Especialllly, Im So Afraid! Thats the one song where my whole world stops and i must block everything out so i can hear the gutair. (did i spell that wrong?) lol. :blob2:

[MissLadyLoki]

1. Blue Letter- Good song, a litte catchy fun, even though he didn't write it. Like the live version with Mick's random drum solo, but even then, it's just some fun fluff
2. Crystal- I generally prefer the Buckingham Nicks version over the White Album version, but it's better than Stevie's version
3. I'm So Afraid- If we're talking live, hell's yeah, that my fave from this album. The guitar solo, though long, is killer. The album version is good too and solidifies him as being the master of pain and suffering 9and fingerstyle guitar) in rock
4. Monday Morning- A nice opener to the album, again some fun fluff
5. World Turning- Probably #2 for me on this album and probably his best collaboration with Christine

[TrueFaith77]

1. Blue Letter
2. Crystal
3. I'm So Afraid
4. Monday Morning
5. World Turning


i think songs should be ordered by tracklisting rather than alphabet. :shrug:

1. Blue Letter - I always wondered if this was Lindsey/Christine or Lindsey/Stevie. But lately I hear it as a Lindsey/Stevie duet. It's wonderful, of course. Returning to it could boost their country cred, but I Don't Want to Know surpasses it in every way. Should this be Lindsey or odds-and-ends?
2. Crystal - Again, controversial for me to put this in Lindsey rather than Stevie, but it also says so much that the song is best executed by soulmate.
3. I'm So Afraid - Essential to the Mac, Lindsey, and this album. Sugar Daddy would have made a dynamite closer for a POP album, but this song announces deeper art intentions. It's an ambitious song that succeeds.
4. Monday Morning - My second favorite track on the album and Lindsey's best on the record. Wow! What an opener for the new Mac, for the Lindsey/Stevie mythos! The perfect ROCK update of Mamas and the Papas. The complicated romantic/heartbreaking/mature lyrics.
5. World Turning - It's not my favorite thing and I always feel like I want it cut from the setlist, yet whenever it's playing or whenever I'm seeing it performed live: it's awesome.

[tilthefirefades]

Crystal! This has to be one of the most beautiful songs ever, and this version is my favorite.

Blue Letter-Great song, got burnt out on it very quickly though.

I'm So Afraid-Just like SYLM, this song is Fleetwood Mac

Monday Morning-Always jolts me if I have the Ipod on shuffle or just listening to the 75/Very Best of albums. Again, great song that grew on me.

[louielouie2000]

I think I'm So Afraid is perhaps Lindsey's strongest Mac contribution of all time. I love the studio version, it's darkly sultry. It seems the rather stripped down bare bones aspect of the album cut is perhaps a foreshadowing at Lindsey's future sensibilities. The song turns into a rabid animal live... I love how completely different the energy is onstage.

World Turning was the beginning of a beautiful duet collaboration with Christine that would last through both their tenures in Fleetwood Mac. I love the energy these two have when they work together... they seem to one up their respective games.

Crystal... I've never understood why Lindsey recorded this song vs Stevie. It's such a stereotypical Stevie song, with stereotypical Stevie sentiments and lyrics. It's just so feminine. And Stevie is relegated to only 2 songs: Landslide and Rhiannon. Never been a big fan of Lindsey doing this one.

Blue Letter: yawn. It's romping and upbeat, but it's still pop fluff, and Lindsey didn't write it. As prolific of a writer as Lindsey is, I've never understood why he recorded other people's music for his big musical breakthrough.

Monday Morning: It just baffles me how Lindsey can write such substantive songs like I'm So Afraid, and then write rather banal songs like this one, too. It's a cute enough little song, a good album opener, very radio friendly (and sounds great through radio transmission, I might add), but it just seems like Lindsey could have brought more to the table for this album. Perhaps he was playing it safe and getting his footing before he blossomed and showed his true self? :shrug:

[MacShadowsBall]

i think songs should be ordered by tracklisting rather than alphabet. :shrug:

I debated between by track listing vs. alphabetically. :rolleyes: Maybe for the next one I'll do it by track listing. :lol:


Crystal... I've never understood why Lindsey recorded this song vs Stevie. It's such a stereotypical Stevie song, with stereotypical Stevie sentiments and lyrics. It's just so feminine. And Stevie is relegated to only 2 songs: Landslide and Rhiannon. Never been a big fan of Lindsey doing this one.

I completely agree...plus it would be kinda unfair to put "Crystal" in with "Rhiannon" and "Landslide" - I mean "Crystal" would be a slaughtered pig up against those two mammoths!! :laugh:

[nailatixela]

I really think Crystal should be a Stevie song. Without her we wouldn't have had Crystal. She wrote it. But either way, I still really love this song so much. It's beautiful. And Christine adds that beautiful ending that was missing on the BN version. Great to listen to that with headphones on.

Monday Morning - what a fun opener! Love the BN harmonies.

Blue Letter - I like this song live better...it's a good song, but the studio version kinda lacks some passion after awhile. I really like the live versions of this when Stevie and Lindsey proclaim and scream that they're not waiting! There is a live version of this song I've heard where Stevie sings "I ain't waiting" but it sounds like "I hate waiting" which I like a lot more. And Mick is crazy on the drums here.

I'm So Afraid - This is a song that I'm really happy to have in the Fleetwood Mac catalog because it's not a powerful song. Shows the new band wasn't all about poppy fluff.

[nailatixela]

I debated between by track listing vs. alphabetically. :rolleyes: Maybe for the next one I'll do it by track listing. :lol:



I completely agree...plus it would be kinda unfair to put "Crystal" in with "Rhiannon" and "Landslide" - I mean "Crystal" would be a slaughtered pig up against those two mammoths!! :laugh:

I agree with track listing order. And I wouldn't be so sure about Crystal losing. Landslide is timeless and Rhiannon is sexy and mysterious, but they've both been played to death. Plus, IMO, these 2 tracks both sound much better when played live, especially Rhiannon. We are voting on studio versions. Crystal is beautiful and I think has a solid chance of winning in a Stevie poll.

I'm also afraid it would win in a Lindsey poll if we put in there - and that would kinda stink cause it's not really Lindsey's song. And remember, Stevie is on the vocal for the track as well.

[GypsySorcerer]

Blue Letter - I've always had a soft spot for this and just feel compelled to sing along every time I hear it. :laugh: My favorite part of the song, however, is John's bass. I enjoy it live, too.

World Turning - As discussed in the Christine thread, I love this, as I love all McBuck collaborations.

Monday Morning - A fun, upbeat song, and a great opener....but fluff.

I'm so Afraid - I adore the song live. I dislike his album vocal, but I think everything else about it is fantastic: "Agony's torn at my heart too long..."

Crystal - While I think this may be the best pure love song Stevie ever wrote, I actually enjoy Lindsey doing the vocal. I slightly prefer the BN version. Good taste, John. ;)

[aleuzzi]

Buckingham's "White Album" songs--all 2.5 of them--are okay but unexceptional when compared with the rest of his Mac songs. Monday Morning is bouncy and pleasant--but that's all. Burnette's first Mac songs on Behind the Mask were equal-to, if not better than this. I'm So Afraid is much better. The instrumental track is sublime. His vocals seem tentative, even strained.

His voice on Blue Letter is excellent. The World Turning collaboration represents his finest work on the record. Nicks's Crystal has an exceptional backing track (love the organ) and a fine vocal, though I wish Buckingham-Nicks sang this together as opposed to her stepping back.

[vivfox]

I'm So Afraid - This is a song that I'm really happy to have in the Fleetwood Mac catalog because it's not a powerful song. Shows the new band wasn't all about poppy fluff.


In the words of Janeanne Garofalo,"and the mugger said, what???"

[kokoro]

Every one of Lindsey's songs on this album are enjoyable. Fluff or not, Monday Morning and Blue Letter are completely fun and get me dancing and singing. As I said in the other thread, World Turning is my favorite collaboration between Christine/Lindsey. I'm So Afraid is among my favorite of Lindsey's songs, but the album version lacks the powerful vocals that the live versions have.

I don't really know where Crystal is ultimately going to go for the voting, but I love it no matter who sings it. Much like I'm So Afraid, I find the album versions of Landslide and Rhiannon to be lifeless compared to live versions, so I don't think Crystal would automatically be out of the run if it were in Stevie's category.

[ryan4136]

Week 2 begins with Lindsey's songs from the 1975 album. Songs up for discussion...:]

1. Blue Letter
2. Crystal
3. I'm So Afraid
4. Monday Morning
5. World Turning

I realize that Stevie wrote "Crystal" but since Lindsey is lead vocalist on it, I feel it is up for discussion in this contest. "World Turning" is a collaboration between Christine and Lindsey; his contributions to the song can be discussed here.

What do you think of these songs?
Also check out the sticky thread here on the Rumours forum for updates on the countdown. I will update the first post every weekend. :D


This is the first FM record I owned so to me for years this seemed like a begining album or square one. Of course as years have gone on it seems to me more of a hodge podge (sp) album than any of the others until Tango.
When i pick this album up I hear an album, that from a Christine end is much more like Heros or Mystery to Me. When it's a lindsey song it seems very very Buckingham Nicks (for obvious reasons). To me the only song on the entire album that seems like a progressive step is probably Rhiannon.

Now on to Lindsey...I have trouble calling Crystal a LB song so I'll pass on that.

I'm so Afraid= LB's best classic rock song with no real pop influcence he ever wrote. As good today as it was then. If FM had been more of a rock band this would've been a bigger staple than already was, as a pop band it gets lost. It's songs like this that make you just go wow at LB, he can write rock songs, pop songs, new wave, etc. All like he's focused his whole life on each.

MM....classic Buckingham Nicks sound, I really do think the next BN album would've hit close to a million copies because of songs like this.

WT...never has been a top tier song to me, more of a jam filler...but even thier jam fillers get your feet tapping, and singing.

BL...again a solid BN type of contribution.

It's clear now when you listen to this album none of the three really have the knack yet of writing with everyone in mind. LB and SN have it down, and it's clear that LB and CM have great vocal chemistry. But it's not till Rumour where all three match up. This is an album of three strong song writers, and 5 strong mucisians, but they are not quite a band yet until the tour ends in my opinion.

[TrueFaith77]

It's clear now when you listen to this album none of the three really have the knack yet of writing with everyone in mind.

Fascinating. I wish THAT question would be asked of the three songwriters when they are interviewed. Do you construct Mac songs with the roles for the others in mind? If so, how so?

[TrueFaith77]

How is Monday Morning fluff? :shrug:

[michelej1]

It's clear now when you listen to this album none of the three really have the knack yet of writing with everyone in mind. LB and SN have it down, and it's clear that LB and CM have great vocal chemistry. But it's not till Rumour where all three match up. This is an album of three strong song writers, and 5 strong mucisians, but they are not quite a band yet until the tour ends in my opinion.

Interesting observation. Mick wanted them to go out on the road immediately to help them cement as a band in 1975 and maybe he was right, if the more tours they did and familiar they became, the more cohesive their album music grew to be.

Michele

[chiliD]

Far & away my fave is "Blue Letter"...John's bass makes the song.

"I'm So Afraid"?? Problem with the original studio recording is that it totally is in the wrong key for Lindsey to sing (G). Good thing he obviously realized that when they got to playing it live and dropped it a whole step to F. (haven't tried playing along for 30 years, wonder if he dropped the key again in the last 13 years?)

"Monday Morning"...a good album opener, but probably would've been better as the opener of side 2.

"World Turning"...loved the studio version, but, like most of the songs from this era, just took on a whole different life on the concert stage.

[jellyman10]

How is Monday Morning fluff? :shrug:

If you're asking this because you don't think it IS fluff, then I agree with asking that question.

Or, if MM is fluff, then so is Second Hand News and Go Your Own Way, because I see these three LB songs as the evolution of an emotional journey that goes like this: 'I love you so much I don't care how much you jerk me around, I'm staying' (MM), which then becomes 'I know it's over, but I'm still well up for a booty call' (SHN), and then ends with 'I still love you, but I'm through with suffering, so don't let the the door hit you on the way out, luv' (GYOW).

I find that interesting, looking at LB as lyricist at this early stage.

[MissLadyLoki]

Far & away my fave is "Blue Letter"...John's bass makes the song.

"I'm So Afraid"?? Problem with the original studio recording is that it totally is in the wrong key for Lindsey to sing (G). Good thing he obviously realized that when they got to playing it live and dropped it a whole step to F. (haven't tried playing along for 30 years, wonder if he dropped the key again in the last 13 years?)
"Monday Morning"...a good album opener, but probably would've been better as the opener of side 2.

"World Turning"...loved the studio version, but, like most of the songs from this era, just took on a whole different life on the concert stage.

No offense, but is this guitar-playing or vocals, cause one thing bugged me with the studio version was the fact that he pulled a Frankie Valli and sang in a falsetto.

[Peestie]

"I'm So Afraid"?? Problem with the original studio recording is that it totally is in the wrong key for Lindsey to sing (G). Good thing he obviously realized that when they got to playing it live and dropped it a whole step to F. (haven't tried playing along for 30 years, wonder if he dropped the key again in the last 13 years?)
I think he's dropped in down another three semitones to D minor on either the UTS or GOS tour.

[aleuzzi]

How is Monday Morning fluff? :shrug:

I like it as a bright Buddy Holly-ish tribute, but it's not as compelling as either Don't Let Me Down Again or Second Hand News--two other songs with a similar tempo and mood. Another way of putting it: Jeremy Spencer could--and did-- top Monday Morning with This is the Rock and Buddy's Song, but Second Hand News tops them all.

[goldustsongbird]

I've mentioned it before, but I don't like Crystal at all. Maybe Stevie's 1998 version just a little, but it's still not a favourite.

I've seen people diss the original Blue Letter by the Curtis Bros, but I actually like it. :lol: FM stayed pretty faithful to the original.

I'm So Afraid is best live, any era.

[HomerMcvie]

I've mentioned it before, but I don't like Crystal at all. Maybe Stevie's 1998 version just a little, but it's still not a favourite.

I've never really cared for Crystal, or Warm Ways. They're too sleepy, for me.

[holidayroad]

Lindsey did a good job with 'Blue Letter', but I agree that he should have written a song instead of playing someone else's

I guess that 'Crystal' is technically Stevie's song, but I think Lindsey does a better vocal for it. I like this version better than the BN version.

'I'm So Afraid' is amazing! It's a song full of powerful emotion.

'Monday Morning' is a good song. I wouldn't call it 'fluff' as some others have. I think it just 'seems' like fluff when compared to 'I'm So Afraid'.

'World Turning' is a great duet with Christine. I think they bring out the best in each other when they do a song together.

[HomerMcvie]

I think he's dropped in down another three semitones to D minor on either the UTS or GOS tour.

Listening to Live at Bass Hall(or whatever it's called), GYOW is pretty obviously in D now(from F), and ISA sounded lower, too(too lazy to go get it out of my vehicle, and bring it in to check...). Face the facts, he can BARELY sing anymore. All he does is yell. Getting older sucks! :lol:

[Peestie]

Listening to Live at Bass Hall(or whatever it's called), GYOW is pretty obviously in D now(from F), and ISA sounded lower, too(too lazy to go get it out of my vehicle, and bring it in to check...). Face the facts, he can BARELY sing anymore. All he does is yell. Getting older sucks! :lol:
Yeah, GYOW is in D as well. When have I ever even commented on his current singing ability though? :shrug: I do think he could be much worse though - he could be Ozzy Osbourne :lol:

[MacShadowsBall]

Due to popular demand :eek: , "Crystal" officially counts as a Stevie song, and will not be on the Lindsey poll; it will be on the Stevie discussion and poll threads. Feel free to discuss Lindsey's vocals of the song. :nod:

[HomerMcvie]

Yeah, GYOW is in D as well. When have I ever even commented on his current singing ability though? :shrug: I do think he could be much worse though - he could be Ozzy Osbourne :lol:

You DID mention it, indirectly. WHY do you think they DROP the keys of the songs?????????????????????????????

So that they can hit the high notes!!!

Key drop EQUATES to not being ABLE to sing it in the original key, any longer.

[Peestie]

You DID mention it, indirectly. WHY do you think they DROP the keys of the songs?????????????????????????????

So that they can hit the high notes!!!

Key drop EQUATES to not being ABLE to sing it in the original key, any longer.
I know that's why they drop the keys but you made it sound like I was defending his singing voice in some way by telling me to "face the facts", when all I stated was that ISA went down to Dm from Fm a couple of tours ago, nothing more or less. :shrug: Unless your comment wasn't originally aimed at me directly...

[chiliD]

No offense, but is this guitar-playing or vocals, cause one thing bugged me with the studio version was the fact that he pulled a Frankie Valli and sang in a falsetto.

Vocally is what I was referring to.

[HomerMcvie]

I know that's why they drop the keys but you made it sound like I was defending his singing voice in some way by telling me to "face the facts", when all I stated was that ISA went down to Dm from Fm a couple of tours ago, nothing more or less. :shrug: Unless your comment wasn't originally aimed at me directly...

I was just putting my own opinion into the post. It PAINS me to listen to NEW live recordings of Lindsey or Stevie. If he "sings" above an E or so, he's just YELLING the note, and Stevie keeps everything in her boring little 3 note singing range. They've both lost their game, IMO.

Chris has never sounded better, oddly, but that's really a non-issue, now, isn't it?:distress:

[ButterCookie]

I was just putting my own opinion into the post. It PAINS me to listen to NEW live recordings of Lindsey or Stevie. If he "sings" above an E or so, he's just YELLING the note, and Stevie keeps everything in her boring little 3 note singing range. They've both lost their game, IMO.

Chris has never sounded better, oddly, but that's really a non-issue, now, isn't it?:distress:

I completely agree with you. And yes maybe I am biased, but the fact that her singing voice on ITM was better than both Christine Perfect and Christine McVie is just that. A fact.

Of all Lindsey's songs on the White Album, Blue Letter is certainly my favourite, wether he wrote it or not. It makes me smile and want to dance :D

I'm So Afraid is one of my least favourite FM songs :sorry: I skip it on the Dance etc too.

Monday Morning is great, too. Another that makes me want to dance and just generally happy inside. It's a pleasure to listen to.

World Turning is just... fantastic. As I said before, Christine and Lindsey really are a musical match made in heaven. Mmmm Chris

[HomerMcvie]

I completely agree with you. And yes maybe I am biased, but the fact that her singing voice on ITM was better than both Christine Perfect and Christine McVie is just that. A fact.

Isn't it amazing, and funny, how their voices have all changed? I mean, MOST singers go the way of Stevie and Lindsey...they lose most of their range when they get old. And face it, they're all old, now.
And Christine just sounds better and better, with each year. WTF? Better genes? Wonder why age hasn't affected her voice?
The only other rock singer I can think of, who hasn't got the "old voice", is Ann Wilson. She and Chris, have won the game. :thumbsup:

[ButterCookie]

Isn't it amazing, and funny, how their voices have all changed? I mean, MOST singers go the way of Stevie and Lindsey...they lose most of their range when they get old. And face it, they're all old, now.
And Christine just sounds better and better, with each year. WTF? Better genes? Wonder why age hasn't affected her voice?
The only other rock singer I can think of, who hasn't got the "old voice", is Ann Wilson. She and Chris, have won the game. :thumbsup:

Absolutely positively. And Chrissie Hynde. If You listen to Pretenders shows from last year she sounds superb. I wouldn't go as far as to say she's still as powerful as Ann but she's up there.

I wish Chris would do a blues album now. God, just the thought of it makes my heart race.

[MikeVielhaber]

Absolutely positively. And Chrissie Hynde. If You listen to Pretenders shows from last year she sounds superb. I wouldn't go as far as to say she's still as powerful as Ann but she's up there.

I wish Chris would do a blues album now. God, just the thought of it makes my heart race.

Stevie Wonder's voice is pretty close to what it was in his prime. His range is still amazing and though he may work slightly harder to hit some of the high notes he hits them and it sounds great.

[aleuzzi]

And Christine just sounds better and better, with each year. WTF? Better genes? Wonder why age hasn't affected her voice? :thumbsup:

She went through a bit of a rough patch in the early-to-mid-eighties, when her voice sounded a tad frayed (but compared to most other rock singers, still remarkably intact). But by the Tango in the Night tour it was back and never seemed to go away. In fact, her vocals seemed to get stronger. On "Save Me," "Nights in Estoril" and "Hollywood" she's in great form, belting out those verses and choruses.

I remember hearing "Temporary One" for the first time and being blown away by how strong her vocal was on the verses. Then, of course, ITM, where her voice sounds as fluid and pure as it did on, say, Tusk. And, as Dan Perfect says in one of his interviews, this was achieved without any studio machinery or tinkering.