Tusk as two solo albums

[ryan4136]

I know the original concept was to release Tusk as two companion solo albums at the same time. My question is what was the proposed track list for each album? Was it the current setup with the first record being one of the albums, and the second the other? Or did it get jumbled up? Supposedly it was suppose to tell a story from one album to the next, and no matter how many times I listen to Tusk I just don't get the story vibe in it's current set up. Anyone know?

[PenguinHead]

I don't recall Tusk being intended as anything but a double album. All the press at the time, along with interviews with band members, stated their intention was to make a double album.

As far a collective concept/vibe, there is none. Given that the band has three individual writers, there is little to none collaboration among them in regard to a cohesive theme/subject matter. They just aren't that kind of band. The only commonality lies with Lindsey's production.

[Villavic]

I don't recall Tusk being intended as anything but a double album. .

Me neither. I don't remember reading that in Mick's book, nor Brunning's. I don't remember anything about tell a story from one album to the next. What are your source, ryan?

But it is interesting to imagine Tusk in 2 separate albums. Maybe the track lists would be different than the current disc 1 & 2. Could be a topic for a thread... (including a discussion about the title album for the one not including the Tusk song)

[vivfox]

This information is correct in that Warner Bros. suggested to FM that they could release TUSK as two seperate albums to help propell sales. At that time the price of a double album at $15.98 was considered highly risky but FM stuck to their guns and released it anyway.

[mylittledemon]

I know the original concept was to release Tusk as two companion solo albums at the same time.

I don't think that was the concept as far as the band was concerned. perhaps the record company came up with that "concept" as a marketing thing... But I think the band itself had always intended to release a double album. Looks like the band tried to repeat that move 24 years later, but as we've seen, the record company (or common sense?) prevailed.

[PenguinHead]

I don't think that was the concept as far as the band was concerned. perhaps the record company came up with that "concept" as a marketing thing... But I think the band itself had always intended to release a double album. Looks like the band tried to repeat that move 24 years later, but as we've seen, the record company (or common sense?) prevailed.

Are you referring to the Say You Will album? As it is, in length, it's nearly a double album.

[mylittledemon]

Exactly... SYW was supposed to be a double album. Then everyone turned on Lindsey. :lol:

[iamnotafraid]

Are you referring to the Say You Will album? As it is, in length, it's nearly a double album.

That album should have been whittled
down. Several of Stevie's songs should
have been cut. It would have made for
a much better album.

Tusk as two? It still wouldn't have sold
like Rumours, but I wonder if it would be
my favorite album of theirs until this day.

[mylittledemon]

Tusk as two? It still wouldn't have sold
like Rumours, but I wonder if it would be
my favorite album of theirs until this day.

Yeah I mean... Tusk sold 4 million right? So that's 8 technically... I don't see that as a failure by any standard. Though, I wonder if it would have sold any more had it been a single record. Hmm. SYW wasn't such a big success in that I think it mattered less than Tusk (in terms of how much it sold). That deluxe version packaging that was released should've had all the material (for those who wanted to pay for it).

[iamnotafraid]

Yeah I mean... Tusk sold 4 million right? So that's 8 technically... I don't see that as a failure by any standard.


LittleD,
Actually I think it's the opposite way to count.
Though the rules of the RIAA certification process
has changed many times over the years. Tusk
sold two million copies, since it's a double album it
was counted as two for every copy sold. That's
where they get that magic number of 4 million copies
sold, as I've heard them repeat time and time again
in interviews with the band. In particular Lindsey.

Though I imagine it's added a substantial amount
since the last certification date was October 22, 1984.
Where it was listed as 2X Platinum.

[HomerMcvie]

Exactly... SYW was supposed to be a double album. Then everyone turned on Lindsey. :lol:

Age has taken it's toll, on his sense of production values.

And SYW should have been cut to 12 tracks. It's like reading the freakin' Bible, front to back.:mad:

[mylittledemon]

LittleD,
Actually I think it's the opposite way to count.
Though the rules of the RIAA certification process
has changed many times over the years. Tusk
sold two million copies, since it's a double album it
was counted as two for every copy sold. That's
where they get that magic number of 4 million copies
sold, as I've heard them repeat time and time again
in interviews with the band. In particular Lindsey.


Ahh! Good to know... i didnt know that! Well hmm... yeah that's worse than I thought.

[ryan4136]

KC is the source.

Stated once that album concept was two albums sold at the same time as part of a concept of telling two seperate but connected stories.

He said the record company couldn't come to grips with it and were afraid sales wouldn't work as well as just releasing a double.

I'm suprised at the confusion on this actually. I just didn't know if the track running order stayed the same, or even if they had a hard track listing for the original idea.

[Blueletter18]

So should we all propse how we would like to split it in two? That could be interesting.:)

[Travisevian]

Age has taken it's toll, on his sense of production values.

Age or indifference?

[PenguinHead]

Age or indifference?

Ouch! (good one). I think Lindsey has become more and more insular when it comes to making music (hence, him being a one man band, playing most the instruments, producing etc...) Also, by embracing and utilizing modern recording technologies, it's easier for him to go it alone.

But, alone, I find his production skills lack warmth. More often the over-all sound feels brittle, sterile, obsessed-over and over-processed. That's why I hope that when Fleetwood Mac is ready to make another album, a producer/collaborator is brought into the mix, so Lindsey is not solely responsible for the...mix.