Which side reigns supreme? Fleetwood Mac

[Montclare]

I saw a poll from a couple of years ago about which side was best for Rumours and Tusk. Thought it would be fun to do that again with the 5 albums from the Rumours 5. Up first- Fleetwood Mac.

Side 1-
1. Monday Morning
2. Warm Ways
3. Blue Letter
4. Rhiannon
5. Over My Head
6. Crystal

Side 2-
1. Say You Love Me
2. Landslide
3. World Turning
4. Sugar Daddy
5. I'm So Afraid

Which side is your favorite?

[Montclare]

This one's hard for me and could go either way. My two favorite songs (Landslide and Rhiannon) are on opposite sides, as are my two least favorite (Warm Ways and Sugar Daddy). My next favorite would be World Turning, giving a slight edge to side two. I view SYLM and OMH as similar songs, both being middle of the road FM songs for me, but slightly prefer OMH. I like Crystal, but not enough to sway me either way. I love ISA, but prefer the live version much more than the album. I love Blue Letter and Monday Morning, and ultimately went with side one due to weighing there being two songs I love over one (WT) that I really, really love.

[DauphineMarie]

This is hard... To me each side is structured the same way: First song is a great, catchy, radio-friendly opener (Monday Morning/SYLM). Second is slow-paced and sweet, almost dream-like (Landslide/Warm Ways). Third is Lindsey-driven guitar sounds, which change the dynamic (Blue Letter/World Turning), followed by the fourth, almost identical sounding songs from Chris (Sugar Daddy/OMH), closing out with two very different songs, that have the same effect. Crystal is a longing, beautiful, haunting song which evokes a sense of yearning. I'm So Afraid is similar, but evokes a more fearful, angry sense of yearning. So I really can't choose! :shrug:

[PenguinHead]

That's a Sophie's choice question for their self-titled album as well as Rumours. Both are even and equal. It's a more suitable question for Tusk.

[gssmith]

This is hard... To me each side is structured the same way: First song is a great, catchy, radio-friendly opener (Monday Morning/SYLM). Second is slow-paced and sweet, almost dream-like (Landslide/Warm Ways). Third is Lindsey-driven guitar sounds, which change the dynamic (Blue Letter/World Turning), followed by the fourth, almost identical sounding songs from Chris (Sugar Daddy/OMH), closing out with two very different songs, that have the same effect. Crystal is a longing, beautiful, haunting song which evokes a sense of yearning. I'm So Afraid is similar, but evokes a more fearful, angry sense of yearning. So I really can't choose! :shrug:

Great summary! You should be a critic for a magazine. Expect I don't think over my head and sugar daddy sound a like. Sugar daddy and SYLM sound more alike to me, the opening rifts anyway.
I love Warm Ways! It is such an underrated song. Beautiful and warm. When I hear it I feel like I just came and smoked a cig.

[jbrownsjr]

I love Warm Ways, Crystal, Rhiannon and Monday Morning...

tough choice though..

[Montclare]

I'm surprised how much further ahead side one is. I thought what with side two having Landslide and SYLM, this would be much closer.

[SisterNightroad]

I'm surprised how much further ahead side one is. I thought what with side two having Landslide and SYLM, this would be much closer.
But the studio version of Landslide isn't as good as the live one, it doesn't even sound like Stevie's voice...

[jbrownsjr]

But the studio version of Landslide isn't as good as the live one, it doesn't even sound like Stevie's voice...

That's probably why it's my favorite version. lol Plus, she sings it very legato, versus the very choppy live versions.

[chiliD]

This is hard... To me each side is structured the same way: First song is a great, catchy, radio-friendly opener (Monday Morning/SYLM). Second is slow-paced and sweet, almost dream-like (Landslide/Warm Ways). Third is Lindsey-driven guitar sounds, which change the dynamic (Blue Letter/World Turning), followed by the fourth, almost identical sounding songs from Chris (Sugar Daddy/OMH), closing out with two very different songs, that have the same effect. Crystal is a longing, beautiful, haunting song which evokes a sense of yearning. I'm So Afraid is similar, but evokes a more fearful, angry sense of yearning. So I really can't choose! :shrug:

And, after all that, you completely ignored/overlooked/forgot "Rhiannon". ;)


But the studio version of Landslide isn't as good as the live one, it doesn't even sound like Stevie's voice...

Uh...yeah it does. But apparently you weren't around when it first was released. It's EXACTLY how Stevie sounded in 1975.

[SisterNightroad]

And, after all that, you completely ignored/overlooked/forgot "Rhiannon". ;)
Uh...yeah it does. But apparently you weren't around when it first was released. It's EXACTLY how Stevie sounded in 1975.

Maybe it's been too long for your memory to remember well, because the studio version is flat in comparison to how she sang it live, this is how she sang it live in 1975: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o3jbprawu4w0d12/AAAxOzRJVhrvOZN4BkMXgWS6a/Landslide%20-%20Live%2005_03_1975%20Passaic%2C%20NJ.mp3?dl=0

[Dreamz19]

I voted for side 1 because it contains three FM songs I absolutely love with Rhiannon, Crystal and Over My Head. I also really enjoy MM, WW and BL. I like all the songs on side 2 as well, but 3 of those songs I don't listen to as much.

[The Highwayman]

Side 1. A mix of songs that make it readily apparent that the songs of Christine, Lindsey and Stevie sat well together next to each other on an album.
Especially since there's less Lindsey on side 2.

'Say You Love Me' (arguably the best song on the album) and 'Landslide', both on side 2, make the choice harder, though.

[FuzzyPlum]

It's close but side 1 wins- just because there are more songs!

[DauphineMarie]

Oh my god I did forget Rhiannon I hate myself right now... :sorry: :distress:

I am not worthy lol. And I agree that SYLM sounds more like Sugar Daddy than OMH, I just mixed them up.. Must not have been my night :distress:

[Keith]

My favorite Fleetwood Mac album - Fleetwood Mac.

Side 2 has my favorite Fleetwood Mac song "Say You Love Me" so I voted based on that.. love, love every song on this record!

[louielouie2000]

I've been wrangling with this for days- which side is better? Both are blindingly polished. Both are chock full of classics. I wouldn't necessarily say either has a clunker. What ended up being the tie breaker for me is that Side 2 has two songs I love- World Turning and I'm So Afraid. To me, those two songs have the most substantive, meaty lyrics of the album. They are dark, brooding pleas for help. In comparison Side 1 has a lot of lightweight material, and dare I say- fluff. I mean, there's even a cover song on Side 1.

All of this just points to the issues I've always had with this album- it's just too polished, too perfect, to the point where it's honestly kind of boring to me. :sorry: Give me the warts that come along with albums like Tusk, Say You Will, Penguin, or Heroes Are Hard To Find. As flawed as all those albums are, they have more personality, are more relatable, and are just plain more interesting. At least to me. :)

[Jezzup]

I'm voting side 1 although I'm not a fan of WW or Crystal. That leaves 4 solid songs versus 3 on side two. Don't like Sugar Daddy and much prefer the live version of ISA.

[aleuzzi]

Side two all the way! As much as I enjoy the variety on the first side, I love the sequencing and continuity of sound on the second side. Say You Love Me is such a standout song in any context, and World Turning is an exciting homage to the band's early blues sound.

[The Juggler]

Side 2 wins this round. I love Warm Ways and Monday Morning, but the rest isn't that great. Rihannon is boring on record :sorry: , Blue Letter is a non event and I never liked Crystal.

Yes, Side 2 has bad Sugar Daddy but the rest of the songs are excellent, and I'm So Afraid is by far Lindsey's best song. So yes, side 2.

[chiliD]

Maybe it's been too long for your memory to remember well, because the studio version is flat in comparison to how she sang it live, this is how she sang it live in 1975: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o3jbprawu4w0d12/AAAxOzRJVhrvOZN4BkMXgWS6a/Landslide%20-%20Live%2005_03_1975%20Passaic%2C%20NJ.mp3?dl=0

What year did she sing the studio version...oh, wait...I know...1975. So, yeah, that's EXACTLY how she sounded in 1975. I don't give a rat's ass HOW she sang it live, the version in question is the studio version. Go back & re-read the thread starting post. It's about the album, had nothing to do with live versions. Get with the program.

[SisterNightroad]

What year did she sing the studio version...oh, wait...I know...1975. So, yeah, that's EXACTLY how she sounded in 1975. I don't give a rat's ass HOW she sang it live, the version in question is the studio version. Go back & re-read the thread starting post. It's about the album, had nothing to do with live versions. Get with the program.
In fact I said that I prefer the side one of the album because in my opinion Stevie sang Landslide better live than in the studio.