Wish list for Behind the Mask Deluxe Edition

[bwboy]

It seems unlikely a Deluxe Edition of Behind the Mask will be released, but if it is, here is what I would love to see on it:

Disc 1- the 13 original tracks remastered, along with the cd+g graphics that came with the original release.

Disc 2- other songs recorded by this lineup, such as As Long As You Follow, No Questions Asked, Paper Doll, Heart of Stone, and Love Shines; plus unreleased songs such as Game of Love, Victim of Love, and others I am unaware of; and outtakes or alternate takes.

Disc 3- audio of the 1987 Tango in the Night concert, along with select tracks from the 1990 Behind the Mask tour.

Disc 4- DVD of the 1987 Tango in the Night concert, along with select tracks from the 1990 Behind the Mask tour; and videos for As Long As You Follow, Save Me, Skies the Limit, In the Back of My Mind, Paper Doll, and Love Shines.

Disc 5- DVD Audio of the original album.

What is your wish list for this album?

[Macfan4life]

Its a pipe dream and will never happen but I am a dreamer ;)

I am sure there are lost tracks that none of us have heard. I want to hear all the demos. I want to isolate Lindsey's playing on BTM and hear it. I bet there are different versions of the song too.
I prefer to have the entire 1990 tour with outtakes from 1987. I think the band was more comfortable then and sounded better IMHO.

[bwboy]

I prefer to have the entire 1990 tour with outtakes from 1987. I think the band was more comfortable then and sounded better IMHO.

I agree with that, but I don't think there's much footage out there from the BTM tour. I do remember folks here saying the concert clips seen in the Skies the Limit video were filmed after a FM concert in 1990 (I think at Red Rocks), so it's possible some or the entire concert was filmed then as well.

I'd love to see either one, or both concerts released.

[Macfan4life]

I agree with that, but I don't think there's much footage out there from the BTM tour. I do remember folks here saying the concert clips seen in the Skies the Limit video were filmed after a FM concert in 1990 (I think at Red Rocks), so it's possible some or the entire concert was filmed then as well.

I'd love to see either one, or both concerts released.
If you scroll back on this thread I posted some excellent 1990 concerts in Gainsville and Miami. The Gainsville show was the first stop of the "Farewell tour" after Christine's father's funeral. The BTM tour was postponed early July 1990 and resumed in the fall dubbed the "Farewell Tour". I really liked the set list and Landslide returning after a decade out of the set. I think the 1990 tour has the best live versions of Stand Back ever. Stevie really turned on the attitude :) I have a VHS copy of the Allentown, PA concert where a fan runs on stage and almost tackles Stevie during the beginning of Stand Back. She just shrugs her shoulders and never misses a beat.

[AnthonyMI]

I have an AMAZINGV 1990 Rhiannon Sound Board recording somewhere. She sounds like she did in late 70s and hots many of the high notes and goes for the high ending notes. It also has the guitar solo. It’s way better than the Dance version and anything since.

[Macfan4life]

I have an AMAZINGV 1990 Rhiannon Sound Board recording somewhere. She sounds like she did in late 70s and hots many of the high notes and goes for the high ending notes. It also has the guitar solo. It’s way better than the Dance version and anything since.
One thing Stevie did in 1990 during Rhiannon was go sit on the side of the stage during the guitar solo. It was vintage and something she did in the 1970's and has never done since.
I knew someone that saw the Mac in 1979 and Stevie sitting on the side of the stage freaked them out and said "her brains are fried."

[WatchChain]

wish it never happened

[Murrow]

The time is ripe. Back in 1990, Fleetwood Mac we’re trying to prove that they could still make great music with two new guys on guitar in addition to Chris, Stevie and the core rhythm section. Sound familiar?

[Fannymac]

Both Rick and Billy have stated numerous times that there is a ton of unreleased material. I really hope it happens for it's 30th anniversary!

[David]

I'm always up for hearing studio tracks I've never heard.

Other than that, the only thing I'd want is video and/or audio of the Burbank rehearsal in March, or concerts from the first couple of months--for example, the Cal Expo show in Sacramento, where everybody was on top of things and they did "When the Sun Goes Down" with Christine on accordion.

the fall and winter dates of the 1990 tour are not favorites of mine by any stretch. Stevie and her fog ruined a lot of songs.

By the way, there is radio-quality concert stuff from 1988 from Germany. It's a lot "truer" than the weirdly doubled vocals on the U.S. video release from San Francisco. The latter really and truly sounds like sh|t whenever there's a Nicks song. I guess the others sound all right (I'm thinking of "Everywhere"), but the video production is Cream Cheese with that constantly flying camera and slow motion/stop motion. It was just more Marty Callner crud that lowered the bar for a band that always prided itself on craftsmanship.

[Macfan4life]

I'm always up for hearing studio tracks I've never heard.

Other than that, the only thing I'd want is video and/or audio of the Burbank rehearsal in March, or concerts from the first couple of months--for example, the Cal Expo show in Sacramento, where everybody was on top of things and they did "When the Sun Goes Down" with Christine on accordion.

the fall and winter dates of the 1990 tour are not favorites of mine by any stretch. Stevie and her fog ruined a lot of songs.

By the way, there is radio-quality concert stuff from 1988 from Germany. It's a lot "truer" than the weirdly doubled vocals on the U.S. video release from San Francisco. The latter really and truly sounds like sh|t whenever there's a Nicks song. I guess the others sound all right (I'm thinking of "Everywhere"), but the video production is Cream Cheese with that constantly flying camera and slow motion/stop motion. It was just more Marty Callner crud that lowered the bar for a band that always prided itself on craftsmanship.
Oh wow, I would love to see and hear Chris on accordion on When The Sun Goes Down. I sort of agree. After Christine's father's passing when the tour was postponed, the Farewell Tour had more "Stevie fog." However, believe it or not but the 1990 Farewell concert is one of my all time favorite Mac concerts. Christine was such a professional and almost silent leader of the band of substance abusers.
I really like the album Behind the Mask. However, I doubt anyone would invest such time and money in putting out demos and anniversary editions for an album that did so poor in sales. For hardcore fans like us, its a no brainer. But I fear these tracks will never be heard. I would even like an audio of Sara during the 1988 tour of Europe.

[jbrownsjr]

It seems unlikely a Deluxe Edition of Behind the Mask will be released, but if it is, here is what I would love to see on it:

Disc 1- the 13 original tracks remastered, along with the cd+g graphics that came with the original release.

Disc 2- other songs recorded by this lineup, such as As Long As You Follow, No Questions Asked, Paper Doll, Heart of Stone, and Love Shines; plus unreleased songs such as Game of Love, Victim of Love, and others I am unaware of; and outtakes or alternate takes.

Disc 3- audio of the 1987 Tango in the Night concert, along with select tracks from the 1990 Behind the Mask tour.

Disc 4- DVD of the 1987 Tango in the Night concert, along with select tracks from the 1990 Behind the Mask tour; and videos for As Long As You Follow, Save Me, Skies the Limit, In the Back of My Mind, Paper Doll, and Love Shines.

Disc 5- DVD Audio of the original album.

What is your wish list for this album?

I loved this tour. And I didn't mind this album like a lot of people do. I put it in and let it go. I can't stand Second Time. But, I'm ok with everything else.

A long time ago, ChiliD had sent me all the unreleased tracks. I wonder if I can find them. 4 Computers ago.

[Street_Dreamer]

I loved this tour. And I didn't mind this album like a lot of people do. I put it in and let it go. I can't stand Second Time. But, I'm ok with everything else.

A long time ago, ChiliD had sent me all the unreleased tracks. I wonder if I can find them. 4 Computers ago.

Try this: http://www.mediafire.com/file/r7z32od2ff7a7my/behindthemaskdemos.zip

[jbrownsjr]

Try this: http://www.mediafire.com/file/r7z32od2ff7a7my/behindthemaskdemos.zip

You have saved me so much time!! :thumbsup:

[SteveMacD]

Victim of Love, Got No Home, and Game of Love were great. How they picked “Stand on the Rocks” over “Intuition” is something that is still curious to me.

[secondhandchain]

I remember RUSHING out to get the concert video of that tour when it was released. I could barely get through it when they started the non stop cringe inducing close ups of Stevie. I had to turn it off and never watched it again. BTW I was a MAJOR SN fan at that time.

[SteveMacD]

My favorite song from the TITN video was “I Loved Another Woman” for exactly that reason. The Red Rocks video was worse.

[Fannymac]

I would be very happy with a 3 disc set:

Disc 1: The original album remastered.
Disc 2: An album of alternate versions, ala the Tusk and Mirage releases.
Disc 3: Unreleased tracks and any other alternate takes.

[jbrownsjr]

I remember RUSHING out to get the concert video of that tour when it was released. I could barely get through it when they started the non stop cringe inducing close ups of Stevie. I had to turn it off and never watched it again. BTW I was a MAJOR SN fan at that time.

The production of the TITNT video was horrid. It was like watching a slow motion train wreck. Just show the performance, please.

[jbrownsjr]

Wow, Skies The Limit just came on Sirius Deep Tracks.

Here's another song I love Stevie's backing vocals.

[secondhandchain]

If you think they are going to do a re release of an album that sold 20 copies , you are dreaming.

[SteveMacD]

If you think they are going to do a re release of an album that sold 20 copies , you are dreaming.

While I doubt it will get the deluxe treatment, it had a top-40 single and outsold SYW.

[secondhandchain]

While I doubt it will get the deluxe treatment, it had a top-40 single and outsold SYW.

Of course album sales were way declining by the time SYW came around. I actually liked a few songs on the album. Behind the mask (the song) is just as good as anything else they've ever done. Of course LB is on it though. :nod:

[bwboy]

If you think they are going to do a re release of an album that sold 20 copies , you are dreaming.

Are you thinking of Time? I thought Behind the Mask was certified platinum.

[jbrownsjr]

Of course album sales were way declining by the time SYW came around. I actually liked a few songs on the album. Behind the mask (the song) is just as good as anything else they've ever done. Of course LB is on it though. :nod:

I love the title track. It's fantastic, and really moves along. I love the low harmony voices. Very haunting Christine track.

[secondhandchain]

Are you thinking of Time? I thought Behind the Mask was certified platinum.

There just not going to do it. It was a huge seller and the line up was short lived an not iconic.

[Fannymac]

If you think they are going to do a re release of an album that sold 20 copies , you are dreaming.

Ummm.....it went gold, and pretty quickly. Who knows where it's at now, number wise.

[Macfan4life]

I remember RUSHING out to get the concert video of that tour when it was released. I could barely get through it when they started the non stop cringe inducing close ups of Stevie. I had to turn it off and never watched it again. BTW I was a MAJOR SN fan at that time.
We must have been separated at birth. I also was a huge fan but the floating camera constantly in Stevie's face got really annoying fast. I was 17 and was dumb to not know it was lip synced.
Worst part during this era IMHO was Gold Dust Woman with her long 80's earrings and the constant "OH YEAHS"

Dig your grave OH YEAH
Pick your path and I'll pray OH YEAH

[bwboy]

Yeah, those refilmed closeups of Stevie are horrible, and unnecessary, to boot. Does anyone else remember when MTV aired a special about this concert, before it was shown on Showtime? It aired several songs, including the Chain, without the closeups.

Which reminds me, my wish list would include that MTV special!

[jbrownsjr]

We must have been separated at birth. I also was a huge fan but the floating camera constantly in Stevie's face got really annoying fast. I was 17 and was dumb to not know it was lip synced.
Worst part during this era IMHO was Gold Dust Woman with her long 80's earrings and the constant "OH YEAHS"

Dig your grave OH YEAH
Pick your path and I'll pray OH YEAH

I did not love that GDW at all, either.

[Street_Dreamer]

Yeah, those refilmed closeups of Stevie are horrible, and unnecessary, to boot. Does anyone else remember when MTV aired a special about this concert, before it was shown on Showtime? It aired several songs, including the Chain, without the closeups.

Which reminds me, my wish list would include that MTV special!

I think I have it somewhere.

[Street_Dreamer]

We must have been separated at birth. I also was a huge fan but the floating camera constantly in Stevie's face got really annoying fast. I was 17 and was dumb to not know it was lip synced.
Worst part during this era IMHO was Gold Dust Woman with her long 80's earrings and the constant "OH YEAHS"

Dig your grave OH YEAH
Pick your path and I'll pray OH YEAH

Maybe Stevie was a big fan of The Macho Man Randy Savage? He was pretty popular at the time.

[FuzzyPlum]

Of course album sales were way declining by the time SYW came around. I actually liked a few songs on the album. Behind the mask (the song) is just as good as anything else they've ever done. Of course LB is on it though. :nod:


I'd like to hear a stripped back version of Behind The Mask without the silly sound effects. I'm sure its a great song but the 'swoosh' sounds have always put me off. Just cant listen to the song.

[Villavic]

Yeah, those refilmed closeups of Stevie are horrible, and unnecessary, to boot.

A friend of mine was at the TITN Los Angeles concert, and she told me Stevie was even worse, looked like a sleepwalker. Now I've learned those were the Klonopin days. It makes a lot of sense why she looked like that.

[Macfan4life]

I do remember the MTV special without the close ups. There are interviews with the band during parts of the Chain. I was floored that Stevie did not have make up on or was not made up in the interviews. She looked so different.
I saw the tour early and there were no signs of klonopin (yet). She was more reserved than RAL tour but it was to be expected since it was not her solo concert. I saw Stevie play frisbee with the audience. There was some woman getting kicked out of the concert about 20 rows back. Security or police were physically removing her and this happened when Stevie was singing Rhiannon. She kept her eyes on the fight even as the woman was out the door. Her voice was in better shape than RAL too.
In 1989 TOSOM tour, Stevie was a complete zombie. It was so bad that the local paper reviewed the concert and actually asked her reps why she moved so little during the concert. I wish I had the review to post. Stevie's reps stated that she recently broke her foot and was favoring it by not moving.

[Netter75]

The only thing worthwhile about that special was that performance of Isn't It Midnight IMO. It's not filmed nearly as horribly as "Dreams" or "Everywhere" and Stevie's additions actually add something (her backing vocals are mixed well and her "The face of a pretty girl" line after the first chorus is excellent). It's got great energy, the percussion was tastefully added, Christine sounds great (even if they added that weird double layer processing to it), and Vito rips with the solo. As much as I love how atmospheric the album track is, I wish there was studio version of the song performed the way they did it on this video. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9GIjhLZvIw)

Seven Wonders wasn't *terrible* either but it was performed better at other shows on that tour.

[jbrownsjr]

The only thing worthwhile about that special was that performance of Isn't It Midnight IMO. It's not filmed nearly as horribly as "Dreams" or "Everywhere" and Stevie's additions actually add something (her backing vocals are mixed well and her "The face of a pretty girl" line after the first chorus is excellent). It's got great energy, the percussion was tastefully added, Christine sounds great (even if they added that weird double layer processing to it), and Vito rips with the solo. As much as I love how atmospheric the album track is, I wish there was studio version of the song performed the way they did it on this video. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9GIjhLZvIw)

Seven Wonders wasn't *terrible* either but it was performed better at other shows on that tour.

I loves IIM and Seven Wonders on this tour. They did a great job. Lots of energy.

[secondhandchain]

I did not love that GDW at all, either.

Ya think Lindsey would have allowed those cringe inducing (almost like Stevie's selfies) close ups? NO Or the Oh yeahs on GDW....NO.

[StevieandChris]

We must have been separated at birth. I also was a huge fan but the floating camera constantly in Stevie's face got really annoying fast. I was 17 and was dumb to not know it was lip synced.
Worst part during this era IMHO was Gold Dust Woman with her long 80's earrings and the constant "OH YEAHS"

Dig your grave OH YEAH
Pick your path and I'll pray OH YEAH

I have never seen this video, it sounds like it is a horrid performance!

[Netter75]

I have never seen this video, it sounds like it is a horrid performance!

Despite what others say, it's definitely worth checking out, as a relic if nothing else of when editors had a very misguided view of what was appropriate for a concert video. There's one great performance, a *few* decent songs (with caveats) and a bunch of crappers.

Worth it for:

Isn't It Midnight: I detailed why I love this version of this song in an earlier post in this thread. Always makes my "best of" Mac playlists.

Seven Wonders: The only song Stevie didn't butcher. It almost benefits from the chiller Klonopin vocals.

The Chain: A decent rendition of this song. Billy doesn't do bad with Lindsey's parts and Stevie's additions are fine. Chris is inaudible though.

Songbird: Ditto

Little Lies: A bit lacking in energy but probably the best pro-shot recording we have of this song since it wasn't performed that often until recently.

I Loved Another Woman: Vito does this old song justice, even if it seems out of place next to literally everything else in the set. The editing does it's best to suck the energy out of the song too.


and NOT worth if for.:

Dreams: Such a lazy performance of this song, and the editing is especially heinous. There are far better performances of this song, even in the Klonopin era.

World Turning: Instead of a drum solo it has Mick playing with that MIDI sound vest. Pass.

Gold Dust Woman: See previous posts.

Oh Well: Not a fan of Billy as a singer so this is purely personal preference. It is musically performed well though.

Stand Back: This song is never performed *terribly* but when literally every recording is better vocally and musically, this one doesn't have much of a reason to exist. Fleetwood Mac adds nothing interesting here.

Everywhere: The editing on this is horrible but the song itself is done well and Christine sounds fine. The ISSUE is that the chorus is ruined (imo) by Stevie rudely interjecting "I WANNA BE WITH YOU" out of time with Chris, like a gopher poking it's head out of a hole to ruin your day and immediately disappear. It disrupts the flow/groove of the song so badly it's almost funny.

Don't Stop: It's only a partial recording and it's played over the credits. Lame.

It's a shame the unedited performance isn't available, as the removal of that editing may help the viewing experience. Also the cut performance of Brown Eyes is a damn shame as it was performed so well on this tour. Other cut performances include SYLM, Blue Letter, Rattlesnake Shake, Over My Head, Don't Let Me Down Again, HAEWAFY, You Make Loving Fun, and GYOW. Rhiannon and Gypsy were dropped by this point in the tour.

[bwboy]

Stand Back: This song is never performed *terribly* but when literally every recording is better vocally and musically, this one doesn't have much of a reason to exist. Fleetwood Mac adds nothing interesting here.

This was pretty much the only thing I disagreed with you on- I think this version sounds fantastic, and is certainly my favorite live recording of the song. Rick sounds great, too.

I also wish the full concert could be released, but it won't happen :(

[KenshiMaster16]

This was pretty much the only thing I disagreed with you on- I think this version sounds fantastic, and is certainly my favorite live recording of the song. Rick sounds great, too.

I also wish the full concert could be released, but it won't happen :(

I love this version of Stand Back, too, but I think the Live in Boston version beats it just barely. The bongo intro and how upbeat it is always makes me groove. Plus, the energy bursting from it is unmatched in my eyes. It just goes off once it fully starts.

[Netter75]

I love this version of Stand Back, too, but I think the Live in Boston version beats it just barely. The bongo intro and how upbeat it is always makes me groove. Plus, the energy bursting from it is unmatched in my eyes. It just goes off once it fully starts.

I would agree with this. I may have a lower opinion than most people on the Tango tour version- there's nothing wrong about it but there's no stand out moments either imo. I'm curious as to what other people like about it, maybe I'm missing something?

Now I CAN get behind the Live in Boston version! Her vocals are on fire, the bongo intro is very well done, Lindsey on guitar kicks ass... there's just so much energy. It totally justifies putting the song in the mac set-list (controversial opinion, even if it did wear out its welcome).

[Macfan4life]

Despite what others say, it's definitely worth checking out, as a relic if nothing else of when editors had a very misguided view of what was appropriate for a concert video. There's one great performance, a *few* decent songs (with caveats) and a bunch of crappers.

Worth it for:

Isn't It Midnight: I detailed why I love this version of this song in an earlier post in this thread. Always makes my "best of" Mac playlists.

Seven Wonders: The only song Stevie didn't butcher. It almost benefits from the chiller Klonopin vocals.

The Chain: A decent rendition of this song. Billy doesn't do bad with Lindsey's parts and Stevie's additions are fine. Chris is inaudible though.

Songbird: Ditto

Little Lies: A bit lacking in energy but probably the best pro-shot recording we have of this song since it wasn't performed that often until recently.

I Loved Another Woman: Vito does this old song justice, even if it seems out of place next to literally everything else in the set. The editing does it's best to suck the energy out of the song too.


and NOT worth if for.:

Dreams: Such a lazy performance of this song, and the editing is especially heinous. There are far better performances of this song, even in the Klonopin era.

World Turning: Instead of a drum solo it has Mick playing with that MIDI sound vest. Pass.

Gold Dust Woman: See previous posts.

Oh Well: Not a fan of Billy as a singer so this is purely personal preference. It is musically performed well though.

Stand Back: This song is never performed *terribly* but when literally every recording is better vocally and musically, this one doesn't have much of a reason to exist. Fleetwood Mac adds nothing interesting here.

Everywhere: The editing on this is horrible but the song itself is done well and Christine sounds fine. The ISSUE is that the chorus is ruined (imo) by Stevie rudely interjecting "I WANNA BE WITH YOU" out of time with Chris, like a gopher poking it's head out of a hole to ruin your day and immediately disappear. It disrupts the flow/groove of the song so badly it's almost funny.

Don't Stop: It's only a partial recording and it's played over the credits. Lame.

It's a shame the unedited performance isn't available, as the removal of that editing may help the viewing experience. Also the cut performance of Brown Eyes is a damn shame as it was performed so well on this tour. Other cut performances include SYLM, Blue Letter, Rattlesnake Shake, Over My Head, Don't Let Me Down Again, HAEWAFY, You Make Loving Fun, and GYOW. Rhiannon and Gypsy were dropped by this point in the tour.
Ha Ha. You made me have a flashback from 1988. I was 18 and playing this concert from the VCR. During Everywhere when Stevie does her "I wanna be with you". My sister was in another room and thought it was my mom singing along. LMAO
Then she said, "oh that's Stevie coming in late.

[Macfan4life]

I love this version of Stand Back, too, but I think the Live in Boston version beats it just barely. The bongo intro and how upbeat it is always makes me groove. Plus, the energy bursting from it is unmatched in my eyes. It just goes off once it fully starts.
What I love about the song is the late 80's Stevie's trademark "Standin in it" As the song already ended. She does not sound drunk like during Red Rocks.

[Macfan4life]

I have never seen this video, it sounds like it is a horrid performance!
Two worst performances of Gold Dust Woman. In 1981 and 1983 Stevie's band did a much darker rocking version that is the best to this date IMHO.

1989
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCI_6U2TNak

1987
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyJF-mB6q94&start_radio=1&list=RDXyJF-mB6q94

[bwboy]

Hmmm... I'm gonna have to check out the Boston version again. I don't remember thinking it was that great, or at least that memorable. Maybe there was some sort of vocal thing Stevie did during the Boston version that I didn't care for? Something like "uh-uh" or like that?

[Netter75]

Two worst performances of Gold Dust Woman. In 1981 and 1983 Stevie's band did a much darker rocking version that is the best to this date IMHO.

1989
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCI_6U2TNak

1987
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyJF-mB6q94&start_radio=1&list=RDXyJF-mB6q94

What's interesting is that the '89 version of the song is actually kinda cool musically. Very cheesy keyboards but they definitely put an eerie, twisted mood on the song. It's a shame her vocals are so lifeless and her performance is so blah.

[Macfan4life]

What's interesting is that the '89 version of the song is actually kinda cool musically. Very cheesy keyboards but they definitely put an eerie, twisted mood on the song. It's a shame her vocals are so lifeless and her performance is so blah.
Your statement about an eerie twisted mood more describes the Wild Heart tour version. The 1989 version is a cheezy keyboard mess IMHO

[Netter75]

Your statement about an eerie twisted mood more describes the Wild Heart tour version. The 1989 version is a cheezy keyboard mess IMHO

Gotta admit, sometimes I get in the mood and really love a little 80s keyboard mess :lol:.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z-VQ66lpC-0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That horrible doorbell sound will forever hold place in my heart :laugh::laugh::laugh:

[Justin Reach]

You've got to have Lizard People on a deluxe edition, it's better than half the album!

[Conga]

"Pain in the balls.... of your feet"

I unironically love Lizard People.

[Villavic]

It seems unlikely a Deluxe Edition of Behind the Mask will be released

Now that Lindsey is not in the band, probably Mick is thinking in this idea. I would be glad to get some new material from those sessions. But yes I agree it still seems unlikely, since the album was not enough succesful.

[jbrownsjr]

"Pain in the balls.... of your feet"

I unironically love Lizard People.

I want the 20 min version of Lizard People. :laugh:

[David]

My wish list for Behind the Mask involves it never having happened.

[secret love]

My wish list for Behind the Mask involves it never having happened.

Right.

Let's wipe away Behind the Mask and Skies the Limit and all the rest - even the one Stevie soft spot The Second Time.

Heresy!

[David]

Right.

Let's wipe away Behind the Mask and Skies the Limit and all the rest - even the one Stevie soft spot The Second Time.

Heresy!To push my iconoclasm in everybody's face, I actually rather like Second Time. Stevie drops her pretensions and poses, and lets us hear her at a vulnerable moment. It truly feels much more authentic to me than Freedom or Affairs of the Heart - I'm not bluffing. By 1990, I was really bored with the Stevie Nicks mystique and wanted something different. I wanted to scrape off all that "moon spirit" crap (which was a lot less charismatic in a zonked-out singer in her mid 40s than it was fifteen years earlier) by then and see a rebirth of Stevie's artistry, whatever it actually looked like. And I suppose there are other moments on the album that are good enough - good hooks, good drumming, good vocal harmonies (because Rick and Billy were superb harmony singers, which they never got any credit for in Fleetwood Mac). But the album was mostly a throwaway. People have accused me of coming to that conclusion only in hindsight, but that's not true. I haven't changed my mind about it since 1990. The sound of it isn't even desperately commercial (the way Say You Will or Mirage always sound like they're trying to "tap in" to something in the radio audience), but it's the sound of a band that has kind of given up and just wants to take the road most traveled. It has that air of grabbing anyone who walks by that we were talking about in another thread. I don't think there was much inspiration in the people who made Behind the Mask, including songs, instrumentation (it's very impersonal - none of those quirks you came to associate with the instrumentalists in Fleetwood Mac from 1967 to 1987), cover art, and so on. Even the B sides are hopeless. The decisions the band made about almost everything give me the sense of having been drawn out of a hat quite at random. It's a good lesson for Fleetwood Mac and other bands: If you're not feeling particularly inspired, keep the work low key. Don't try making a "statement." That's the beauty of the band's next album, Time. It isn't any more brilliant or any less generic, but it's low key and modest, and that gives it a little charm.

[secret love]

To push my iconoclasm in everybody's face, I actually rather like Second Time. Stevie drops her pretensions and poses, and lets us hear her at a vulnerable moment. It truly feels much more authentic to me than Freedom or Affairs of the Heart - I'm not bluffing. By 1990, I was really bored with the Stevie Nicks mystique and wanted something different. I wanted to scrape off all that "moon spirit" crap (which was a lot less charismatic in a zonked-out singer in her mid 40s than it was fifteen years earlier) by then and see a rebirth of Stevie's artistry, whatever it actually looked like. And I suppose there are other moments on the album that are good enough - good hooks, good drumming, good vocal harmonies (because Rick and Billy were superb harmony singers, which they never got any credit for in Fleetwood Mac). But the album was mostly a throwaway. People have accused me of coming to that conclusion only in hindsight, but that's not true. I haven't changed my mind about it since 1990. The sound of it isn't even desperately commercial (the way Say You Will or Mirage always sound like they're trying to "tap in" to something in the radio audience), but it's the sound of a band that has kind of given up and just wants to take the road most traveled. It has that air of grabbing anyone who walks by that we were talking about in another thread. I don't think there was much inspiration in the people who made Behind the Mask, including songs, instrumentation (it's very impersonal - none of those quirks you came to associate with the instrumentalists in Fleetwood Mac from 1967 to 1987), cover art, and so on. Even the B sides are hopeless. The decisions the band made about almost everything give me the sense of having been drawn out of a hat quite at random. It's a good lesson for Fleetwood Mac and other bands: If you're not feeling particularly inspired, keep the work low key. Don't try making a "statement." That's the beauty of the band's next album, Time. It isn't any more brilliant or any less generic, but it's low key and modest, and that gives it a little charm.
Read this post around the time you sent it up onto the boards and did not know what to write in response, David.

Are you a music reviewer in your day job? If not, perhaps you need a career change. Are you David Wilde?

[aleuzzi]

To push my iconoclasm in everybody's face, I actually rather like Second Time. Stevie drops her pretensions and poses, and lets us hear her at a vulnerable moment. It truly feels much more authentic to me than Freedom or Affairs of the Heart - I'm not bluffing. By 1990, I was really bored with the Stevie Nicks mystique and wanted something different. I wanted to scrape off all that "moon spirit" crap (which was a lot less charismatic in a zonked-out singer in her mid 40s than it was fifteen years earlier) by then and see a rebirth of Stevie's artistry, whatever it actually looked like. And I suppose there are other moments on the album that are good enough - good hooks, good drumming, good vocal harmonies (because Rick and Billy were superb harmony singers, which they never got any credit for in Fleetwood Mac). But the album was mostly a throwaway. People have accused me of coming to that conclusion only in hindsight, but that's not true. I haven't changed my mind about it since 1990. The sound of it isn't even desperately commercial (the way Say You Will or Mirage always sound like they're trying to "tap in" to something in the radio audience), but it's the sound of a band that has kind of given up and just wants to take the road most traveled. It has that air of grabbing anyone who walks by that we were talking about in another thread. I don't think there was much inspiration in the people who made Behind the Mask, including songs, instrumentation (it's very impersonal - none of those quirks you came to associate with the instrumentalists in Fleetwood Mac from 1967 to 1987), cover art, and so on. Even the B sides are hopeless. The decisions the band made about almost everything give me the sense of having been drawn out of a hat quite at random. It's a good lesson for Fleetwood Mac and other bands: If you're not feeling particularly inspired, keep the work low key. Don't try making a "statement." That's the beauty of the band's next album, Time. It isn't any more brilliant or any less generic, but it's low key and modest, and that gives it a little charm.

I have never disliked a Mac album as much as BEHIND THE MASK. I have felt this way since the day it was released. In my opinion, only “Save Me” achieves the minimum standard. Your comments about Stevie are right on: by 1990, I was open to hearing anything other than the tired mystical fantasies. When “Blue Denim” arrived a couple years later, I was genuinely enthusiastic about her for the first time since “Imperial Hotel.”

I did like TIME, in part because it surfaced from nowhere, and because Christine’s vocals were excellent (even if the keyboard she was playing sounded awful). Add to this that the band were no longer pretending to be what they were, were stretching out and trying new things....Bekka and Billy were earthy and modest. I liked their chemistry.

[Macfan4life]

BTM has lots of fantastic qualities.

You can hear Christine playing keyboards (again) on so many songs and her style is revealed again and is so refreshing compared to the programmed tracks on Tango

You hear the classic Mac rhythm section again on all the songs. Even songs that are not great like Stand on the Rock, the Mac's rhythm section is fired up

Love all the vocalists singing together. Stevie and Billy. Christine and Billy. Stevie and Rick. No need to fake Stevie's voice like on Tango

I posted this before but I think half the album is excellent. Its not pop driven and holds up. The other half is not great and pulls the album down a bit.

I am in the minority but live the album cover. I understand none of them wanted to be on the cover so with that in mind what could you do. I love the mystery and so much tiny detail does tell a story.

Like Tango, Stevie brought some poor songs. In her haze, she was not writing great songs anymore and it would have been worth it to pull out an oldie.

Its comparing apples and oranges but I like BTM better than Tango. Its a group effort and Christine shines with her songs and keyboard playing. Gosh just listening to her layers or bridgey solos are amazing. You could strip all vocals and music and just listen to the keyboards on the songs and know its Fleetwood Mac. That is how dominant her style of playing is.

[jbrownsjr]

BTM has lots of fantastic qualities.

You can hear Christine playing keyboards (again) on so many songs and her style is revealed again and is so refreshing compared to the programmed tracks on Tango

You hear the classic Mac rhythm section again on all the songs. Even songs that are not great like Stand on the Rock, the Mac's rhythm section is fired up

Love all the vocalists singing together. Stevie and Billy. Christine and Billy. Stevie and Rick. No need to fake Stevie's voice like on Tango

I posted this before but I think half the album is excellent. Its not pop driven and holds up. The other half is not great and pulls the album down a bit.

I am in the minority but live the album cover. I understand none of them wanted to be on the cover so with that in mind what could you do. I love the mystery and so much tiny detail does tell a story.

Like Tango, Stevie brought some poor songs. In her haze, she was not writing great songs anymore and it would have been worth it to pull out an oldie.

Its comparing apples and oranges but I like BTM better than Tango. Its a group effort and Christine shines with her songs and keyboard playing. Gosh just listening to her layers or bridgey solos are amazing. You could strip all vocals and music and just listen to the keyboards on the songs and know its Fleetwood Mac. That is how dominant her style of playing is.

She dominated the BTM tour, too. Really stole the show. $tevie was in a slow dancing haze.

[On Ice]

She dominated the BTM tour, too. Really stole the show. $tevie was in a slow dancing haze.

Christine had an amazing run from Tango through ITMT where her voice was crystal clear and had even better pitch than the heyday years where both she and Stevie were hit and miss, mostly due to the insane tour schedules.

Although a dark period for Stevie, her voice was much better on the BTM tour than Tango where she was basically a flat croak at least early on. Not so on BTM where she was clear and had a strong tone.

Overall, BTM I think was a big disappointment for the Mac as they had high hopes for it. In hindsight it was half really good and half boring and unmemorable, mostly due to the production. It would have been much better with Dashut and Calliat at the helm.

[jbrownsjr]

Christine had an amazing run from Tango through ITMT where her voice was crystal clear and had even better pitch than the heyday years where both she and Stevie were hit and miss, mostly due to the insane tour schedules.

Although a dark period for Stevie, her voice was much better on the BTM tour than Tango where she was basically a flat croak at least early on. Not so on BTM where she was clear and had a strong tone.

Overall, BTM I think was a big disappointment for the Mac as they had high hopes for it. In hindsight it was half really good and half boring and unmemorable, mostly due to the production. It would have been much better with Dashut and Calliat at the helm.

Agree on Nicks' voice. Agree on BTM.

[moon]

I take back this thread, because I still think it's unfair we don't have a deluxe edition of this album. At least a release of two discs is a good deal!! And of course I'm saying the minor release we could see...

- Original album

- Disc with demos, outtakes and B-sides, so finally Lizard People could be released on CD and vinyl formats...

- DVD with tour AND musical videos, OR a third disc with live versions and the songs from this era (ALAYF, Paper Doll, Another Woman, No Questions Asked)

PLEASE!!!!!

[jbrownsjr]

I take back this thread, because I still think it's unfair we don't have a deluxe edition of this album. At least a release of two discs is a good deal!! And of course I'm saying the minor release we could see...

- Original album

- Disc with demos, outtakes and B-sides, so finally Lizard People could be released on CD and vinyl formats...

- DVD with tour AND musical videos, OR a third disc with live versions and the songs from this era (ALAYF, Paper Doll, Another Woman, No Questions Asked)

PLEASE!!!!!

There is a lot of great music in this era.

[moon]

Indeed! Listening to BTM recently I re-discovered it and I feel it sounds better and better. Music gets wise, so as us...
I forgot Heart Of Stone, released only on the 25 Years: The Chain box set.
Would it be good to have Make Me A Mask on a possible deluxe edition? :shrug:

[jbrownsjr]

Indeed! Listening to BTM recently I re-discovered it and I feel it sounds better and better. Music gets wise, so as us...
I forgot Heart Of Stone, released only on the 25 Years: The Chain box set.
Would it be good to have Make Me A Mask on a possible deluxe edition? :shrug:

Don't forget Love Shines.

Imagine if they opened the album with Love Shines?? :eek::)

[bwboy]

Indeed! Listening to BTM recently I re-discovered it and I feel it sounds better and better. Music gets wise, so as us...
I forgot Heart Of Stone, released only on the 25 Years: The Chain box set.
Would it be good to have Make Me A Mask on a possible deluxe edition? :shrug:

I agree about BTM, and that era in general- very underrated. As Long As You Follow certainly should have been on Rolling Stone’s recent 50 Greatest FM songs, anyway.

While it was generous of Lindsey to give Mick Make Me a Mask for the box set, it was recorded solely by Lindsey when he was not a member of FM, so more than any other song, it should not be included on another FM record.

[SteveMacD]

Christine's songs were mostly up to her standards. "Skies the Limit" (which should have been "Sky's the Limit," but I suspect was intentionally misspelled since United Airlines -Fly the Friendly Skies- was the big tour sponsor) was a little clunky.

Billy had maybe the second best batch of songs, although I really could have lived without "Hard Feelings." "When It Comes To Love" would have been better without the cheesy intro and with better production (a theme for this album).

Stevie and Rick had mostly forgettable songs, although better production might have helped.

Billy and Rick had better songs that weirdly got passed over.

Overall, I think the band was in top form as musicians, but the songs weren't especially strong. Stevie's songs weren't here weakest, definitely not her strongest, and were mostly bland and forgettable (although I'd love to have Mike produce a redo of "Freedom" because it could be a pretty good song).

[bwboy]

Christine's songs were mostly up to her standards. "Skies the Limit" (which should have been "Sky's the Limit," but I suspect was intentionally misspelled since United Airlines -Fly the Friendly Skies- was the big tour sponsor) was a little clunky.

Billy had maybe the second best batch of songs, although I really could have lived without "Hard Feelings." "When It Comes To Love" would have been better without the cheesy intro and with better production (a theme for this album).

Stevie and Rick had mostly forgettable songs, although better production might have helped.

Billy and Rick had better songs that weirdly got passed over.

Overall, I think the band was in top form as musicians, but the songs weren't especially strong. Stevie's songs weren't here weakest, definitely not her strongest, and were mostly bland and forgettable (although I'd love to have Mike produce a redo of "Freedom" because it could be a pretty good song).

Your summation is one I would agree with, although I clearly love the album much more than you. It is hard to understand how Intuition and Game of Love were passed over, as those two songs by Rick and Billy were so good. Stevie’s songs, I feel, are definitely not only the weakest of the four, but her personal weakest as well, yet ironically her vocals are great, and I can never get enough of their harmonies. I agree, a redo of Freedom would be cool.

Regarding the infamous Skies the Limit- you’re correct that grammatically it should be Sky’s the Limit, but it’s funny that people have posted here before that they hate the song because of the title ‘error.’ First off, if someone dislikes the song because of the way a word is spelled in the title, that’s stupid LOL and secondly, the title itself is never even sang in the song- the chorus is “the sky is the limit now (oh, the sky is the limit.)” Your theory of why the title is written as Skies the Limit is interesting but I doubt it’s accurate. The tour details would have come well after the album was completed, IMO. Maybe it’s a British thing, at least that’s the ‘Rumour’ I heard.

[moon]

Don't forget Love Shines.

Imagine if they opened the album with Love Shines?? :eek::)

So true! I truly forgot the song, but it's one that can't be absent!!
About Make Me A Mask, is good to consider that, if it's a Lindsey's solo song, it wouldn't be able to be on the list...
So! I see we have good material to a second disc on a deluxe edition :blob1:

[jbrownsjr]

So true! I truly forgot the song, but it's one that can't be absent!!
About Make Me A Mask, is good to consider that, if it's a Lindsey's solo song, it wouldn't be able to be on the list...
So! I see we have good material to a second disc on a deluxe edition :blob1:

That would truly be a cool opener. I feel like Skies is too light. This band rocks a little more than with Lindsey.

[Macfan4life]

I am hoping for a trance dance version of The Second Time with RAL era Edge of 17 screams and growls sampled in.

[cbBen]

That such a release even sees the light of day.