I have different favorites, depending on what it is.

I like the studio album, but as we all know, it's quite different than what we hear live. It's all very mystical, but at that point the band hadn't really solidified what they wanted to play or sing (except John).

I would have to say that my favorite early lives of Rhiannon are from Midnight Special & what I think people keep referring to as a Rosebud version.

Well, I can definitely say the WORST one of Stevie singing I have heard is the one in the 77 Nagoya, Japan bootleg. She does some cool stuff at the end... and it's kinda sad cause it sounds like she's trying to hit the high stuff and she can't do it too much.

It was always more fun to watch Stevie do her trip outdoors, in windy weather.
I am, too, Christian. I think it's a beautiful, narcotizing track, very delicate yet very powerful.

I thought Stevie's frayed vocals on that tour constitute, to this day, the most poignant live singing she's ever done. I remember how touched I was hearing it in person. It was a Stevie that, up until that time, I hadn't really known existed.

I think the "I don't change, you don't change..." lines do it for me. :nod:

Paula

Probably the best part...But when she starts to belt out the "Dreams unwind/ still it's a state of mind" bit right before that...OI! I just want to run up to her with a cup of hot tea and lemon and say, "Drink, baby...just drink." :laugh:

And how about that full-body lean from behind Lindsey does on Stevie for SOTM as they move up and down together? HOT HOT HOT.

My fave Rhiannon: Rockhoppers. They both excel and they know it - Lindsey even yells "YEAH!!!" at the end.

Rosebud is the quintessential version for me. I also love the Las Vegas 8-25-77 performance.

I never heard any other "Rhiannon" besides the studio one until I got the Live album. What a difference! For that simple reason the "80 Live" one is always a favorite of mine. That was before I heard what is know as the Capitol Theatre/King Biscuit version from an earlier tour.
Even MORE of a difference. She was just so RAW back then! Then of course there are Stevie's solo versions, but I won't touch on them since this is the Rumours board:)

I'm not a big fan of the studio version. I enjoy her latter-day performances (The Dance and Live in Boston) better than the earlier ones.

My all-time favorite is the 'Rosebud' version.

Other favorite versions... The Midnight Special, Wallingford CT 1976 (at Trod Nossel Studios), 'Live' album, 'Stevie Nicks: In Concert,' 1994 House Of Blues ('Welcome To My World'), 'Storytellers' and 'Live In Boston.'

Oh, yeah, and I love the radio remix.

Yes, the 'Rosebud' version is great, probably my favourite. I like the versions from the 'early' days where she would go crazy better. :p

Yes, yes, Rosebud, Rockhoppers, Midnight Special, Live 80, blah blah blah.

All awesome performances. None bring fresh debate to the table.

I would like to contend that the best performance of Rhiannon in that last 20 years has been Live at The House of Blues 1994. Yes, The Street Angel Tour!

It has an extended intro not remarkably dissimilar to that of the Dance Tour. The actual body of the song, aside from Stevie taking a lot more liberties vocally, is not overly distinguishable. And yes, Lindsey is not playing guitar. Tear.

However, the ending, beginning with "Dreams unwind..." is all sung the EXACT same way as it had been nearly 20 years before! There is less screaming, but the DREAMS UNWIND, STILL IT'S A STATE OF MIND etc. etc. are all done on that high G or whatever it is, I used to know it. The note that Stevie sings a full octave lower these days. It's crazy. When I first heard it, I hadn't thought she had been able to hit those notes since at least 1982. And here she was, singing Live 80 all over again. The very end manages to stay in her upper register, never dipping to the depths it saw during The Dance or SYW Tour, yet still captures "Whooaaa.. you still cry out to her, and he says, don't leave me, DON'T leave me........." It works very well high, and makes me wish she never got lazy.

Another gem from this performance is Stand Back, which I believe to be the definitive version. Again, she's not afraid to take all the chances, even some we'd never heard. What a groundbreaking concert!

Hasn't been mentionned yet, but I really like the Sin City version. After the guitar solo, Stevie does this really sexy "ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah" thing, and then the big note she hits on the final "dreams unwind love's a state mind!" is just spine-tingling.

House of Blues is a killer version of Rhiannon! I love it.

I like the longer version better regardless. Love the silly dreamer try hard you can't leave her part so much...

Can someone post this "Rosebud" version and maybe the Mirage concert video version on their site? I have never heard either of these... out of the ones I have heard I love the Live Album version and the Live in Boston Version.