2 New Singles?
 

Look at the songs going for adds this week at AAA radio....


Triple A Going For Adds

Artist Title (Label)
Daron Talbot Ski Bum (Talbot)
EastMountainSouth Rain Come Down (DreamWorks)
Fleetwood Mac Steal Your Heart Away (Reprise)
Fleetwood Mac Thrown Down (Reprise)
Maria McKee In Your Constellation (Viewfinder)

AWESOME! Thanks Joe. :wavey:

This is great news - going with the two singles - and these two songs are as classic Mac as anything on the album. Sure the rest of the songs on the CD are all so much more unique and fiesty, but these two 'single-ish' songs are surely the best chance FM has from SYW to make an impact in their most suited category (AAA etc). I mean what categories do EFO and Red Rover fall under - 70s Disco and Bizzaro? :laugh:

Both of these songs have a sort of timeless quality to them and I think they'll stand FM in great stead. :nod:

2 New Singles?
 

This is fantastic. I agree - SYHA is a great choice for this format and is such a classic sound with some really great harmonies on it.

Thrown Down, for me, is a no brainer and I expected it to be released at some point - I love it!!

I'm *slightly* surprised that they're releasing "Steal Your Heart Away," only because the other singles so far had all been the ones that received TV promotion ("Peacekeeper" on 'Third Watch,' "Say You Will" in the ads for 'That 70s Show,' and "Thrown Down" on 'Friends')... so I would have expected the fourth single to be "Bleed To Love Her," since it was featured on an episode of 'Alias.'

I guess we shouldn't be surprised about SYHA, as Lindsey did include it in the PBS set.
I like the song a lot, but I don't see how Lindsey can ignore most of the Mirage album due to its supposed fluffiness, but then promote a song like this, which is catchy but not exactly deep.

- Jake

and all FM fans should be sure to check out Maria McKee's new record. It's fantastic and she was sort of ushered in to the "mainstream" by Tom Petty and Jimmy Iovine in the late 80's.

Oh thats excellent news, hopefully the two songs getting expsoure will help the fortunes of SYW back up the charts

Maybe only 'Thrown down' is getting a commercial CD release?

Do u think we might get 2 concept videos this time?????? ;)

SYHA is, IMO and after SYW (remix), the most radio friendly song on SYW (CD). Thrown Down (DVD-A mix) is also radio friendly, but IMO, it needs a little remix to liven it up as IMO it tends to drag on the CD cut and less with the addition of the repeating harmonies on the DVD-A cut.

In any event, I am ecstatic they released more singles. Hopefully, these will add life to the CD.

My $0.02.

It looks like like "Thrown Down" is going for adds on Hot AC and AC and "Steal Your Heart Away" to Triple A. Of the two, "Thrown Down" is going to need the most luck because it is going for adds in a MUCH tougher format. This is kind of what like what they did for the first two singles from 'Shangri-la.' They should do a "triple threat" and ship a dance mix of "Everybody finds Out" to the dance stations and clubs too.

Incidentally, I liked Maria McKee a lot better when she was twangy. The music she's done since the mid 90s lacks vitality.

Now back to your regularly scheduled dicussion about FM singles.

I would also add that I agree fully with my friend Strandinthewind. How often does that happen? Hands down, Steal Your Heart Away is the most radio-friendly track in SYW. The melody has a timeless quality; it harkens back to the Rat Pack type of music, much as Soul Drifter and some stuff off Law and Order did. The lyrics are vague, yet universal in what they convey. The vocals are absolutely gorgeous, not to mention the very tasteful guitaring.

Last night at an open mic, I got to do a second three-song set because only a few performers showed up. I closed the second set with Steal Your Heart Away. It was the only cover I played, and the only one I got comments on later. (That'll teach me!)

I think the song has potential.

On occasion here and even rarer on the General Discussion Board!!! ;) ;)

Congrats on the cover at open mic.

:cool:

He has stated that it "borders on generic". It's one of my least favourites by him (although I do like it) and it sounds like it can offend no one. But it certainly won’t be causing any big emotional reactions. It is the biggest compromise on SYW; the other members must have wanted it on the album very bad. ;)
Any depth one is hearing in any particular song (and yes, this includes everything Stevie has ever written) is the empty space between your ears anyway. ;)

Therefore it’s the archetypal MOR song. I can hear anyone of the Rat Pack doing “Soul Drifter”, but not “SYHA”. Ah, it’s the space between my ears that’s talking again. ;)

Lindsey said that about SYHA?

I've always liked it because it has a bit of the Kingston Trio (generic folkies who played banjo well) vibe to it, & maybe even a little Beach Boys (the dipping little melody that accompanies "suddenly we hit the ground").

I find it hard to imagine the Great Unwashed out in Radioland having any fondness for it, though. At this stage of the game, I'd find it next to impossible to decide what to try to get on the radio from the whole album. The classic rock stations still play "Gold Dust Woman" & "Dreams," but they're obviously (as is apparent by now) not going to add new Mac to their playlists. Years ago, when "The Dance" was big, I thought Fleetwood Mac could step easily into the Dave Matthews audience -- those thirtysomething yuppies who used to watch VH1 & "Ally McBeal." But that never happened, so at this point, I just don't see Fleetwood Mac ever again finding a sizable niche in any of the radio markets geared to charts.

I believe that's what he said about Mirage, not SYHA. He said that Mirage "borders on generic."

Yes, he said this about SYHA- It was something like he thinks it tends/borders to be generic but he hopes not too much.

I think Peacekeeper was clearly the most obvious single on the album even after losing some strength compared to the solo version. And it was quite successful espescially compared to its follow up single SYW. I am very surprised that they release two singles at the same time as you could think they steal some power from each other. But because of this funny radio format division thing you have over there in the US this probably won't happen. I think SYHA is one of the songs that have been improved from GOS to SYW. Let's see how it`s doing as a single.

Great news! I'm particularly happy about Steal Your Heart Away....it's such a beautiful song. I wish Thrown Down had remained as the WOS version but...oh well!:)

Fingers crossed that they do fantastically in the U.S. charts, while Peacekeeper does a great job here in the U.K.:cool:

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:

Much as I like both songs, SYHA and Thrown Down, I don't know if I can ever see radio embracing FM again like they once did. It's not a reflection on quality, just a reflection on more rigid format decisions. But I'll remain ever-hopeful. ;)

SYHA is probably the most accessible of Lindsey's songs musically, but I actually think there is some depth to the lyrics. I think he's really good at communicating a message that seems to pull at two different things at the same time. On the surface I can see how it would be seen as a somewhat simplistic love song - like a plea to someone he's infatuated with to "steal your heart away".

But the song has always come off to me as being more about mourning the loss of a certain idealism and romanticism in a relationship, and then in some ways, about life in general. He's singing to her and himself about loving each other enough to recognize that, much as it hurts to fully admit it, they aren't fulfilling each other and they should probably part ways to rediscover that missing spark elsewhere. The "steal your heart away" line always seemed more to me about stealing their hearts back from each other in order to preserve some essence of themselves that they can rebuild and put toward happiness in another time, in another place, probably with someone else.

I suppose that may or may not be seen as deep even so, hehe, and of course lyric interpretations are always wide open for debate and dispute. But I like that his songs use deceptively simple lyrics to sort of suggest a more complex set of feelings. Just my .02.

I was very dismayed that Lindsey dissed his own song with that "generic" comment. It's actually my second favorite of his songs on the album, right after Red Rover, and I've adored it ever since I heard it on the Dance Best Buy CD.

It reminds me when the lead singer of "The Simple Minds" made fun of people for liking "Don't You Forget About Me." That is VERY UNCOOL. I know Lindsey hasn't done that, thank goodness, but one example that stands out in my mind is his disparagement of "Oh Diane," which I happen to like. That really ticked me off.

I think it's kind of interesting to find out what an artist likes and doesn't like in their own catalog sometimes. But I do think he actually likes SYHA (as opposed to Oh Diane), even while admitting it may not quite live up to what he considers his adventurous highs. I suppose he figures he developed a nitch in the band as being the most edgy writer for a number of years, so when his material isn't edgy, he's a little shy and self-effacing about it, even if he likes it.

I like the song a lot too, and always have since first listen, generic (in his mind) or not! ;)

There are other Fleetwood Mac/Maria McKee fans out there?
I became a fan of hers when I saw Lone Justice open up for U2 on their War tour (a long time ago!)

Yes, the great song "Ways to be Wicked" was written by Tom Petty and produced by Jimmy Iovine.

Recently saw her live here in Portland, OR. She is very entertaining, ecentric and very bizarre...along the lines of Sandra Bernhard. All of her albums are very different from each other...Country, Rock, Grunge, etc... I like them all. David Bowie seems to big a influence to her...at least I hear that in her latest album.

YAY!!!!
 

This is TERRIFIC news!!! As long as they play them on the radio. What good are singles if they don't?

I am probably one of the few who like SYHA better than BTLH.

Re: YAY!!!!
 

Well I for one sure prefer SYHA ~ don't know about most other people! I would've thought they did.

BTLH shouldn't even have been on the album as it has been on "The Dance", let alone be a single...

I too prefer SYHA over that!

Foolish, foolish people! :laugh:

Well then again, "Bleed To Love Her" is obviously about sadomasochism and "Steal Your Heart Away" is about a permanent heart removal. So it's apples and oranges again, I guess. ;)

:laugh:

Seems to me that Lindsey is not saying he does not like Steal your heart away. Please see the quote below. He seems to say there will always be a place for finally crafted pop on a fleetwood mac album. Its something he does well and he wants to do.

Also note some quotes from some well respected East Coast Music Critics about Thrown Down and Steal Your Hear Away.

Steal Your Heart Away is being sent to AAA only. Thrown Down to AC and Hot AC, as well as AAA. Look for AAA programmers to jump on Steal Your Heart Away. None of this means that if Steal were to take off on AAA that a HOT AC station could not jump on it. Vice Versa as well.




It’s fascinating to note all the different levels on which you function here - the purse pop level of "Say You Will," "Steal Your Heart Away," "What’s The World Coming To" - compared wit the sonically surreal level of "Come," "Red Rover."

Yeah. But we’re not playing down to anyone. "Steal" and "World" are mine, and the title track is Stevie’s, and they all definitely fall into a similar category. And for me, I dunno - a song is something that you always think about covering. And as much as it’s interesting for me to stray into that unknown realm of "Red Rover" - and we’re working on "Red Rover" today - it’s interesting to do live. We’ve got three guitar players running through this vibrato on/off thing, and the on/off is toed into a specific click. And we have to play to that click or the timing’s all off, so we’re working it all out and it’s pretty trippy. But as much as that’s where my heart is in terms of pushing the envelope, and that "new frontier" kind of vibe . . . well, we’re a pop band. And those pop songs are always going to be there, and I would be very uncomfortable if we didn’t have some of those, ‘cause that’s where we stand. When Stevie and I joined Fleetwood Mac, and suddenly it was this big commercial animal, people would say, "Did you just decide you were gonna do that?" And my answer was always, "Well, no - this is what we do. This is what we like."

Guitar One June 2003

Longtime Fleetwood Mac fans need not fret though, for there are plenty of moments here that are very true to the best of their earlier work. "Thrown Down," is a particular standout, loaded with Buckingham and Nicks' harmonies, while others like Nicks' title track and the beautiful Buckingham ballad "Steal Your Heart Away" fare nearly equally well.

Kevin O’Hare –Springfield Republican April 2003

As for Buckingham, all of his songs are brand new and feature his multitracked guitar style. His best tracks are the love songs ''Steal Your Heart Away'' and ''Bleed to Love Her,'' as well as the acoustic ''Say Goodbye,'' with fast-clipped acoustic guitar in the manner of Leo Kottke.

Steve Morse Boston Globe April 2003

“Steal Your Heart Away” is one of the best singles in the band's hefty discography

Tom Moon Philadelphia Inquirer April 2003

I have to admit I was kind of torn about the inclusion of "Bleed To Love Her," simply because it meant that it would take up the space that a new song could have had. However, it's one of my all-time favorite Lindsey tunes, so I'm glad the studio version wasn't just discarded.

Maybe it would have been best if they had used it in a different way (such as on the second disc of the Limited Edition set)... but then, it is one of Lindsey's only true "pop" moments on the album, so it does help to provide an important texture.

Plus, who can resist Lindsey, Stevie & Christine's harmonies on the chorus? And that gorgeous instrumental coda? :D

Besides for Come, Murrow, and Red Rover, all of Lindsey's songs are pretty poppy on SYW. But all of the songs are fab-o. :nod:

Yeah, "pop" definitely wasn't the right word... but "pretty" seemed too wimpy when I wrote it. :laugh:

But really, "Bleed To Love Her" is one of Lindsey's few "pretty" songs on the album... and, again, it provides an important texture. :)

I know many critics (and, inexplicably, some fans) complained that the album was too long, but they definitely covered a LOT of ground with this one.
As Creem Online's review stated, it's "one long damn album with no filler in sight."

Not sure I would call Miranda and Say Goodbye pure pop. There's enough weirdness going though both of those to turn off a goodly number of potential listeners.

As for Steal Your Heart Away, yes it is pop. Unabashadly. But what makes it special is the way it harkens back to melodies rarely ever used anymore. Yes, there's a bit of Beach Boys in there and, I think, a little bit of that old standard ballad feel. I find the melody is merely Part Deux of Sould Drifter. Play those songs back to back and you wil see very common elements, down to the lack of a chorus and the repetition of the bridge.

Incidentally, I've noticed some melodic stuff making its way back to the airwaves. Of course, I really only listen to WFUV, which is an off-beat non-commercial station. The Jayhaws, the Thorns and some band called The Thrills(?) have very, very melodic stuff that is not necessarily cheesy and that is getting some attention.

Hey, even The Strokes have beautiful melodies in their songs, when you really get down to the essence of their tunes.

I wouldn't either and that's why I didn't. ;) :laugh:

I don't believe that any of Lindsey's songs can be *pure* pop; there is always a splash of the eccentric and out-there in his music. It's the constant in his career. I just think that those songs are poppy when you put them next to songs like Murrow, Come, and Red Rover. :)

No problem there. The biggest problem with "SYHA" that I have is that it doesn't have unusual things Lindsey very often adds to his music. It's an obvious stylization without the typical Buckingham eccentricities. The same goes for "Oh Diane" too. The fact that those two can be used as background music, as harmless, even banal filler for empty spaces in between discussion bothers me the most. There's nothing in either of those tunes that really grabs me. I do like them, but they're at the bottom end of LB's catalogue for me.

I do realize that some people love it when he's "normal" like this. And I don't mind it that much either, if he doesn't do it that often, which he hasn't. Besides, I still can't rationally explain why I think "Bleed To Love Her" and "Down On Rodeo" are gorgeous while "SYHA" and "Oh Diane" are not. And I'm still kicking myself for that. ;)

I see your point, Gaius, but... Lindsey's eccentricities are in evidence on "Steal Your Heart Away," if you listen to his vocal.

"All aLOWne we gOW, all day after DAAY-AYY... all alone, we SUFFAH... to steal your heart away...."

"It's the sAYme old thing, in the sAAYEMe old way...."

It can actually be kind of annoying if you focus on it, but it does make the song purely Buckingham. :)

I am in total agreement, Johnny!! Have you heard the early mix of SYHA? It is *incredibly* annoying. He makes these "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm" noises during the last minute, too, and it makes you want to put your head in a gas oven.

While um never making me suicidal :laugh: nor was I much of a fan of SYHA until the SYW version came about. Stevie and the boost of Christine in the mix towards the end really makes the song.

Well, I understand you there. It's still not too obvious and just a single detail. The main problem is still that it doesn't add anything obviously distracting to it. So it's the overall sound of the track that bothers me. Even though I agree with Dissention, those "mmm-mmms" add a bit more "weirdness" to the proceedings. Of course, I won't let this song turn into a similar monster for me that the album version of "Thrown Down" is for Ms. Objectivity. ;)

Is this supposed to be a hint, Brian? ;) Should I actually identify myself properly? Should I add a signature?

Ah, I have a good idea for that just now:

Interesting debate. I've always liked Steal Your Heart Away. It's a beautiful song. In the same vein, I like Down on Rodeo, Bleed to Love Her and the covers Gotta Get Away and The Singer Not the Song. They all follow that simple, very melodic approach. I wonder if Lindsey recorded them around the same time.

I *love* Gotta Get Away; it should have been on the album. Or, at the very least, an extra on the limited edition set. :nod:

I've always been crazy about SYHA, ever since I heard it from the Dance Best Buy...but I never thought of it as single material. It's become an intensely personal song for me. I like the posibilities it leaves open for interpretation.
I guess I never thought of it as single material because it's so mellow, almost a ballad...well, not really, but much more laid-back than I would expect for radio. I kinda though it would be like one of the many other gems that is always a deep cut on an album. Plus it's kinda weird for me to see it released now because I've been listening to it for like, five years.
The song is so special to me I kinda feel like it wouldn't be appreciated enough as a single...but I guess I could say that about any Mac music nowdays :distress:.
Call me nuts...but I think Murrow has a certain radio-friendly appeal. :] Thrown Down definitely does because it's just classic Stevie with the magic Buckingham touch and has those qualities in a Mac song that make it appealing to people who appreciate the Mac singles from the 70's and 80's.
I hope both Thrown Down and SYHA beat expectations for single success!

Carne...that's awesome that you did it for an open mic :thumbsup:

-Sonia