Stevie Guitar Demos and a Rare Picture
 

Hey all. I've got a couple questions that I hope somebody could answer.

I'm aware there are a lot of demos floating around now of Mac Members working on their songs, partly thanks to bootlegging (and youtube for making the stuff so available and convenient) and partly due to the deluxe reissues with bonus material coming out 5 or 6 years back.

Now, Lindsey's brilliance as an arranger and guitarist and Chris's impressive piano playing are no secrets, but demos are pretty much the only place where we ever get to hear exactly how Stevie handles an instrument.

Now, piano demos are ubiquitous, but I feel like Stevie wrote some of her best material for guitar (at least I think), and as far as I'm concerned, the 75-79 period is the most interesting.

I wonder if anyone knows just which demos Stevie is heard on. For example, on the early demo of Gold Dust woman at the end of the rumours reissue, the guitar playing sounds VERY simple - frankly, a bit beneath Lindsey, even in demo mode. Is that Stevie playing? I don't see why Lindsey would impulsively lead it into "If you ever did believe".

Speaking of "If you ever did believe", are there any demos circulating of Nicks playing this on the guitar? I did believe she wrote this as well as Gold Dust Woman and naturally Landslide on guitar.

Also, are there any demos circulating where Stevie plays keys with the band? There's a version of "Storms" with a lot of organ, available as a bonus track on the Tusk reissue. Does anyone know if that's Stevie or Chris playing? I think there is a working tape where she plays keys and Lindsey plays guitar. It's very cool to hear the two of them jamming like that. Also, is it true that Stevie's piano was left on the final version of Sara? If so, I think that would be the only mac track where Stevie plays anything.

So, yeah, anyone who could give me any clarification, I'd appreciate it. I'm very curious about hearing demos of Fleetwood Mac/Rumours/Tusk era songs.

Also, on a side note, does anybody seem to know if a piano demo exists or ever has existed for the songs "Dreams" and "angel"? These seem to be the only songs for which nobody has ever dug up a solo demo!

As for a final thing, I SWEAR I've seen a picture of Stevie playing electric guitar. I think it's from the Bella Donna or wild heart sessions. As I recall she was actually dressed fairly normally (!) for once, and it was just adorable. Does anybody know what picture I'm talking about?

Any and all responses about the convoluted history of Stevie demos andt his rare picture are appreciated!

Do you mean this screencap? I think it's from the Crystal Visions DVD (or was it the SIAB video?)

Oh my goodness, so cute! I have seen that on video but never as a picture. Thanks for posting!

There's a demo of Leather and Lace that Stevie plays guitar on (and also a picture of her recording the demo).

Acording to Stevie "Dreams" was written in the studio and Fleetwood Mac recorded the song just hours after she wrote it...This would explain the lack of demos...
There is some great footage of "Angel" being worked on in the Tusk Doc...

Speaking of Stevie playing guitar,does anyone have the pic of her playing guitar on stage with FM??? It could be from the white album days...She looks like a total bad ass...:nod:

It's inside the white album tour book.

I think that's the picture I was talking about! Muchos gracias for your replies, everybody!

And a picture of Stevie playing guitar? With fleetwood mac?! I totally second that emotion, that's badass!

THIS, I have got to see. Can anybody post it?

It's Stevie playing acoustic guitar. Michele j, have you ever seen it?

Yes. I saw it on here recently too, like in the last 2 months. But was it FM or before they joined FM? Well, maybe there's more than one of them and I'm thinking of the earliest.

Michele

It's a FM picture.

I always think of "Twisted" when I think of songs she wrote on guitar. I love the demo on "Enchanted," even though her playing sounds, uh, more than a bit rusty!

SN on guitar:

http://i49.tinypic.com/34q1nyw.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/35na5qx.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/hu5d9s.jpg

^That last one is actually John's acoustic bass, no?

This is the pic I was talking about from the White Album tour book.

Sanne, is this Tusk or Rumours?

Great pics...But that's not it...The Stevie/guitar pic i'm looking for is in color,outside,daytime...she's looking down watching what she's playing (If I remember right)...Anyone know the one i'm talking about? I have it but my comp won't read the disc:mad: Let me see if it's on my twitpic thing...

Tusk, Rotterdam, June 13, 1980

This pic maybe?

Is it the one where everyone speculated it was taken from a wedding...?

Even if this is not the one BlueDenimLamp is looking for, thanks for posting this!! I thought I had it and spent forever looking for it to post with the other pics yesterday! :laugh:

I don't know the one BlueDenimLamp is looking for...but while we're at it, maybe you guys can help me find a Stevie guitar pic I've been looking for? IIRC it's black-and-white, and she's playing an acoustic guitar and looking down at it, possibly Bella Donna or Tusk era, possibly in the studio or a rehearsal hall, possibly sitting in front of a drum set? It's not a performance pic, it's more of a behind the scenes, noodling around shot.

I love that picture you posted, Sanne! It's awesome! Maybe that one is from the buckingham nicks days?

One must wonder exactly WHICH songs Stevie was playing that thing on. SURELY she wasn't doing the acoustic licks on go your own way during concerts at any point? heh.

I'm glad I made this thread. These are some really rare and gorgeous photographs, guys.

Based on Stevie's hair I think it's from '76, but I'm not sure.

BD-era guitar Stevie:
http://i.imgur.com/f7736.jpg

Working on a Leather and Lace demo:
http://i.imgur.com/LUdGql.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WeyB3l.jpg

Stevie looks great with a guitar in her hands! I wish she played more often, but I get why she doesn't. If I had to play on stage next to Lindsey Buckingham, I'd probably be a bit intimidated!

I've read conflicting accounts. Does anyone know if it's Stevie or not?

^She said it was buried in there in the mix somewhere.

She could play on her solo tours next to Waddy if she wanted. Or she and Carlos could play together. Of course, I'm sure she just has no interest at that point.

I remember in 1982 with regard to playing with FM she said it would just be for the "look" of it all, rather than for her playing skills, so what would be the point if she played on stage and, of course, she said Lindsey would be yelling at her that she was out of time and she remarked that's the last thing she needed.

Michele

i wonder what song they are doing ?

Actually, if you listen to the soundboards of the 1977 tour rehearsals, you'll hear that indeed it was GYOW that Stevie tried playing the rhythm acoustic on. She complains about it even during the rehearsal.

I guess by the time the band hit the road, Lindsey had decided that it would be better to make Ray do the part.

For those of you wanting to keep track of Stevie's instrument playing in concert, she used to wander over to Roy Bittan's Fender Rhodes and play the "Rhiannon" riff before the band kicked in. This was during the final leg of the Wild Heart tour. You can hear her do this on the Sept. 25, 1983, recording of the American Heart Association benefit at Compton Terrace in Tempe. Benmont accompanies her on the B3.

CAH does mention Lindsey teaching Stevie to play guitar on GYOW the very first time Carol met Stevie.

Michele