Which two albums represent Stevie's best Fleetwood Mac work?
 

In honor of Stevie's birthday, I thought I'd do a poll :thumbsup:So pick 2 albums that you feel represent and showcase Stevie Nicks at her best.

'75 Fleetwood Mac, Rumours, Tusk, Mirage, Tango in the Night, Behind the Mask(inc NQA/PD), and Say You Will are your options.

Remember only pick two. I'm sure Tusk will get the most, but what will come in second? :cool:

Tusk and SYW by a long shot.

I wasn't 100% sure on how to deal with the major quantity differences among these albums/eras, so I just picked my three favourites from each to consider, and cut out any extras.

Mirage was my first choice, actually. Her songs are drowned out by some somewhat tepid Christine and Lindsey offerings on that album, but its 3 Stevie-penned songs show her at her absolute most vibrant, interesting, and unique.

Tusk and SYW were tough to choose between. But I don't think anything on SYW really quite touches the heights of Sara. And you're right, MSB, it will get the most votes.

Rumours and Tusk...and i'm presuming Silver Springs is included.

Tusk contains the best material of Stevie's career, period. Sara, Storms, Sisters of the Moon, Beautiful Child... these songs are a tour de force of what Stevie is capable of. These songs are finest songwriting, singing, and harmonizing she ever put on tape. They show the flexibity of the styles she can pull off, too- rock, ballads, folk, and pop.

Regarding a second album... that's when it gets a bit harder for me. My instinct is to go for Rumours. Gold Dust Woman might just be Stevie's best recorded song. Dreams is probably her finest pop song, too. I Don't Wanna know is a flawless little song, very catchy... but it's a duet, and kinda unremarkable, IMO. Rumours is such an obvious, easy, thoughtless choice... which is why I wrestle with choosing it.

Instead, I contemplate supplanting Rumours with Say You Will. Hear me out. I think Illume is one of the most artistically neat songs of Stevie's career. I think it's every bit as good as Straight Back, and possibly in the echelon of Sisters Of The Moon & Gold Dust Woman. I feel Destiny Rules is right up there with Gypsy. If I hadn't heard the original demos of Smile At You, I'd probably feel as strongly about it as well. Plus, Say You Will contains some great rock songs like Running Through The Garden & Everybody Finds Out. Say You Will is a great little pop song. There's a wide variety of material on Say You Will that showcases that Stevie is still a very capable artist.

So I guess I won't be voting in this poll until I can decide what my second album choice will be. The sheer perfection of Rumours is undeniable, but the grittiness of Say You Well tugs at my heart strings. :)

Yeah, Silver Springs counts for Rumours. No Questions Asked and Paper Doll count towards Behind the Mask.

Also, consider all aspects of her songs, i.e. vocals, songwriting, legacy, and production/arrangement. :cool:

I was so excited/intrigued that someone voted for BTM, then I noticed that that member has just voted for all the options except TITN. :lol: Sneaky.

Loving the SYW love here, too. :)

Likewise... it's a wonderful & unexpected surprise. :nod: The album itself has some serious flaws, but if you look at the songs/songwriters individually, they really hold their own. :)

I really appreciated reading your post. Tusk may include Stevie's best songs: the immaculately produced Sara and the singular Beautiful Child being the standouts from the studio recording for me. As you said, it taps into so many different genres: folk, country, pop, rock. I agree, tour de force, and it should rank Stevie among the greatest singer-songwriters to emerge in the last 40 years. A wonderful accomplishment.

I disagree regarding your second selection. I have to go with Rumours for reasons you mention. Gold Dust Woman may be Stevie's greatest song. I'm obsessed with it, the guitar sounds, the rock authenticity it gave the band, the psychedelic flavor. For me, it's not only one of the band's most iconic songs, but also one of their greatest. And I agree with your reading of Dreams, too. It's a perfect pop song; but the thing is, it should not be relegated to just pop. In a way, it captures the lost blues band essence of Fleetwood Mac in the guitar sounds, as well as the glorious sound of the three lead singers together in the chorus, something that hasn't been heard since The Dance (Christine is hugely important to this song, as well as Lindsey--and I love that about it!!). I Don't Want to Know may be unremarkable, but Stevie also made a significant contribution with The Chain, one of the band's greatest songs. Though credited to all five members, the lyrics are definitely Stevie's and give so much power to the song, as she is by far the best lyricist of Fleetwood Mac. Silver Springs then seals the deal. If Stevie had more pull in the band at that point, before they all realized how important her presence was, there is NO WAY it would've been cut from the album.

It's hard for me to put Say You Will in this category, since none of the songs can really hold their own against the classics, a good problem many great artists face: the constant comparison to their most iconic work. Stevie tries to recapture some of the mysticism and magic of the earlier songs, and sometimes that comes off as forced, and borderline kitsch. I think Thrown Down is her best song on the album, which you didn't mention, though I think as a few people have said on here, the lyric choices are definitely questionable, even with Stevie being "the poet that she is."

So for me, it's clearly Tusk and Rumours. But special nods to Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac for Rhiannon, Landslide, and Crystal (I wonder if Stevie was forced to have Lindsey sing it back in 1975, but no qualms there...I'm curious if there is a recording that exists of her singing it from that era. Of the two recordings I know that exist, I prefer Lindsey's to Stevie's Practical Magic version), and to Mirage for one of the strongest studio recordings and best FM music video in Gypsy. Edit: Also I love Fireflies, thank God that was released on a live album...maybe that's a song that could make a return and retain the classic Mac sound on a new, proper studio album?? hmmm

I only voted Tusk.

I am so sorry, I voted for three! Its impossible to decide. Rumours, Tusk and Mirage. Not a bad Stevie song on any of them. Even though she only had 3 songs on Mirage, they carried the whole album.

Rumours and Tusk to me. The peak of that era to me. Man this line up hit a peak fast.

Mick

The pinnacle of Stevie's career is her contributions to Tusk, all 5 songs were written to perfection, sung with all of the strengths and weaknesses of her vocal capabilities and never to be matched again. The demos from that era also could easily have interchanged and we'd still have her best set of songs on any Fleetwood Mac album. Now, this is where I'm going to contradict myself and go from my favourite Fleetwood Mac album to discussing Stevie's best work and blow my argument :(

Back to the perfection that is Rumours. Gold Dust Woman is in my view, her very best self penned recorded song. It fits perfectly into any classic rock set played on the radio or at home, it just does. It is also the only song she has pulled off live at every single concert even on an "off" night, going back to even some of the problematic shows of yesteryear where Stevie could barely talk let alone sing. Someone said earlier how Dreams while being a pop song also recaptures the blues side of the band, and it certainly does. The high notes on that song are also just wonderful and left me longing for more, that was really never to be again (although brief interludes on Sorcerer, New Orleans and Call on Me for Magic). I Don't Want to Know also is her most "forgotten" gem, a flawless song that is so catchy, I still love playing it. The Chain also shows just how good Stevie's songwriting was, despite her limited chord knowledge, she could pump out a killer melody and lyrics that none of her contemporaries would dare touch. The demo of that song left me scratching my head as to why the structure of that song never wove itself into another song, it' stunning. Lastly, there's Silver Springs, again the songwriting is immaculate and the vocals on record, she would not match until 1997 when she hit the song out of the park on the Dance. Fleetwood Mac's greatest misstep was not including this gorgeous song on Rumours and making it the lead single for the album. It's that good.

I agree with the earlier posts about Mirage and Say You Will, each contained some of Stevie's best work and are honourable mentions, but Rumours and Tusk are flawless where the later works have cracks in the armour of what was clearly some of the best material ever recorded by a rock and roll band.

Don't get me started about Tango in the Night as I'd rather forget that one.

^^^On Ice, I agree with everything you said except I enjoy Tango. I voted for Rumours and Tusk but if 3 picks were allowed(Yes gssmith, I'm talkin' to you LOL), I would have then added the White Album because Rhiannon and Landslide are just as precious as her Rumours and Tusk songs, to me.

I went for Rumours and Tusk. I think the choice of Tusk needs no explanation. As for Rumours, I think GDW is possibly her best recorded song, period. Dreams is obviously iconic. You have The Chain, another iconic piece, which shows off her knack for harmony. And IDWTK, while not superbly influential, is still a substantially good folk-pop throwback.

:laugh: Poor ol' Tango-era Stevie. I really want to be in her corner for that album, but then on WISYA she's all "WHASSAMATTAHBAYBEHHH!?!?!?!?" and I'm like "Yeah... This shouldn't exist". Although I think Lindsey's vocals at the end of the song indicate that there is a good song in there somewhere.

I like WTTRS okay. I think it'd have been easier to accept as a TOSOTM filler-track, and it isn't really worse than a lot of the songs on the b-side of Tango. But as one of only two Nicks-penned songs in the first Mac album for 5 years, it's pretty dire.



Truth time? I've never gotten the fuss about Dreams. I mean, it's a good song, but it's a bit hyped up, isn't it? Am I insane? And Silver Springs was sold to me by the incredible performance in The Dance, but melody-wise it's never been one of my favourites either. Much as I do like those songs, and the rest of her offerings from that era, Rumours would have probably been my 5th choice on this poll.

But what about Gold Dust Woman? There seems to be a consensus among a few users in this thread that it is not only one of Stevie's most iconic songs, but it's probably the greatest song Stevie wrote. I think that one and The Chain should place Rumours much higher than fifth, right!?!

I voted for Rumours and Tusk, but the 1975 álbum is also a great Stevie work.

5th is still very good! If I ranked all of these, my top 5 would hang very close together. And yes, Gold Dust Woman is fabulous. The lyrics to The Chain are also fabulous. I'm not denying either of those things. But nope, 5th it is. I think the Rhiannon/Landslide/Crystal triptych clearly beats the Rumours stuff. I'm amazed and a little sad that the White Album has gotten so few votes.

I think Stevie was actually underutilized on the White Album. It probably has to do with her having far less of a say, understandably, in the creative decisions. Rhiannon's definitely the most important song of the three. I'm still wondering whether Stevie was forced to hand Crystal over to Lindsey for his vocal or if the band enjoyed his sound from Buckingham Nicks. I would love to hear what Stevie's 1975 voice would sound like singing that song. I prefer Lindsey's vocal when comparing to Stevie's Practical Magic version.

It's possible that they didn't want the '75 album to have too much of a feminine presence, so kept the Lindsey vocals. But as you said, he recorded it for BN as well, so I'm inclined to think that's just what she had in mind for it. I like her 90s version of the song very much, but I don't think her '75 vocals would've suited the song nearly as well as Lindsey's did at the time.

I think Stevie was underutilized on most of the Mac albums she's been on, Mirage, Rumours, and White Album alike, but that's me just being a chiffonhead. She's always sort of been the awkward-fit bonus-member of Fleetwood Mac, to me. And I love her for that.

Landslide and Rhiannon are the biggest and the most defining songs of SN's career, for a casual fan or listener. even diehard SN fans here argue that all the time, how important those songs are for her and FM.

so i'm kinda shocked that White Album is getting so little votes here.

personally, there are 3 SN songs i love - Landslide, Gold Dust Woman and Sisters of the Moon. i think Stevie really was at her songwriting pinnacle during later BN years, when they were working on their second album (time when Landslide and Rhiannon were penned), and she never quite reached that productivity since (i'm talking lyrics and music, not solely lyrics/poems) except maybe during Tusk years. SOTM, Angel, BC are all great songs in their own right, and they are also very diverse.

so White Album and Tusk it is.

Going with the majority opinion on Tusk. Her material there is simply the best she's ever done.

The second choice is more difficult. Tango and SYW are easy to eliminate. Clunky lyrics, uninspired vocals, etc. I like a *few* of her songs on SYW, but Lindsey is much stronger to me on that album.

Mirage, of course, offers "Gypsy," which could be the finest recording from the Rumours incarnation. I personally adore "That's Alright," and "Straight Back" is a good song, but I hesitate to rank them among her very best work.

So that leaves Rumours and the white album. It would be easy to choose Rumours. "Gold Dust Woman" is magical and "Dreams" is a wonderful pop song. IDWTK is a really fun song, and IMO fits on the album better than "Silver Springs" would have. :eek: I think "Silver Springs" emerged at its right time.

You know, I'll go with the white album. "Landslide" is her most timeless song, and the one she'll be remembered for. "Rhiannon" was the great beginning. And she wrote a beautiful, pure love song in "Crystal."

I agree. Although her harmonies are prevalent here and there, the album could've used at least one more lead from her and there was room for another track. My vote would be Sorcerer, (oh how great it would be if a take from that time period ever surfaced :))it would fit nicely around So Afraid, Sugar Daddy on Side one before Crystal. :nod:

Interesting replies regarding Stevie's limited presence on '75 FM. She only carries lead vocal on two songs with Lindsey lead on Crystal. I guess with Stevie being the new "unwanted" member she got what she could fight for. Rhiannon and Landslide are two of Stevie's best songs - Mac or solo.

Rumours has Mac's only #1 hit, Dreams, the very strong live versions of Gold Dust Woman, the poppy I Don't Want to Know, and Silver Springs - the resurrected favorite.

Tusk has a very strong core of five songs from Stevie that give a more rounded picture of what Stevie Nicks was at the time within FM.

Mirage has what I consider Stevie's best song, vocally - Gypsy.

Tango in the Night has Seven Wonders, which is a good song, but WTTRS and WISYA bring this album down.

Behind the Mask - no comment.

Say You Will - I almost forgot to include it on this poll.



Tusk is my first choice, the second one is actually tied between Rumours and Mirage. Stevie's voice was best during the Tusk-Bella Donna-Mirage era.:cool:

I think The Chain should be counted as one of Stevie's songs on Rumours, as her lyrics add so much to that song.

Well, I doubt she was forced to hand it over to Lindsey. He already sang lead on it when they did it before so it makes sense that since they were essentially recreating that version, he would sing lead again.

Has she ever been asked why he did the vocal in the first place? I can't really recall. I feel like I've heard her say that she just thought he sounded good singing it, but I'm not sure if I completely made that up, or if that was said regarding something else (maybe Frozen Love?).

I had to go with FM and Tusk. Tusk is obvious, I think.

FM had 3 stellar songs, 2 which were career defining songs - Crystal, Rhiannon and Landslide. As much as I love GDW on Rumours, the other two SN tracks - Dreams and IDWTK do not touch the 3 on FM.

hey we agree!!?!? :)

i'm with you on almost every word... what's the world coming to?!

Yes, she did say that. That he just really sounded better singing it. Actually though, I could stand for her to go into more detail about it.

Michele

Of course Tusk and Rumours, but 75' Fleetwood Mac deserves a special mention.
Nothing to say about Rumours, but Tusk has songs like Angel, Sara, and of course, Sisters of the Moon, one of the most representative songs of Stevie, even when they didn't performed it like others...

Mirage has only three (WHY THREE!!!!!) songs, and Gypsy is iconic, but Straight Back is so strong and interesting, and That's Alright is...well, good!
I think it's not the same for TITN. Yes, Seven Wonders, but the rest is an eternal discussion...Anyway, it was a poor work for Stevie.
And nothing about Behind the Mask...

Easiest poll to predict the outcome, that I've ever voted on. I wish we could have bet millions on this one.

Considering quite a bit of her later albums were skeletons from the unused songs closet from years gone by...so it is tough to say.

The lyrics to "The Chain"
"I Don't Want To Know"
"Without You"

are all leftover dregs from her pre-Fleetwood Mac days

"Smile At You" (as fantastic as the SYW version is, thanks to John McVie's otherworldly bass playing) wasn't even up for consideration for Mirage

After Tusk her "A" material was saved for her solo albums...the only reason "Gypsy" hit hard was Lindsey's production (the best of his career, IMO).

Although, as time goes on, I seem to have increased appreciation for a few of her BTM tunes ("Freedom" & "Affairs Of The Heart" especially..."The Second Time" still is an abomination on the ears). Even "Paper Doll" has taken many rungs up on the Stevie ladder in my book.

Songwriting wise, her best material came earlier in her career (again IMO), since she keeps using the leftovers from pre-75 thru 78 for songs these days.

She said it was up for consideration, but they decided to go with something less bitter.

Michele

Oh definately. I only disagree with you on the fact that her Tuskmaterial was lesser material because Bella Donna was coming up, and she kept her best work for that one. Sara, Angel, Storms, Beautiful Child and Sisters Of The Moon are, especially as contributions to one album, her best streak of tracks EVER.

I think most fans would agree with you on that. I almost wrote all fans, but then I knew elle would jump in with her wrench.:laugh:

see here:

to conclude, with the exception of Sara (my dislike of which you were probably referring to?), i completely agree with others who rate high her Tusk contributions.

I must be the only Mac fan who dislikes "Sisters of the Moon" with a passion. To me it's plodding, monotonous, and lacks a melody. "Storms" is one of Stevie's most beautiful songs, and I do like "Sara" (although overrated) and "Angel." But that's not enough for me to put Tusk at the top of my list of Stevie's best material. I gather I'm in the minority, though.

Tusk has Beautiful Child. No other album has Beautiful Child, so Tusk represents the very best of Stevie Nicks.

Her other four songs on Tusk are absolutely sublime too.

I really can't decide between Rumours or the White Album for the second choice. But then Say You Will has Thrown Down and Running Through The Garden... and Mirage has Gypsy, and That's Alright is a pretty darned amazing song too.

Probably The White Album, really. Rhiannon and Landslide are a tour de force. Although Rumours has Gold Dust Woman... gaaaah.

To me, her songs on the White Album are much better as live pieces than they are as studio recordings. Not that the studio recordings are bad - but 9 times out of 10 I'm going to listen to a live version. So I think Rumours as an album experience is a better representation of her best work.