Feelings On "Best Of"
 

?

Won't get mine till the 22nd....ordered through Amazon.com...so i'll let u know then! But by the sounds of it the footage and the video vault are very good...I'm looking forward to receiving mine!

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:

I cancelled my order with Amazon because I couldn't wait to get this compilation. My brother is picking it up for me today at Virgin Megastore.. I will post my thoughts on it later.

:) Michelle

I think this is seriously one of the best Best Of's ever released, for both the package itself and of course the music contained within. It's 75-78 heavy, but the collection as a whole works extremely well.

and...for those keeping score, the following rarities make this set worth getting:
Rhiannon (Single Version)
I'm So Afraid (Live 1997- Edit...the beginning is cut down considerably)
Silver Springs (new mix)
Over My Head (Single Version)
Think About Me (Single Version)
Go Insane (Live 1997- first time on US release)
Gold Dust Woman (original fade-in version)
Sisters Of The Moon (Single Version)

My thoughts on the best-of
 

This release -- which is just a vehicle for the new album -- should be a nice stocking stuff for the holidaze.

It's nice to see that some different elements were incorporated to make this release more than just your standard retrospective. Some highlights include the single versions for Rhiannon, Over My Head, Think About Me and Sisters of the Moon -- previously unavailable on CD. There's also a different mix of Silver Springs that emphasizes Stevie's empassioned vocals at the end. As far as I can tell, Lindsey and Christine's backups are not there -- it's all Stevie.

The sound quality is excellent. I have never heard the tracks sound so good, particularly the ones from Rumours and Mirage. Everything is so clean and crisp. Finally, we get some bass on these recordings -- something missing from the dismal CD transfers in the 80s and early 90s. (Where are those reissues, Warner Bros.??)

The liner booklet is very well done, though the selection of photography is average. Most collectors have seen these pics elsewhere over the years, but it is nice to get clean copies of them. The colors are vibrant and help paint the picture of the times (love those clothes!). The studio outtakes are nice, particularly the one of Christine playing that big ol' bass. I've never seen that shot before. The featured Rumours cover outtake (one of several) of Stevie stealing away the crystal ball from Mick is really cool too. The liner notes are written well by David Wild, a contributing writer for Rolling Stone. Informative, concise and accurate (Though some guitar afficionados may take issue with the line that reads Lindsey is every thinking man's guitar hero).

The enhanced CD, which plays best on Apple's Quicktime, is all right, though the behind-the-scenes stuff is probably the only real interest here. The footage takes you through the Bel Aire recording mansion, practice sessions (Stevie's singing two new songs) and short interviews about the recording process with the dynamics (w/o Christine, outside solo projects, etc). One of Stevie's new drawings is shown and a dog barking disruptively (Sara Bella Donna/Sulamith?) is heard in the background. The other stuff on the CD, like "the "vaults (which has to be accessed through the internet), is a bit disappointing, particularly the selection of performance clips. Two tracks are culled from the '82 Mirage vid (Chain, Go Your Own Way) and one from The Dance (Don't Stop). The music video for Seven Wonders is included, which is always nice for the colorful visuals (and Stevie's big 80s hair). The rarest of the footage included here is the classic Rosebud documentary performance of Rhiannon.

I was hoping for some rarer footage, but was not disappointed as I wasn't expecting it (that's just how it is to be a Fleetwood Mac/Stevie fans).

Re: My thoughts on the best-of
 

I wish I could agree wholeheartedly with you here, Dan. Some of the tunes drop in volume & the remastering is digital-chill. Who the heck are Bill Inglot & Dan Hersch anyway? Also, some of the editing seems rough, like the "I'm So Afraid" intro.

I still think it's ludicrous to have "No Questions Asked" & "As Long As You Follow" on this set instead of "Love Shines" or "Heart of Stone." The latter are clearly superior tracks & everybody loves them more. "Love Shines" gets high marks from every Christine fan.

Can I quibble one more time? It's inaccurate & unfair & even a little cheap to put the name "Fleetwood Mac" first -- ahead of Dashut, Buckingham, Ladanyi, Olsen, Caillat -- in the production credits.

Oh yeesh. I'm listening to "No Questions Asked" now. It sounds as dumb as it ever did! They recorded the lead electrics & Stevie's vocal in a big trash can! Ok where is the fast-forward? Let's check out "Skies the Limit." Hmmm. . . . ahhhh . . . .

Hey, I know that song!!

There's unfortunately a lot of disingenuousness surrounding this compilation release. The fact the label insists on perpetuating the lie that this is the first studio album in 15 years is absolutely galling. I am not particularly fond of Behind the Mask and Time, but I don't believe in rewriting history. This is another sad chapter in the history of Fleetwood Mac.

RESCIND THE STRIKE!!!

Actually, they just say this will be the first to feature new material by Lindsey, Stevie, Mick & John, as clearly stated in the booklet for those who can read.

Though often maligned, "As Long As You Follow" is on my list of Top 5 fave Christine McVie songs... so I'm happy to see it included here.
But I would have preferred "Love Shines" or "Heart Of Stone" over "Skies The Limit."

At any rate, this is a vast improvement over 'Greatest Hits,' and makes that disc completely obsolete.

By the way, the most recent press announcements have re-worded the earlier "first in 15 years" statement to read, "the first studio album in 15 years to include both Stevie and Lindsey."
:)


Johnny Stew

Oh, I can read. I can write. And I can even spell. Here's what the official Fleetwood Mac site says:

"Fleetwood Mac's first new studio album in 15 years is due to arrive in the Spring of 2003."

The question is, Can you read?

RESCIND THE STRIKE!!!

Yes I can, and what I just read was a grown man acting like a 2 year old because he was (rather mildly) corrected.

It just seemed unfortunate to me that with all of the time you devote to owning the final, one-and-only, no-one-else-is-right word on all things pertaining to Fleetwood Mac you would have missed the latest word. Now you know.

:wavey:

Dude, there's a saying about dishing it out but being unable to take it.

I posted my comments based on current information. What I quoted is up on the site as we speak. All you have to do is to log on to see it. I don't care what the booklet says. I don't have it. All I know is the site backs up my statement, and so does the TV commercial. It's pretty simple and clear. If you're going to insinuate that I can't read, be ready to take it back. If you acted civilized in the first place, you wouldn't have gotten the reply you did.

RESCIND THE STRIKE!!!

Oddly enough, when they updated the site Sunday night, it was worded differently, and made note (just as the recent press releases have) that it's the first with Lindsey & Stevie, as opposed to just being the first.

Not sure why they changed it again. :(


Either way, let's not all get in the middle of another round of arguing.
I think there's been just about enough of that lately.
:)


Johnny Stew

Last word from me in this line of conversation: The most up to date item is the CD. Secondly, nowhere did I say "CarneVaca can't read." I simply stated that if one can read, the info is clearly stated in the CD booklet. Anything else you implied yourself...there was no "dishing".

Re: best of
 

You think so? Bill Inglot is a seasoned engineer... He's done great work cleaning up catalogs for Pink Floyd and The Dead. Not too familar with Dan Hersch, but he did work on Roxy Music's Avalon remaster which was pretty good (the drums are a big improvement). The tracks from Rumours and Mirage are the best ones, by far. Mirage was stripped of all depth when it transferred to disc. It's nice to hear those levels restored on this set.

CD compression has long been a nemesis with remasters, but dynamic range is improving.

I agree about Love Shines, a great inspiring melody against some nice bluesy guitar. I wish I could say the same for Heart of Stone, a glee club nightmare. It recalls the goofy Dougie Howser-esque keyboard arrangement for Skies the Limit. What's worse is how the entire song is built around one bad reflective cliche after another. Christine has never been the most original lyricist, but this one is just way over the top. "Hopes have shattered/Shattered like broken glass." yuk!

Probably should have gone straight alphabetical.

They were calling No Questions Asked the chorus-less track on another list. I guess lyrically, it just doesn't have one. I do agree about the production drowning the vocals; it's quite a mess.

This is debatable, but I've thought NQA was related to the better Love Is -- both songs sharing the line "miss those arms that used to go around you" and similar depictions of child-like breakdowns. Anyway, that's another discussion.

Re: Re: best of
 

Dan, you're the only other person I have ever heard mention the Doogie Howser theme song in regards to "Skies The Limit."

When I heard "Skies" for the very first time (on the day the album was released), the Doogie Howser theme was the first thing that came to my mind (and actually made me a little nervous about the rest of the album! Though I was already familiar with, and loved, "Save Me").

The song has since grown on me considerably, but I still think of Doogie everytime I hear it.
Glad I'm not the only one!
:)


Johnny Stew

Dude, you'd have to eat a lot more Wheaties to get me to believe that you made the comment "for people who can read" without any intention of stinging me.

Secondly, you are quite incorrect about the most updated version being the CD. The web is a dynamic medium, therefore it will ALWAYS be more current than something that was recorded and distributed in a plastic saucer. Daily newspapers have web sites for a reason -- so they can update stories that ran today until they can print updates tomorrow. It's a fairly straightforward concept, actually.

Besides, when you say this:

"It just seemed unfortunate to me that with all of the time you devote to owning the final, one-and-only, no-one-else-is-right word on all things pertaining to Fleetwood Mac you would have missed the latest word."

It's very clear you're trying to bait me. Don't play innocent now. From what I understand, personal vendettas are forbiden on this board. Keep that in mind.

RESCIND THE STRIKE!!!

I'm all in all really satisfied with the new release. I think they've done a great job. For me, one of the best tracks on the album has to be the new mix of the Silver Springs studio version. I really did not like the studio version that appeared on The Chain boxed set, and I always thought the Dance version was much better- more emotional and just stronger vocals all around. BUT, this new mix definatly must be the one that they were trying to recreate on the Dance tour. The end is great - it's packed with all the emotions that we see on the Dance video- only a younger voice. All the single remixes are cool too.

Can't complain about the documentary. Nice to see that Lindsey and Stevie can still get on each others nerves. Guess it means they still have the same old chemistry. The look on Lindsey's face when he hears Stevie's dogs yapping is priceless!

"The vault" is rather boring, though. Maybe they'll beef it up soon. I just can't get enough of that "rare" Don't Stop performance from the Dance.

Doc footage
 

I think it was worth the $15 I spent on it for the documentary. The 5 minutes of them in the studio makes me even more excited than I was before. And, it's only a taste. It was announced that there will be an entire DVD of the recording sessions released next year, I guess to coincide with the new CD release.

On the same topic - Did anyone notice the footage from the very beginning and the very end of the doc, when Lindsey is on stage talking? Isn't that from AHI 2001? Was that actually recorded professionally? I didn't notice any cameras when I was there, but I guess I wasn't really looking. If so...sweet. Maybe that show will turn up someday.

I'm also enjoying the different mixes of songs. I'm always making FM compilation CDs anyway, so this is just another one for me. And I don't think I've ever heard that version of Rhiannon. It may be the radio edit, but it's not a version that I've ever heard on my radio! :laugh:

Mike B.

I think it is great...totally worth the $,and totally worth dragging myself outta bed for even though i am fighting off a stomach bug..it totally cheered me up,and that footage is great...can't wait to see more of it :)

Re: Doc footage
 

Hi Mike!
How've you been?

To this day, a couple of our local (which for me includes both Pittsburgh and some Ohio) stations still play the radio remixes of "Over My Head" and "Rhiannon."

It always amazes me that they still play those versions, and I've often wondered if other radio stations across the country still played them too.

Does anyone else still hear them, or are the album mixes standard fare most everywhere?


Johnny Stew

In relation to the new mix of Silver Springs, I think it is more like the DVD-A version. The most pronounced difference between the version from The Chain and the DVD-A version (aside from the 5.1 sound) is Stevie's Backing vox during the chorus. She carries the "eee" sound at the the end of the phrase "You won't forget me" and "You wouldn't let me" et al much longer on the DVD-A version. This feature is found in the "new" version also.

As for another alt. version, Rhiannon is awsome. I love the "new" sound of the old song.

Finally, in relation to the documentary, does anyone agree that the vocal parts we see Lindsey and later Stevie singing belong to the same song? It seems like the chord progressions are the same.

John

I think it was totally worth the 16.99 I paid for it at KMart (since I am BOYCOTTING TARGET, lmao)! I absolutely loved the footage, after I FINALLY got it to play, lol! The new music sounded great, and so did Stevie and Lindsey. They all looked great, too. I haven't had a chance to listen to the tracklist on disc two yet, but I loved hearing the single versions of OMH and Rhiannon. Don't think I've ever heard them before. And Silver Springs~~ Awesome!

The only bad thing was the ISA edit. Yuck. lol

I am SO psyched for the new album now! And the tour! And the documentary! It's great to be a FM fan, lol! :D :D :D

~~Angela~~:wavey:

Re: Re: Doc footage
 

Actually, about a month ago I heard the single version of Rhiannon on a local radio station here (Q104, a classic rock station in NYC). Usually they broadcast other one though, I think. I was freaking out when I heard it because I was in the car and I was so angry that I couldn't record it, because it was the first time that I had ever heard it and I had no idea what it was. I just thought it was some random remix. Now I'm so glad I actually have it! But I've never heard that version of Over My Head, it doesn't really get that much airplay around here anyway.

Overall...
 

I give it a good rating, Just wished there was more to it than just a rehash of history in the liner notes, But it seems aimed at newer fans of FM so I can understand that...Brian J.

Wasn't that radio mix of Rhiannon originally only available on 45? I think the album versions were obviously on the album, and radio mix's were what were sent to radio stations (on 45) and maybe what was on the original 45 that sold at record stores. So if a radio station were still playing the radio mix I think they would have to still have the original 45 because as far as I know these versions were never released on CD before. Any thoughts?

You know.... it's good to know some things never change....

I haven't posted here for a long time because of all the arguments that go on.....I give it another try and the first thread I read has people arguing in it!

Anyway......VB of FM will tide me over nicely until the new album arrives and no I'm not chewed up because we only got 21 tracks - just glad to have the opportunity to give FM a bit more money through buying both!;)

i have original 45
 

i have the original 45 and it is the same as the one on tbofm
so cool to have those old mixes (i also have the original 45 of sisters of the moon) on cd now and remastered too.
I love the docupart on the disc (i had especialy not read anything on the content of the docu to keep it new and fresh for me. Although the dog thing had come by in post so many times i couldn't help but having read it.
Very happy with the albums (i bought both the 2 disc and the 1 disc version)

I haven't got the album yet, my mum says it's not worth it.

I really like this latest compilation. The remastered songs are just really cool. I especially like the version of SOTM and also Rhiannon and Silver Springs.

The documentary is awesome. It was nice to see the goings on in the studio and to see that some things never change. I am looking forward to the new album even more now and can't wait to see that entire DVD footage!

:) Michelle

Mac Fan, get yourself a casual job!!!!! Then we can welcome you to the world of album-buying freedom!

(And enjoy it while you can - casual work wages arent as sweet when youre no longer living off your parents! lol):wavey:

I'm not going to myself a job, I'm only 13.
I already have album-buying freedom.

Overall I think the album is pretty god. The extras though were a letdown as the only really good part was the 5 minute documentary. Still a pretty good album that will tide me over till the new album.

What were the extras apart from the documentary?

Access to the "Vaults" (streaming video versions of The Chain'82, GYOW'82, Don't Stop'97. Seven Wonders video & Rhiannon'76), & lyrics to all the songs on the tracklist.

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:

p.s. A bit silly calling those particular videos "rare footage for bigtime FM fans", as I think every half-serious FM fan has those in his/her video collection. Oh well. :shrug:

Thanks, now it does seem worth getting.