Little Lies 35 Years Ago
 

Interesting article, though I'm not convinced about:
At the same time, however, no one seemed content to allow Mirage to be Fleetwood Mac's final album. As Buckingham told Creem, "it left a lot of things dangling."

No one? As i remember Tango was born because they wanted to help Mick, who was broke. Not because they longed to make another album.

Probably Lindsey did say that (does anybody know when was Creem interview?), but I'm not convinced he was sincere. He probably said so to convey a positive context.

Cause Mick said in his first book that "Lindsey Buckingham alone was fairly reticent about Fleetwood Mac. He was enjoying his hard-won independence and deep into his own album with Richard Dashut...
He was under some strain with this project, and lost his patience occasionally... ."

Anyway Tango give us some cool songs and LL is one of the best in that album.

I think the article was interesting and pretty accurate. I’m certain Lindsey and Christine both at some point have said that they didn’t want Mirage to be their last work together as FM. Christine could hardly say many positive things about it when it was reissued. I don’t think she dislikes Mirage, just that it’s not the album they wanted to go out on.

Also, this idea that FM reconvened to help Mick because he was broke? I don’t buy it. Sure, it was a fringe benefit, but I am quite certain he never asked the band to record Tango to help his finances. Likewise, the rest of the band didn’t come together on their own because of Mick’s financial problems. I believe 100% that Christine was working on Can’t Help Falling in Love and eventually Lindsey, Mick, and John got involved, and they had a good enough time working together that they decided to do another album. As a result of making Tango, Mick got back on his feet again, and they all made a lot of money, but no way did they do it to help Mick.

Clearly during the making of Tango, Lindsey had a change of heart and decided Tango would be his swan song from the band, and I definitely believe he and Christine think Tango was a stronger album to go out on, both in terms of sales and material. As much as I love certain songs on Mirage, none of those songs have the strength of Little Lies, Isn’t It Midnight, Big Love, or Everywhere.

They may be quoting Lindsey from the 1982 Creem magazine interview where the entire band was interviewed except Stevie (she also did not participate in the 1982 Rolling Stone "Happy At The Top" interview on the advice of her manager.
Lindsey said all kinds of wild stuff in 1982. He also spoke of the future and how he will never tour after the age of 40 :lol: He's pushing mid 70s and still touring :lol: Fleetwood Mac was on the cover of Creem magazine in 1982 and a fancy Mirage cover shoot.

I think the article is accurate. Little Lies is one of those songs that you know is a hit the first time you hear it. So much that it kicked off the second side of Tango. In the late 80s this is usually where record companies put their lead off single. But Stevie was upset about her lack of appearance on the album and put Seven Wonders ahead of Little Lies in the singles department. Seven Wonders did not chart spectacularly in the USA and tanked in the UK after the success of Big Love. Here comes Christine rescuing Tango with her monster international hits Little Lies and Everywhere.
It was the Mac's last top 10 hit and was sort of an end to an era. I saw the band in early October 1987 as Little Lies was racing up the charts.

I dont think anyone even at the time of Mirage thought Mirage was their last album. They always knew they would be back together again someday. It just was Stevie was a huge solo star and getting her back would keep the band waiting.

Most obvious error of the article was that Little Lies was only a hit because Lindsey left the band.

;)

Maybe, but I far prefer Mirage to Tango. Tango is plastic and sterile. It doesn't sound like a band. And live, Mirage is the last time they were a band, before the backup singers and additional players.

^^^I don’t see in the article where the success of this song was attributed to Lindsey’s leaving. Did I miss something?

Error I noticed: “Hold Me was a top 10 hit, not a top 20 hit.

The song is impeccable. I remember thinking at the time that this was one instance on the record where everyone was present and in great form. John’s bass, Lindsey and Stevie’s famous vocal interchange on the chorus, Mick’s classic heart beat drumming, Christine’s sly, ironic songwriting and seductive vocal…

I remember the article from CREEM, which is where Mick has noted that Lindsey appeared to be “giving his notice in the press.” You can tell the other members didn’t expect that: Christine said she wanted to do another solo album with Lindsey producing; Stevie talked a lot about Lindsey’s naked vocal on “When I See You Again,” even taking credit for his solo singing by declaring that she removed her own vocal from what was a duet after it was recorded; Mick was clearly anticipating a lucrative come-back tour…So none of them appear to have been expecting Lindsey’s resignation.

I agree with you- while I think the four Tango songs I mentioned, plus Seven Wonders, are stronger than anything on Mirage, Mirage as a whole is more consistent. I dislike Family Man and When I See You Again, and think You and I, Caroline, and Tango are just ok. On Mirage, the only songs I dislike are Empire State and Oh Diane. Otherwise I can listen to Mirage straight through, and as you said, they sound like a band. Not so much on Tango. But Christine’s growth and confidence as a songwriter from Mirage to Tango is truly impressive. It’s unusual to see someone grow so much as a writer later in life… the opposite of Stevie, whose songs tended to be less memorable as she got older. Although in all fairness, Stevie has released a lot more material than Christine, and the more material out there, the less memorable it may be.

Maybe it's because I was 5 years older for Tango, but Mirage LIVES IN MY HEART. ALL of the songs. They come on, and I remember how much they meant to me. How happy they made me. I used to skip Only Over Ewe, but it finally grew on me, too.

And I love Empire State, which was only a year after Law And Order, so I was still into freaky Lindsey.

I used to skip about 1/3 the album when it first came out but listened to the other 2/3 all the time. But now I dig all of it—except “Oh Diane” (which I never liked) and “Straight Back” (which I used to like). Side 1 is especially cool. But “Eyes” on side 2 is also great.

I’ve always dug “Only Over You” primarily because of the surprise of her voice ascending in such a sexy way. It’s like: “oh, we’ve entered a room where people are doing adult things...” After the initial embarrassment of hearing her sing/moan, I couldn’t turn away. Voyeur?

Oh Diane, I've only slightly come to like it. It's such a weird song on this album. (But, Mirage is weird).

OOY and WYWH are beautiful songs. After hearing it live with the passion she sang it with during BUCKVIE, I might say WYWH is my favorite. OOY that outro grabs me. Pure Buckvie on both outros.

The chemistry between Buck and McVie is kind of amazing. I'm glad Stevie was absent a lot of the time. The other two really shine on Tango and Mirage.

Its not even a fair comparison....apples and oranges. Mirage was a total band performance with real instruments on every track. Tango was sort of a more commercial version of Go Insane....a slick, trendy modern Lindsey solo album. There are moments where Tango shines and you can hear the band but sadly those moments are rare. Just imagine everyone off drugs and devoting all hands on deck. Lindsey was always fascinated with cutting edge sort of sound so the band's lack of direction, he sort of seized the direction of the album. But no doubt everyone wanted a huge commercial success which also explains the radio friendly synth pop sound of much of Tango. Mirage is not experimental like Tusk but its a completely cohesive sound. It needed a few moments of rawness but the Tusk blowback was in full effect.
Only Over You is a gem. It was always my least favorite song on Mirage from about 1983-1997. Its pure perfection.... dreamy hypnotic lullaby with some fantastic Mick/Lindsey/John/Chris playing. It has a vintage Mac quality. Its also a very classic Chris tune with her singing her devotion to a guy but you get a line about the dark side. "They say I'm a silly girl, but I'm not a fool" Very similar to "If you use me again, it will be the end of me" and "your mood is like a circus wheel, changing all the time. Everything else about those songs is pure love devotion but she always gets her line in about the guy not being perfect in any sense. Only over you is just overdosing on overdubs and sometimes you just have to soak it all in. When you first hear the song, you dont know where its going. Once you have heard the song several times, you appreciate the direction it goes and it has a wow factor. Indeed Mirage was an end to an era and the band NEVER made another cohesive and inclusive album again with these 5.

Really, the main reason I never cared for OOY is that I've always been prejudiced against songs I couldn't sing. The beginning of the chorus is impossible for my manly being.

You're out of your mind.

But it's only over ewe.

People think you're crazy, but they don't know.

That's exactly what I don't like in that song. Too much repeat I'm ooooout of my mind...

I do love the People think I'm crazy... and People say they know me... sections.

But when she again goes back to I'm ooout.... it's like Please!!! Enooough!!! :laugh:

I think it’s incredibly sexy

Then you must HATE “Prove Your Love”!

or

HOW LOOOOOONG has it been since we have been together????

The “of” in. “The face of a pretty girl” right before the guitar solo.

I was the same way. I always hate when songs start with the vocalist so I was instantly put off by the song.....blinders up and a wall to never accept it. There are such goodies in the song that make it one of the best on Mirage. It has an incredible jam in the end.
The funny part is the I'M OUT OF MY MIND part usually would be a metaphor but its actually the truth. She WAS out of her mind to love Dennis.
Its like the song Fire Burning by Stevie Nicks. The fire burning was not a metaphor but actually her house on fire and what could she take to escape the fire.

Ok Tony!! I love that "of". That's a beautiful vocal on the studio version.

No, that was a dig at me for suggesting that “Little Lies,” which was released 25 days after Lindsey quit, benefited from the drama surrounding the band, who absolutely played it up (see “Little Lies” video, which topped the MTV Top 20 Video Countdown TWICE).

The nerve of suggesting that it helped someone’s musical boner song become a Top 5 hit.

The overall context was “Fleetwood Mac” initially sold what Fleetwood Mac albums usually sold, but began picking up again when “Over My Head” was released and started skyrocketing when news broke that the McVies were divorcing, setting the stage for “Rumours.” Otherwise, without that kind of drama, Fleetwood Mac albums with that lineup sell what “Tusk” and “Mirage” sold.

ETA: And, the announcement that Lindsey quit and Billy and Rick were the new guys was on August 18. The music press was still digesting the news when the song and video were released.

Haha! It felt like a dig but I wasn't sure. Any drama marketing for them was always a plus. MTV was also doing FM Attack with the Tango album. MTV really gave FM a lot of air time. Even Christine's solo was a big deal with them.

Of course it was a dig. Where is everyone's sense of humor :lol:

That thread is the Rumours or Mona Lisa of this board. Perhaps the greatest posting of all time. :)

Little Lies stands on its own. Lindsey's departure had nothing to do with the success of the song. It should have been the lead single and could have reached #1. But I realize Lindsey got screwed on Mirage for his songs not being played (his words, not mine) and he sort of deserved the lead single after all he went through to make the album happen. Go back in a time machine and pretend its March 1987 and you never ever heard Big Love yet and you got an advance listen to Tango In The Night. You are the record company, what do you pick as your lead single? Little Lies of course. It has huge cross over appeal and features all 3 singers (at least we think so). Its also quite catchy. Its like the Hold Me of Tango. Fleetwood Mac was a 70s supergroup and most people would not even know or care he left the band in 1987 except core fans. The song stands on its own. Tiffany, Billy Idol and that crappy Dirty Dancing song blocked Little Lies from the top spot in November 1987. Even on 80s channels you rarely hear Big Love. Its one of those songs that was a quick race up the charts and you never hear again. You hear Little Lies everywhere all the time. If it was the lead single it would have taken Tango to the top. Then Big Love, then Everywhere. Seven Wonders could have been the swan song of the album :)

We recognize your shadows from the past.

:laugh:

It’s hilarious you believe that.

It was released as a single less than two weeks after he quit and the video completely played up his leaving. In true Fleetwood Mac fashion, there was a scandal and suddenly the album skyrockets.

Those are basic, verifiable facts.

You are the best ever Steve. Please dont change.

Little Lies is the most pop song on the album and the band had just starting touring after a half decade when Little Lies was released. No radio programmer leaned in heavy on Little Lies rotation because Lindsey left. That makes no sense and its an insult to the song to think otherwise. I cannot believe that you think Little Lies would have tanked if Lindsey had not quit in 1987. Record companies always put their biggest hits or lead off singles first track side two in the mid to late 80s.
Iran Contra happened in 1987. Seven Wonders was on heavy rotation on MTV. And Little Lies was released in 1987 and became a big hit. Coincidence? I think not. Those are basic verifiable facts.

The tour started a month later.

Radio was only part of the equation in 1987. MTV played the crap out of the video, which, again, heavily played up Lindsey’s leaving. It absolutely was part of the storyline behind the song’s success.

Never said that, though. I said it might not have been a top 5 hit. I also said that TITN sold more after he quit.

Steve didn’t say Little Lies would have tanked if Lindsey hadn’t quit.

I have no idea if record companies always put the biggest hits or lead off singles as the first track on side two or not back in the 1980s. But I do question that. I thought FM and more specifically Lindsey was the one who sequenced the album, not the record company. By the same token, I thought the record company had more of a voice in which songs would be chosen to be singles. If Lindsey was the one who sequenced the album, than the record company wasn’t the one who put the singles where they were on the album.

I think Big Love was a fabulous choice for a lead single. They didn’t release it first because Lindsey didn’t get a single from Mirage, they released it because it was catchy and a little edgy but not too edgy. The song got people talking for tons of reasons- the grunts, who sang on it, cool video, etc. Little Lies was a great third single because it helpd the album rebound after Seven Wonders only made the top 20- not terrible, but it way underperformed.

I do agree that now, in hindsight, Little Lies and Christine in general is why Tango is so well regarded, but back in 1987, Big Love and Lindsey were given the credit.

This is so silly. I am not going to engage this nonsense anymore. Yes bwboy, he did not say "tank" but said it would not have been a hit. Being a single that is not a hit from a popular album is the definition of the word tank? No? You are playing word games.

Steve makes ridiculous assumptions that somehow Lindsey leaving spiked Tango sales. NOPE. Seven wonders tanked so bad in the UK after Big Love that and it did not chart well in the US greatly. Sales slowed in both countries. Having the biggest hit chart from the album would naturally spike album sales, no? Especially in the UK since Seven Wonders did not chart AT ALL. This has to do with the merit of the song, not a conspiracy theory about everyone conspiring to make a song a big hit because a band member left. Little Lies stands on its own. To say otherwise is complete nonsense and I wont comment on this insanity anymore.

On another note, go back and play your albums from the late 80s. Where is your favorite Stevie song Talk To Me? First track side 2. Where is Stand Back? First track side 2.

With Steve's logic, Sometimes Its A Bitch should have been a smash. The most visible and lead singer of Fleetwood Mac quit the band in anger while releasing it as a single ;)

Gulp! I probably shouldn’t point out that Steve actually said that Little Lies wouldn’t have been a top 5 hit, not a hit in general. I don’t mean to play word games, but I think sometimes in your attempt to make your point, you unintentionally misstate what someone else has said, that’s all. I’ve done the same thing myself, in fact most people have. Or we just have differing opinions; for example, I agree Seven Wonders underperformed, but in no way would I say it tanked. Family Man, now that’s a single that tanked. One single made it to the top 20, the other made it to the top 70. Anyway, not a big deal and I certainly don’t mean to tick you off, honest.

Y'all are silly AF. Get a room. Or two.

Oh Daddy is a beautiful song. Thoughts?

They should've had Billy and Rick in the Little Lies video.

Yes it underperformed in the US but tanked in the UK where Tango was a big seller. If you agree that it underperformed then why would you buy into the conspiracy that the best pop song from the album would revive the album both in the UK and the States. I find it insulting of all the songs in the world anyone would conjure up conspiracies to promote the most radio friendly single song in the world. Steve's argument is Lindsey's departure somehow spiked album sales and made Little Lies a "hit." If you go back to the original thread of years ago, that is what he said which is why over the years its a running joke on this board. Warner even did an expensive video for the song when Lindsey was in the band knowing it would be the smash that it was.

Big Love
#5 USA
#9 UK

Seven Wonders
#19 USA
#56 UK (tanked)

Little Lies - Finally Chris releases her pop song greatness and the album rebounds
#4 USA
#5 UK

No, I didn’t. I said it likely wouldn’t have been a top five hit. “Everywhere” wasn’t a top five hit and it’s a great, radio-friendly pop song, too.

It spiked interest in the band in general.

But, again, the single was released during a moment of intense interest in the band because of its internal drama, which the video fed into.

“Behind the Mask?”

“Play in the Rain (Continued)?”

There wasn’t popular interest in Stevie by that point.

Fleetwood Mac was promoting moderately successful album that had already had a top 5 single when the guy who sang said song quit the band. Less than two weeks after his departure was announced, “Little Lies” and its video were released.

But we’re somehow supposed to believe that had zero bearing on the song’s success?

Two weeks after Lindsey’s departure was announced.

There’s no conspiracy, that’s how it actually played out.

Lindsey quit on August 6, his departure was announced on August 18, “Little Lies” and its video were released on August 31, and the new lineup debuted on September 30.

In the video, during the first verse, “Close my, close my, close my eyes” is four shots of Lindsey walking. During the second verse, “Close your, close your, close your eyes” is shots of John, Christine, Mick, and Stevie walking, followed by a closeup of Lindsey on “No more broken hearts” and Lindsey walking away on “We’re better off apart.”

How anyone could completely dismiss any of that is baffling.

Umm, I don’t think Lindsey’s departure had really much, if anything, to do with the song’s success. I vividly remember the release of “Little Lies” (which certain radio stations were buzzing about BEFORE it was released as a single). It hit and it hit big—and the biggest fans of it were people largely unfamiliar with the band since the 80s. The song had mass crossover appeal and excited everyone. As a huge FM fan at that time (and of course before and since) I saw the song as a last hurrah of the now-broken chain. But my love for it was firmly in place when I first got the album.

In many ways, Little Lies is the Say You Love Me of the 80s. A huge hit that was the last in a line of hits. Like SYLM, it features every member of the band doing what they do best. An ensemble piece. Both songs are clever, wry, bouncy numbers that open the “second side” of their respective albums.

Which was something they played up, at least in the video. It was the backdrop to the song’s release as a single.