Rhiannon Question
 

Hi Everyone,

I am a newbie here and a new FM/Stevie fan so bare with me. I was just curious as to why Stevie never sings the album version of "Rhiannon" live? During the live version she changes the words around a bit. Is this just something she does or is there a reason? If this has been talked about before sorry for the repeat.

bear.

Welcome! :wavey: I think others can answer your question better, but I think part of the difference in the studio track may have been simply the length - she didn't have room to do the whole "dreams unwind" thing at the end. I don't know why it has such a slinky smooth groove comparatively.
Rhiannon has been evolving and changing forever, and from performance to performance in the earlier days. It was new when she was out singing with Buckingham Nicks, so...with all the incarnations of Stevie touring, there have been quite a few different bands playing on Rhiannon, and quite a few Stevie moods.

That is just off the top of my head, hopefully someone else will help as well.

:wavey:

Thank you for the welcome and for answering my question :) Your answer makes sense. As for the words, I was mostly talking about the part that starts off "once in a million years a lady like her rises." I always was curious as to why it wasn't on the orginal recording but just in her performances. Thanks again.

Good question. She probably wrote it with those words (she has always sung it live that way, from Buckingham Nicks days to the present), so why didn't Fleetwood Mac record it with those words? Maybe she didn't feel it fit the sophisticated groove of the band's arrangement.

That makes sence. I have always wondered why (and when exacally)she stoped doing the "taken by.....taken by the sky...." Anyone?

Also, welcome dreamz19!!:wavey:

September 1, 1980, was the last time she did, I believe.

Wow, ask, and you shall recieve!!. Thanks. Now how bout a yousend it mp3 of
September 1, 1980:laugh: :wavey: (no, seriously. I KNOW you got it)

Also, I know this is a rhiannon thread, but since I have your attention, When and why did she stop singing " I would Cry" in stand back?

Impressive David! :nod:

she did... i cant hear it in my head so cant remember... :confused:
Same as taken by taken by the sky.... oh dear...

Being at work probably dont help :o

If the preformances on Saturday night live and solid gold were still up on you tube ( I'm not sure if they are) you could see how she used to deliver that "I would cry" part. It was beautiful and passionate. (I thought so anyway) It just sounded cool. imho

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...9991A107C12837

MP3!

Um, so you give us only the part with the taken by the sky???? :laugh:

You bastard. :wavey:

In one of Mick's books - the picture one, I believe (not the biography) - there is a photo of the Rhiannon lyrics that were used in the studio. I remember it has lots of crossed out words plus other marks like the key signatures and changes. I don't remember if the "Once in a million years..." verse is on there or not. Can someone check? I sold those books long ago.

I have a different take on this, given how rabidly Stevie defends her lyrics. I'll bet some A&R guy came in and said, "Whoa! A song with 2 different choruses? We can't have that - everyone is stoned - no one will be able to remember all those extra words. The song won't sell!" Or something along those lines.

Either that or it was Lindsey. :D

And welcome Dreamz!