Live in Boston vs. The Dance
 

I've had Live in Boston for a long, long time. All the songs from the CD are on my iPod, I've watched parts of the DVD a handful of times, yet I always, always fall back onto The Dance when I am so inclined to listen to/watch fairly recent, non-bootlegged live Fleetwood Mac. I know part of it is because I am one of the ones that grew to love this band because of The Dance, but also, I just think it is a lot better. I'm sure Christine's presence helps The Dance's cause quite a bit too.

My question is, though, are there any songs on Live in Boston that are also on The Dance that you prefer the Live in Boston versions of? I really want to try and appreciate this collection a little bit more, if possible.

Please disregard this message if NO ONE pays any attention to Live in Boston. Which could very well be a possibility.

I'm so afraid.

"I'm So Afraid" is partially what caused me to post this! Maybe it's because I spent hours upon hours listening to The Dance version back when that CD first came out and I had no bootlegs or even Live yet (love that version as well), but the one on Live in Boston just made me itch to listen to The Dance version instead. I do think Live in Boston has more raw energy to it, but I just can't get into it the same way.

Live in Boston I watched all the way thru the first time it aired on tv and then watched Rhiannon one more time. Never listened to it again. I never bought The Dance cause I had already heard many bootlegs by 1997 that were a million times more better than that show. So I woudn't pick either of them. But if this counts I do remember on the SYW Tour I was most impressed with I'm So Afraid and Gypsy on the night I saw them in Phoenix, Az.

I like the production value of The Dance better, just because it's a cleaner recording to my ears.

But, I like the harmony on LIB much better than The Dance on many of the songs - and more than likely because I'm more into the focus on SnL's vocals.

Song specific, I LOVE the intensity of "Silver Springs" on LIB 1000 times more than The Dance. I do miss Stevie's "never get away" adlib, but the new ones make up for it and being able to see her rock out on the dvd just sends it over the top for me.

I also love "Don't Stop" from LIB because of Stevie's interpretation.

The Dance versions of "The Chain", "Dreams", "Gypsy", "Rhiannon", and "Landslide", and "Tusk" are maybe a little better to me...but there again there's harmony between SnL on "The Chain" ("dow-wn comes the nigh-ight) that is awesome and the "Landslide" reveal make the LIB one special...and I just thought the "Tusk" dance was cute -but the last 2 things are dvd specific, not just audio. And "Go Your Own Way" on LIB again, has a little more SnL harmony.

I guess overrall, The Dance is an excellent Fleetwood Mac, studio-perfected, live recording, but I appreciate the rawness and maturity of LIB as well as the opportunity to hear/witness a Buckingham Nicks of today.

Tough call though.

You've got it in a nutshell!

I've been comparing the two this evening (spooky, since I haven't listened to either in yonks, and then this discussion shows up :shocked:), Go Your Own Way and Tusk in particular. In both cases the Dance recordings are sharper, cleaner and 'perfected' but LIB has more energy and spontaneity. Go Your Own Way on LIB just kicks all the ass out of everything -- it just sends tingles up my spine. Yes, it's an old song and we all know it off by heart and have heard it thousands of times in thousands of incarnations ... but Lindsey still rocks the socks right off it.

I just spent the past hour actually WATCHING this show, as opposed to listening which is always much more convenient, just leaving the songs on when they pop up on the iPod, and I'm already answering my own questions!

I somehow forgot how crazy and FUN the end of "Tusk" is, I was literally laughing out loud! And "Silver Springs", which didn't really rub me the right way on audio, hit me much stronger just watching it. Actually SEEING the energy and chemistry of this show makes it ten times better.

And yes, for some reason, I think I neglected this compilation because of the lack of Christine, instead of appreciating how cool and different and amazing having just Stevie and Lindsey is. Already, my appreciation for this is growing like crazy, making me wish I noticed it awhile ago (and even more sad I never got to see them during this tour).

I can totally see the idea of The Dance being so polished and perfected, with LiB being much more raw and in the moment.

I am really glad I asked! Keep the discussion coming! And even more glad I popped this thing in tonight. It's been neglected for far too long.

I much prefer Dreams and Rhiannon from LIB.

This is the part where I talk about how annoying it is that the Dance dvd isn't divided into chapters. :mad::mad::mad:

Both have their positives and negatives. Ahhh who am I kidding, the Dance has no negatives. Every song was done to perfection. Now the song selections I can complain on. Christine could have chosen some better gems. Over my Head? Cmon Chris. Its always sucked live (except for the 75' tour). Lindsey had the right idea with two new songs in there. Sweet Girl is 'good', but Twisted might have prevailed over it. I heard it was in the rehearsal set.

Anyway - LIB....Eyes of the World is awesome. Should never leave the FM set. Second Hand News...ahh they finally got it right. This was the first tour where I think they nailed it. Rhiannon, I prefer LIB surprisingly. She kicked ass on. Gypsy....White boots and "Bright Eyes" line...makes it all worthwhile, but The Dances' Gypsy was pretty amazing. Beautiful Child..I didn't understand the hype. Great song..yes...Storms or Sisters could have nailed it. Tusk...I can't decide because on LIB they ripped the guitar part directly from the dance. If you compare audience version recordings of Tusk to the LIB tusk they are VERY different. Stand Back....Just incredible.

"Over My Head" on The Dance is pretty low-key, I agree. I think the harmony is off because it's mostly Stevie's ladies as opposed to Lindsey and Stevie. I love the bass line on it, but I much prefer the version from Live. Not much question why they left that off the CD release. Now why they left "Gypsy" and "Go Insane" off (and Songbird, for that matter)...

The actual CD song selection of Live in Boston could represent this show a little better, I wonder why they left off the songs that weren't already recently released live on The Dance not too long before. "Never Going Back Again" and "Second Hand News" especially would have been nice additions. At least they put "Eyes of the World" on their, one of my favorite versions of the song and one of the things I really liked about this set before tonight's revisit.

For what it's worth, LIB distinguishes itself simply being the four without McVie. I think "Eyes of the World" "Stand Back" and "Second Hand News" were great but was pretty underwhelmed with "Gypsy" and even this version of "Big Love" Maybe I'm alone, but I thought "Beautiful Child" was done really well. But I do agree that Sisters would have been great too. I almost have to pick LIB because it's got so much more intensity behind it than The Dance.

it's not? :confused: but it has a menu! i swear it has chapters. don't make me dig out my dvd. i'll do it.

YES. Twisted could have been simply unbelievable on the Dance, with a very "Silver Springs" type intensity, especially if Stevie nailed all the vocals at the end. It is one of the most powerful songs they have ever done together. What a missed opportunity.


I agree with the general consensus- "The Dance" is great for the excitment of Stevie being "back", the big reunion, its polished and perfect and a hell of a comeback.

LIB more captures the actual concert experience. I LOVE this version of Dreams too, and Rhiannon kicks ass. GYOW is legandary. EOTW and Second Hand News totally rock. Its hard for me to compare the duplicate songs though--I love the two versions for different reasons. Landslide and Silver Springs,though, hands down, go to the Dance- the vocals on LIB are very strained :shrug: Gypsy is hard- I love the outfit and "bright eyes" on LIB, but the strong vocals and high notes on the Dance make it IMO the best live version of the song.

Does anyone dispute the supremacy of "Gold Dust Woman" from the Dance? My mom and I were always blown away they left that off the CD- Stevie really knocked this one out, and we caught a glimpse of the "wild" Stevie we all feel in love with.

I feel the Dance was missing a few songs. Obviously when I first watched it I didn't know that, but in hindsight! Stand Back and Little Lies spring first to mind. I know they recorded Stand Back but it didn't make the final cut. When you compare it with something like Over My Head which (I feel) didn't make as much of an impact, I think it should have been there.