Gold Dust Woman 1997 vs. 2013
 

I remember being impressed with the version of Gold Dust Woman from The Dance tour.
I considered it to be the best version of the song that I had ever seen.
Up until now.
When I saw a video of GDW from the show they did in Phoenix last year, I was even more impressed.
And amazed at how differently they were playing.
The way they stretch out on the song, almost in a Grateful Dead kind of way, makes the 1997 version seem very rehearsed and a little boring.
I think this might be the best youtube video from the 2013 tour. I can't stop watching it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8KsbXWKGAo


and the 1997 version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAjhqwHvMds

From beginning to end I think the 2013 version is the best ever so far. But the middle wail of the dance is her best wail ever.

I like pretty much everything better about the 1997 version. Stevie's vocals were far stronger & more passionate. That wail is what makes or breaks Gold Dust Woman... and she knocked it out of the park for this one. The song is just altogether tighter & more purposeful musically, too.

By comparison, the 2013 version just seems weaker in every way. Stevie's vocals are thinner, more strained. The wail has worn down to a whimper. Gold Dust Woman has always been a musically loose song- but it's just become meandering and directionless here.

Don't get me wrong, I adore both versions. But Gold Dust Woman is my all time favorite song. The song that awoke my passion for music, and incited my Fleetwood Mac obsession in one listen. The song has been performed for 37 years now, though... so any rendition has big shoes to fill. :)

What about 2013s "put your kingdom. UP FOR SAAAALLLLLLEEEEEE" that is absent from th dance. Plus I think it's 20 times better instrumentally.

There's a lot going on musically with Lindsey's
guitar in the 2013 version. He took the song to
new places it had never been before.
The '97 version feels very scripted.
Although they had a lot to prove for that show - and
a lot fans to win back - so not many chances were taken.

I love the way the band sounded in 2013.
I don't know if it's that there was no longer a record
label they felt beholden to or what.
But whatever it was, it was new life that seemed
to make its way into several songs.
Sara and Gypsy also felt re-energized.

the best live version as far as what LB was doing musically was european tour version from 2009. much more jazzed up and inventive than 2013 version. towards the end of 2013, he started doing a little bit of that, especially at the last show in vegas, but nowhere near the amazing jams he was doing on the european leg in 2009.

here's wembley, as an example -

Agreed! I thought the Vegas show was great too. I hope they do it like this from now on.

Yup. I get chills every time I watch that.

I love the wail from the Dance. And I never understand why that song never made it to any CD.

But I love the Soundstage version. Because the drums are more pronounced before the chorus. Just something about that part that I just love.

There was a European cd single release of Silver
Springs in '98.
It also includes Over My Head, Gold Dust Woman,
and Go Insane - all from the Dance shows.

I really enjoyed the 2013 version and parts of the 2009 version musically. However, The Dance version is top notch in the vocal department.

The performance from the 2nd Wembley show in 2013 (the first show with Christine) is my favourite ever. It's electric.

I love the intro to it on Soundstage and, as somone has already posted, the build up the chorus with the drums.

What we really need is a mash-up:

- Lindsey's 2009 guitar work
- Stevie's 1997 vocal
- Soundstage style arrangement/intro
- Bob Welch and Friends style ending

Thanks for posting the Wembley video - it's great.
Still love the 2013 version the best...

Hows this for Gold Dust Woman vocal....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1z03AYsiMo

I've always been partial to The Dance version, because when I watched the original airing on MTV, it was that song that proved Stevie "was back" to me. The wail is perfection, and I've always loved the "shaaadow, she's a dragon!" part.

In recent years, I like the Soundstage performances best. I love the arrangement, and Stevie's passion. It may not be perfect vocally, but that was the most energy I've seen from her in years.