[Travis]

Originally Posted by MikeInNV

I was obsessed with Billboard magazine back in the day, and it really was a great tool, but even I have to admit it doesn't tell the whole story. The introduction of Soundscan showed that earlier charts had a margin of error to say the least.

But besides that, charts only rank popularity that week and say nothing of lasting impact. Stevie also had: Rhiannon (11), Edge of Seventeen (11), and Gypsy (12), all of which are still played regularly on various radio formats (unlike Big Love or Hold Me). And then there's Gold Dust Woman and especially Landslide, which have no chart ranking because they were never singles, but are must-play concert staples because they are as much a part of the public consciousness as the official singles.

So while I agree that using her solo success as proof of importance in the band is misleading, the statistics you cite are also skewing the picture.

And as far as the last tour's success, it is obvious that the Classic Five lineup will always be a bigger draw than any subset of four, so that isn't all about Christine. Imagine if it was Stevie who was back after a 16-year hiatus.

Obviously Stevie isn't a required part of the band. Even without her, they still have twice the number of lead singers as most bands. But she has given them more than just a handful of hit singles. She's a charismatic frontperson, with a persona and image that captivates fans and piques the interest of the media. Whenever you see a concert review, the picture is always Stevie, Stevie with Lindsey, or Stevie with Mick. I realize that's what drives a lot of fans crazy, but having a high-profile star in the band does a lot to keep the band relevant. When The Dance came out, I remember people saying they wanted to check it out "to see what Stevie looks like now." But then they got drawn back into the music once again.

Without Stevie, they are a talented musical unit who no doubt would have moved some records. But that describes a lot of faceless bands of the seventies who eventually drifted off into the sunset. Stevie is their hook. She set them apart and put them over the top as a superstar act. Did FM launch her career? Absolutely. But it's not the one-sided relationship some people want to make it out to be. If it was, half the threads in this forum wouldn't exist.

What MikeInNV said