I'll compromise and have Stevie in Fleetwood Mac.
Okay, don't get me wrong. I love, love, love her. But, some of her solo stuff can be a bit...meh. Like the piano version of Rhiannon. It never really got to me in the way the Mac version does. The way everyone rocks out - it's always been a trip for me. I'm willing to bet that if Stevie had had her way, that song would be a total piano-fest right now. I've never been a fan of the piano intro when Stevie did it live. It never really did it for me. Same kind of goes for the Stevie version of If You Were My Love. It's nice - beautiful, even. But the Mac version is absolutely stompin'! The way I see it is that Stevie's songs start off very simple, very pure, and then the Mac come in and add so many layers to it. I can take or leave the demo No Light, yet Planets of the Universe is amazing. The way it builds up is awesome. However, I'm not a fan of the TIS-G version. Never did it for me. The same principle also applied to Storms and Beautiful Child. With Stevie alone, they're sweet, pure songs, but they need the layers that the Mac give them.
I agree that Lindsey challenges her, and to be honest, sometimes I don't think she likes it. Think About It off the Rumours re-issue is my favourite take of it. It's got a little more punch, a little more energy, and carries a funkier tune. The Bella Donna one always seemed a bit placid to me. A little bit lackluster. And even when Stevie's solo stuff is on fire, I've always felt it was because it reminded me more of the Mac, than just Stevie.
Stevie makes great music. But she's a writer - a poet. She's not a musician, and from that point, Lindsey has one up on her. Lindsey is bit of a chameleon. He can do everything. He can write great music and write great lyrics. No one will forget Go Your Own Way in a hurry. Just like no one could forget Dreams, either. Stevie has freely admitted that Dreams was something Lindsey had a hand in dealing with.
The fundamental difference for me is that without the Mac, Lindsey's stuff would've had that same sound. He was writing, creating and producing. He knew the sound he wanted and was dedicated - fanatical, even - in creating it. Without the Mac, Stevie's stuff would've been more melodic. Relied more on atmosphere and creating an image. I think Stevie's known for a long time that having the persona she does can be very profitable. Hence her popularity. But in a way, I've always felt that she's gotten too caught up in that persona and now can't create music without that certain mistique and atmosphere. It can leave her limited. And I think that it also leaves her insecure. It can no longer be simple and pure, yet, just by herself alone, she can't pull off the layers that the Mac add. I remember reading a quote where she begged Bob Dylan to be a part of Just Like A Woman. I personally never thought she needed him there because she was recording his song. I always felt that it was because she needed someone else beside her, to hold her hand, if you will. She's done it with Don Henley and Tom Petty, as well. I personally think she was too scared to actually make it on 'her own', yet she wanted control over her songs and how she did her thing. Which is why I've always thought it was interesting that she referred to Lori and Sharon as 'her band' and not her backing singers. Because in theory, that is what they do. Plenty of bands have extra singers, but how many actually have them pretty much through every album, on album covers, through tours, etc? Not many - they wouldn't want the singers to take the focus from the band to them.
So, on that basis. I'm going with the Mac - Stevie included.
Of course, if Stevie were ever inclined to tour the UK, I may be persuaded to think otherwise...
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