[Johnny Stew]

As much as I love Fleetwood Mac, and as much as I love Stevie IN Fleetwood Mac, I have to go with her solo career.

Often in Fleetwood Mac, it seemed that her talents were underused... especially when you consider her sublime vocal contributions to songs by the likes of Kenny Loggins, Walter Egan, John Stewart, Tom Snow, and others.
In many of those cases, her presence is what drives the song... or makes it stand out in a way that it wouldn't have without her.

I can think of dozens of Mac songs that should have had the benefit of Stevie's vocals, but she's nowhere to be found in the mix.

But her solo career allowed her to spread her wings, and to truly make good use of her talents. Talents that she has to burn.

It also allowed her to fully explore all of the idiosyncrasies that made her one of the most compelling and unique artists in pop/rock music.

And to imagine all of the songs that may have gone un-recorded, had she never embarked on a solo career.
*shudders*

Of course, there are some who would argue that her solo career has had its share of clunkers... but I still maintain that, given the sheer breadth of material she's released over the past three decades, she has an impressively high success-rate.

So, for me, the choice is easily Stevie solo.



Johnny Stew