fireflies

[DavidMn]

Ok, I'm gonna sound like the new dummy here, but I have a question that I KNOW someone here will have the answer to. We all know Fireflies is on the Fleetwood Mac Live set from 1980. I have some demos, (Not a ton), and I have yet to hear of a studio version of this song. First of all, does one exist, and second, Was Fireslies going to be a song on a Mac album or Stevie solo?

[Johnny Stew]

David O. would be able to answer this better than I could, but I don't believe there's a version of "Fireflies" recorded fully in the studio (though the 'Live' album version and the single remixes, definitely have some studio overdubs).

As far as what project the song was intended for, I have a feeling that when the band decided to release a live album with some new tunes, Stevie probably just pulled out an unused song from her catalog.
Maybe even wrote it on tour for the specific idea of it being used on the live album.

[gldstwmn]

To my ears, the studio version of Fireflies doesn't sound much different than the sound check version on Live 1980. It definitely sounds unfinished to me.

[ontheEdgeof17]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

David O. would be able to answer this better than I could, but I don't believe there's a version of "Fireflies" recorded fully in the studio (though the 'Live' album version and the single remixes, definitely have some studio overdubs).

As far as what project the song was intended for, I have a feeling that when the band decided to release a live album with some new tunes, Stevie probably just pulled out an unused song from her catalog.
Maybe even wrote it on tour for the specific idea of it being used on the live album.

I have a version I call "Off-Key" Fireflies. It sounds horrible. Stevie is way off and it sounds like they are in the studio. I think there is a piano demo circulating as well.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

I have a version I call "Off-Key" Fireflies. It sounds horrible. Stevie is way off and it sounds like they are in the studio. I think there is a piano demo circulating as well.

I have the off-key one somewhere, too. It's, uh...an interesting listen.

[johnny4406]

The Radio version....or 'single version' sounds like its in the studio. The Vocal is less echo-y than the LIVE album...

We also get one new line at the end...before it fades out

"ooooooohooooh like a saiiiiling ship"

Which is a different vocal than the one from the verse.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by johnny4406

The Radio version....or 'single version' sounds like its in the studio. The Vocal is less echo-y than the LIVE album...

We also get one new line at the end...before it fades out

"ooooooohooooh like a saiiiiling ship"

Which is a different vocal than the one from the verse.

The single is the same recording as the Live album, except it has been remixed for AM radio airplay...hence the fade out rather than the full stop ending. There's really not a "new line"...that same line is on the Live album version, it just SOUNDS new because it comes at the fade out. The album version goes on for 15 or 20 more seconds. Take another listen to the album version...you'll hear that line.