Stevie discusses Possible New

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by RockawayBlind

Like it or not, she makes a joke of herself by making such comments. If my reaction to that is "Stevie bashing," so be it. But she's a grown woman, and it's high time she learned how to edit herself.

Actually, "like it or not", Stevie (well beyond a grown woman) is precisely where I would expect her to be at this point -- A living legend (in her own right) who does not have to be coerced into making an album if she does not feel it, or even just because (she has more than earned that right.) Stevie is still creative as "In Your Dreams" and more recently "You Can't Fix This" have demonstrated. I don't think anyone of any credible reason really disputes that, just that BOTH, Stevie & Lindsey, have come off creative solo highs, that it would be a shame not to actualize what might be at this junction.

Seems like some around here just cannot fathom that Stevie holds the keys to another FM full-length recording. There is life beyond another FM record. Lindsey will go on, Stevie will go on, as they always have.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by MikeInNV

I don't know how many people would take that as blackmailing.

I don't take it as blackmailing, but I do take it as saying, "if this fails, it will be your fault." I read and posted a summary from Ultimate Classic Rock where the writer (who is probably more objective than we are) took it the same way and said that her comments mean we better download the new songs on itunes, if we want more music and show enthusiasm for the songs in concert, rather than making a beer run. In that statement, Stevie put the onus on fans and some fans want to fling it right back at her.

Now, since I think Stevie is just making up a bunch of excuses for why she doesn't want to record, I don't take her comments seriously. But since she actually did utter them, I see why people are reacting the way they are, whether or not I think she really means it.

That's the problem: she's not telling the truth and I think she'd actually come off better if she were judged on the truth rather than on the ridiculous statements she makes to cover it up.

If she said a variation on what she said to the press in 2003, for example:

"Lindsey left the band in 1987 and I haven't worked with him since. I learned how to work without him really well. As I told him, 'I don't need you to make my music come true, anymore.' I've been growing in new directions and, although I love him, in so many ways, doing a full album with him is like going backwards for me. I respect his talent immensely, that's why I knew I had to have him do Soldier's Angel with me, because I know no one else could translate the ominous, brutal message I heard in my head onto disc the way he could. But for a full album, I think we've moved too far apart to do our best work together any longer. I'd rather we just toured and had fun without the stress of battling to record 12 new Fleetwood Mac songs."

I think that may not be 100% accurate, but it is closer to the truth and people could judge her on that statement. But she doesn't say that. She says other, less true, things and I think they spark resentment and I think people are reasonable to react accordingly.

Michele

[David]

Originally Posted by redbird

So pardon me for being dense but ... they can record without Stevie, right?

Well, they usually do—and then they airbrush her in on the album cover.

If they can't record without her, then yes she's really holding them hostage, but if they can, then they should just decide to do it, and Stevie's not preventing them from doing anything that she doesn't have a right to prevent (that thing being her own participation).

I think Lindsey really wants to record with her. He seems to want to pick up his musical partnership with her from 40 years ago and carry it forward—or throw it against a wall to see what sticks. He's always talking about how they both, together, have a "story to finish." I think he plans on shackling her ankles to the recording console in his den, setting up a couple of mics, and occasionally feeding her.

Fleetwood Mac recording was never about "Who wants to be here?" It was always about "Just show up and then grouse to the press."

[Fever Dance]

Originally Posted by shackin'up

the song is called " You can't fix this". I like what Vig did to it too. They deliberately copied the sound of the early seventies, to capture some of the legacy of the soundboard in audio, but then in 2012. And Lindsey will never Go back to that sound because It's 2013.We'll have to wait until the three songs come out to know what he did to Fleetwood Mac.
Lindsey has not done anything to her songs recently. That happened all more than 10 years ago. The only thing he did was the sparse instrumentation on Soldiers' Angel.

And she couldn't stop bragging about that. "He saved my song".

I think what Butch did is relevant today as well. It's a matter of personal taste. Just like your interpretation of what it means to be an artist. You know, we can argue this back and forth. Again, I'm a massive Lindsey fan. I'm not saying he isn't talented as **** cause he is.

I'm just saying that for me, personally, I've gotten past the fantasy that Stevie's best work is going to be with FM. Obviously she isn't happy recording with them and I don't think Lindsey is her best producer.

And yeah, this morning my first post had a glaring typo, the song I was referring to of course was YOU CAN'T FIX THIS.. oopsy! I should know cause I've listened to the song enough.. It's why I shouldn't type anything pre-coffee.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by David

Well, they usually do—and then they airbrush her in on the album cover.

I think Lindsey really wants to record with her. He seems to want to pick up his musical partnership with her from 40 years ago and carry it forward—or throw it against a wall to see what sticks. He's always talking about how they both, together, have a "story to finish." I think he plans on shackling her ankles to the recording console in his den, setting up a couple of mics, and occasionally feeding her.

Fleetwood Mac recording was never about "Who wants to be here?" It was always about "Just show up and then grouse to the press."

He wants them to be the Gypsies, that they was.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by michelej1

If she said a variation on what she said to the press in 2003, for example:

"Lindsey left the band in 1987 and I haven't worked with him since. I learned how to work without him really well. As I told him, 'I don't need you to make my music come true, anymore.' I've been growing in new directions and, although I love him, in so many ways, doing a full album with him is like going backwards for me. I respect his talent immensely, that's why I knew I had to have him do Soldier's Angel with me, because I know no one else could translate the ominous, brutal message I heard in my head onto disc the way he could. But for a full album, I think we've moved too far apart to do our best work together any longer. I'd rather we just toured and had fun without the stress of battling to record 12 new Fleetwood Mac songs."

I think that may not be 100% accurate, but it is closer to the truth and people could judge her on that statement. But she doesn't say that. She says other, less true, things and I think they spark resentment and I think people are reasonable to react accordingly.

I wonder if she was asked (by management? by the band?) not to say that during the current press. I can't imagine it would help sell the new songs.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by MikeInNV

The bottom line in all of this is that everybody has their mind made up about Stevie, so no matter what she says or does, people will interpret it in a way that reinforces their own perceptions (reminds me a lot of politics actually). Does she have fans who think she only farts rainbows? Yes. But there's another contingent on the opposite side ready to make the worst of everything.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Give this man a prize.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I wonder if she was asked (by management? by the band?) not to say that during the current press. I can't imagine it would help sell the new songs.

I would doubt it, since it's in keeping with the type of things Stevie has said in the past. That's why I linked it to her former comments about the fans stealing music from her, because she has said similar things in the past, when there was no new music about to be released.

Michele

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Fever Dance

And yeah, this morning my first post had a glaring typo, the song I was referring to of course was YOU CAN'T FIX THIS.. oopsy! I should know cause I've listened to the song enough.. It's why I shouldn't type anything pre-coffee.

Well, it was so hilarious that you said it, because there was a picture of MC Hammer in the thread.

Michele

[sparky]

"Lindsey left the band in 1987 and I haven't worked with him since. I learned how to work without him really well. As I told him, 'I don't need you to make my music come true, anymore.' I've been growing in new directions and, although I love him, in so many ways, doing a full album with him is like going backwards for me. I respect his talent immensely, that's why I knew I had to have him do Soldier's Angel with me, because I know no one else could translate the ominous, brutal message I heard in my head onto disc the way he could. But for a full album, I think we've moved too far apart to do our best work together any longer. I'd rather we just toured and had fun without the stress of battling to record 12 new Fleetwood Mac songs."

^
THIS.

I think this has a ring of truth. And for my money's worth, it is utterly and completely true. The Stevie SYW songs were subpar production wise. I don't think they worked at all. Any of them. I still can't shake that hideous Casio keyboard in Running Through The Garden. I thought it was a practical joke on first listen. So much of his production of her songs was a bungled modernization attempt, or a misguided throwback (why try and make SYW a modern version of Think About Me?). The only one I liked in terms of production was Everybody Finds Out and that belonged on a mix cd that would go straight to gay nightclubs. No pun intended. It stuck out like a sore gay thumb on a FM record.

As far as her pronouncement about people loving the new FM songs or no album is gonna happen, it makes sense. The enormous overhead of that clown show going into a studio is a money loser if people won't buy millions of copies. No way in hell will a new FM record sell millions of copies. Under any circumstance. And let's face it, FM is a business entity. It is clearly torturous for LB and SN to record music together, so why sacrifice a miserable year to do that when it won't even break even and most everyone pees and gets beer during the new songs? I don't blame them. Go out and pull your 600-750k guarantee a night. For the record, folks, I have done my pee and get a cocktail run during Rhiannon and Landslide for decades now, thank you very much. But never, ever, ever during GDW.

I think at this point, as far as SN is concerned, she would rather be the captain of her own ship when it comes to recording. She pulls legend rank on Stewart and Grohl, and almost anyone else she works with. I am sure the deference is intoxicating. Dave Grohl moons at her like a lovestruck teenager in those live videos. And who wouldn't? Oh. That would be Lindsey.

Why record a money losing record with FM when she can record with these people who worship her, and she can maintain creative control? What would you choose? The psychodrama of spending 8-10 months fighting with your now 35 years gone ex? Or spending the "best year of your life" with Dave Stewart? Please. You grab the tour money. You play the Daytime Drama Cheese moments with FM. (God knows here on the Ledge there is proof of the obsession with that moth eaten coke infused Fromeo and Shawliet story. Many fangirls with still viable eggs practically ovulate when those two so much as hold hands). So you dust off the Shakespeare and give the droves what they want. And then go do your own thing where you call all the shots.

For the record, I think IYD lost money too. Simple math. But at least it was her ship and she didn't suffer emotionally in the process.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by David

Well, they usually do—and then they airbrush her in on the album cover.

Genius. As usual.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by sparky

^
As far as her pronouncement about people loving the new FM songs or no album is gonna happen, it makes sense. The enormous overhead of that clown show going into a studio is a money loser if people won't buy millions of copies. No way in hell will a new FM record sell millions of copies. Under any circumstance. And let's face it, FM is a business entity. It is clearly torturous for LB and SN to record music together, so why sacrifice a miserable year to do that when it won't even break even and most everyone pees and gets beer during the new songs? I don't blame them. Go out and pull your 600-750k guarantee a night.

I think at this point, as far as SN is concerned, she would rather be the captain of her own ship when it comes to recording. She pulls legend rank on Stewart and Grohl, and almost anyone else she works with. I am sure the deference is intoxicating. Dave Grohl moons at her like a lovestruck teenager in those live videos. And who wouldn't? Oh. That would be Lindsey.

Why record a money losing record with FM when she can record with these people who worship her, and she can maintain creative control? What would you choose? The psychodrama of spending 8-10 months fighting with your now 35 years gone ex? Or spending the "best year of your life" with Dave Stewart? Please. You grab the tour money. You play the Daytime Drama Cheese moments with FM. (God knows here on the Ledge there is proof of the obsession with that moth eaten coke infused Fromeo and Shawliet story. Many fangirls with still viable eggs practically ovulate when those two so much as hold hands). So you dust off the Shakespeare and give the droves what they want. And then go do your own thing where you call all the shots.

For the record, I think IYD lost money too. Simple math. But at least it was her ship and she didn't suffer emotionally in the process.

Love this.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Seems like some around here just cannot fathom that Stevie holds the keys to another FM full-length recording.

Hey, if she wants out...GO. Let the band move on. I'd rather have SN, but the likes of Cyndi Lauper, who have a large, overlapping fan base and similar vocal and stage vibes, could easily take over, and keep it sounding like FM should be on the table. No, not Bekka, who I love, but has no name recognition. Big name artists who could hold their own.

[johnnystorms]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Hey, if she wants out...GO. Let the band move on. I'd rather have SN, but the likes of Cyndi Lauper, who have a large, overlapping fan base and similar vocal and stage vibes, could easily take over, and keep it sounding like FM should be on the table. No, not Bekka, who I love, but has no name recognition. Big name artists who could hold their own.

i HOPE the Cyndi Lauper suggestion was a joke.

[mitzo]

Sparky wrote

The Stevie SYW songs were subpar production wise. I don't think they worked at all. Any of them. I still can't shake that hideous Casio keyboard in Running Through The Garden. I thought it was a practical joke on first listen. So much of his production of her songs was a bungled modernization attempt, or a misguided throwback (why try and make SYW a modern version of Think About Me?). The only one I liked in terms of production was Everybody Finds Out and that belonged on a mix cd that would go straight to gay nightclubs. No pun intended. It stuck out like a sore gay thumb on a FM record.

A lot of us thought the SYW songs were her best in decades, thanks massively to Lindsey's touch. Amazing how tastes differ, but her SYW work ended up infinitely better than TISL.

In any case, it is hard to imagine, all quibbles about production aside, how showing up to sing into a mike for some songs in a studio with FM is so arduous for Stevie. She has a bigger chance at a hit that way than solo.

Is it that she has little say in how the songs are produced? But spending endless months on the road with the guys is less stressful?