Best 2004 Reissue

[WalkAThinLine.]

In 2004, Reprise/Warner reissued Fleetwood Mac, Rumours, and Tusk, with the latter two receiving a second disc of bonus material. I'm curious what the consensus is on these reissues, including thoughts on the sound quality, the liner notes, the selection of tracks, and which of these reissues is the general favorite.

[Villavic]

Both Rumours and Tusk have an interesting Disc 2, but I choose Rumours. The Deluxe albums released in the 2010s were more interesting since they included live shows and more demos, early versions, etc., though some of those bonus tracks were the same as the 2004, like Sara and IKINW demos.

[Macfan4life]

I can't keep up with all the reissues. Were they not reissued again since 2004? I like recent Tusk reissue for having a full Tusk concert. But it has 7 or 9 versions of I Know I'm Not Wrong yet left off incredible songs like Beauty and the Beast. Rumours never included Sleeping Angel either. Until the day comes you no longer have to go to youtube to hear these classics these reissues are not that great IMHO. Didn't the Mirage one only include the HBO Mirage show. We had to wait a few more years until FINALLY a FULL Mirage show was released on CD.
Long story short, its a mixed bag. Bella Donna is probably the best reissue there is. It has all the demos, variations of the album songs, songs left off and a full concert. The Fleetwood Mac versions of Sleeping Angel and Beauty and the Beast are stellar and I want them on CD.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

But it has 7 or 9 versions of I Know I'm Not Wrong yet left off incredible songs like Beauty and the Beast.

Seven. I think IKINW has the most bonus tracks on the 2015 Deluxe Edition. The Tusk song "only" has 6 (not counting the live version). I don't think any other album features so many alternate/early/demo versions of other songs, especially by the girls, as these Lindsey's on Tusk Deluxe.

I also remember huge photos of Lindsey's face appearing in the big screen during the 2014 concert while singing I Know I'm Not Wrong. Apparently, he really likes that song. Well, I'm not a big fan of IKINW. I would have much preferred him to sing Tango In The Night live.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by Villavic

Seven. I think IKINW has the most bonus tracks on the 2015 Deluxe Edition. The Tusk song "only" has 6 (not counting the live version). I don't think any other album features so many alternate/early/demo versions of other songs, especially by the girls, as these Lindsey's on Tusk Deluxe.

I also remember huge photos of Lindsey's face appearing in the big screen during the 2014 concert while singing I Know I'm Not Wrong. Apparently, he really likes that song. Well, I'm not a big fan of IKINW. I would have much preferred him to sing Tango In The Night live.

I love the Tango title track! Would have loved to hear that live.

[WalkAThinLine.]

The unique thing about the 2004 reissue is that a couple of mixes on the second disc were not carried over to the 2015 remaster. Some examples include the outtakes of "Kiss and Run" and "Farmer's Daughter". As such, both reissues are essential for completionists. The 2004 reissue of Tusk contained demo versions of most songs on the original album, with a decent level of attention still dedicated to "I Know I'm Not Wrong", which had the instrumental recording "Lindsey's Song #1", "Song #1 (I Know I'm Not Wrong)", and "Song #1 (I Know I'm Not Wrong) (Alternate)". These mixes were likely intended to document the progression of "I Know I'm Not Wrong", although one of them could have potentially been dropped in favor of an alternate mix of an album track that was overlooked for disc 2 (ie "What Makes You Think You're the One" and "Not That Funny"). Listening to demos of these songs on the 2015 remaster, I can somewhat understand why these were omitted from the 2004 edition as they are relatively similar to the released version.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by WalkAThinLine.

These mixes were likely intended to document the progression of "I Know I'm Not Wrong", although one of them could have potentially been dropped in favor of an alternate mix of an album track that was overlooked for disc 2 (ie "What Makes You Think You're the One" and "Not That Funny"). Listening to demos of these song on the 2015 remaster, I can somewhat understand why these were omitted from the 2004 edition as they are relatively similar to the released version.

That would mean there were no versions of those songs (NTF, What Makes, etc.) that were quite different from the original. Knowing how much of a perfectionist Lindsey is, I find it hard to believe. Besides, having also heard different versions of Storms, One More Night, Sara, and GDW, I wonder if there weren't tracks from Angel, Think About Me, or Beautiful Child that reflected the evolution of those songs.

During this century I always wished Fleetwood Mac new material. But SYW didn't blow me away and I barely remember the songs on the EP (meh), and since I am a big fan of bonus tracks, if there were more demos, alternate or early versions of other songs, I would be more than happy, I would buy a whole box set of just those tracks if they released it, whenever they are enough different from the originals

[WalkAThinLine.]

Originally Posted by Villavic

That would mean there were no versions of those songs (NTF, What Makes, etc.) that were quite different from the original. Knowing how much of a perfectionist Lindsey is, I find it hard to believe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUAD-3O42Ig

This is the alternate version of "Not That Funny" included on the 2015 deluxe edition of Tusk. Other than its different mix, longer fadeout, and unused guitar licks and vocals, it's relatively similar to the released version that we're all familiar with. I can understand why this was overlooked on the 2004 deluxe edition, but I would not have been upset it was included there as well.

Most of Lindsey's tinkering is evident on "I Know I'm Not Wrong", "That's All For Everyone", and to a lesser extent "Walk a Thin Line". "The Ledge" was originally recorded at Studio D of The Village Recorder with the rest of Fleetwood Mac sans Stevie before a different take was used from Lindsey's home studio.