Stevie, Lindsey or Christine?

[elle]

Originally Posted by David

Well, that's you, elle, but that's not me. The foundation of my fanaticism for this band is the orchestration of the tracks, and Lindsey happens to be the individual most responsible for those decisions (in several cases, he's also the individual most responsible for the execution of the orchestrative ideas). By orchestration, I mean the common definition: the "layout" of the sounds on a song or an album. That includes decisions about parts (the notes and chords played, which is also called arrangement), instrumentation (the combination of instruments used to generate the intended color), the vocal score, and the mix (applying dynamics and effects to what's on tape in order to create a specific atmosphere).

All this stuff is just as important to the Nicks and McVie tracks as it is to the Buckingham tracks--hence many people's interest in it. In fact, Lindsey himself has said--and I think I agree--that his best work of this sort has been on their songs, not necessarily his own.

I'd conclude that you don't have much interest in Buckingham as an arranger, orchestrator, vocal harmonizer, or guitarist, because all this stuff plays such a major role in Mac albums from 1977 to now. But of course I don't know for certain what turns you on about Lindsey.

beautiful post David - well most of the stuff about orchestration, although why do feel a lot of criticism towards what i may like screaming from the part that i bolded ?! are you saying LB puts no guitar, production or arrangement effort in his solo stuff?

i of course don't have nearly the extensive musical knowledge or appreciation that you do (i more/less coasted through music school playing flute and quit when i actually had to put some work and practice into it!) but i enjoy reading your dissections. and i just listen to what i like.

when i first started listening to lindsey's stuff, i was confused how all over the spectrum his music is. my preference and what drew me in was his more rocking stuff, and of course perfect tight little pop songs like SHN. but once i heard the acoustic BL and GI that sealed it for me.

although i love his guitar parts on Mac songs from other singer/songwriters, especially melodic ones on many of stevie's songs (i listen to a drivel like that SYW song just for that simple but melodic guitar part in the middle, and also stand through stevie's nasal singing of DR for that guitar outro - but can't stand gypsy - sorry LB, i know you are proud of it). i also love his harmonies especially with christine and the ones he pulled with stevie on the recent tour versions of beautiful child and storms, but to me this is still not enough to entice me to want to listen to their songs as much as his (with the exception of a song like hold me maybe!). there are many other singer/songwriters that would be on my list in between LB and the rest of the Mac members. (just to clarify, i'm talking rumours-era mac members.)

see what you started, now i'll hear it from people how i'm being mean again!

EDIT: just want to add, i respect and can appreciate your preference for the whole mac as a sum of the parts vs the individual members, and complete rounded songs. like you said though, that's you, not me. and that's why this is so interesting, we are all drawn towards and love different things and it's nice to hear different opinions and points of view! great discussion!