Cira 1987-1990 -the Rick & Billy years

[PenguinHead]

I recently had a sudden interest with this unsual and transitional period of Fleetwood Mac. After recently listening to the album Behind the Mask, I pulled out all my concert bootlegs from this era. Interested in choices of songs they performed, I compliled a list. Let me know if I'm missing something.

I attended shows on both tours. At the earlier tour (for Tango) I was actually happy that Stevie didn't perform Rhiannon - the first time ever for Fleetwood Mac. Rhiannon needed a rest, and it wasn't missed. Unfortunately she didn't surprise us with anything else. And it was very unusual that she didn't perform any new songs on tour for Behind the Mask. "Affairs of the Heart" and/or "Freedom" would have been nice additions. I hate that she performed "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You." That's an absolute "Stevie solo" song, as is 'Stand Back." I don't like that it's become a staple Fleetwood Mac concert song.

I like and respect Billy, but I find him to be more like a Vegas showman, and he sounds very cheesy with his bravado stage banter like "Do you wanna here another one?" or "Are we having fun yet!" He's very good, but so generic. The same could be said for Rick Vito's lyrics, but he's such a great guitar player. I like that he brought some of the band's old blues songs into the set. It was authentic. I wonder if Billy wasn't in the equation, and it was just a Stevie, Rick and Christine line-up, would that formation have lasted longer? Stevie and Rick certainly shared some sort of connection, and Christine had a lot of respect for Rick's talent.

It's sad that Rick and Billy weren't able to get more recognition for their contributions. '"When the Sun Goes Down" was a great duet and should have been a concert staple. I think 'Hard Feelings" is a great song and should have been in set. Although I liked that they shook things up by opening shows with 'In the Back of My Mind." it was such a poor choice. They come on stage, the crowd goes wild, and then there is this long extended opening before the song starts, essentially becoming a buzz-kill, quickly sapping all the energy from the audience. It's a good slow-burn song for later in the set, but least effective as an opener. (That said, "The Chain" has really outstayed its' welcome as show opener -- predictable and stale. I was glad to hear, that on the recent tour they opened with 'Monday Morning.")

Blah, blah, blah...
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome...the songs!

Stop Messing Around
Rattlesnake Shake
I Loved Another Woman
Oh Well
Don't Let Me Down
Say You Love Me
Over My Head
Landslide
Rhiannon - rarely
World Turning
Blue Letter
Gold Dust Woman
The Chain
Dreams
Go Your Own Way
Don't Stop
You Make Lovin' Fun
Songbird
Brown Eyes
Sara - rarely
Gypsy - rarely
Has Anyone Ever Wrirten Anything for You
Isn't it Midnight
Everywhere
Seven Wonders
Little Lies
Save Me
In the Back of My Mind
When the Sun Goes Down - rarely
Stand on the Rock
Love is Dangerous - somewhat rarely
Tear it Up