The best last song of a studio album

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by chiliD

On my own version of Tusk, "Over & Over" is the last song (I HATE it being the opening track...to me, the worst choice possible); but, since (to quote Peter Green) I'm living in the real world, I chose "Never Forget". It was close between that & "Wish You Were Here". While those other songs are good songs, I don't think they capture all what a "last song" needs to capture. They all leave one expecting at least "one more". Both "Never Forget" & "Wish You Were Here" put a nice big period at the end of the album.

No one puts an album to bed like Christine McVie. Even on the solo albums. Smile I Live For and Giving it Back...GREAT closers.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

No one puts an album to bed like Christine McVie. Even on the solo albums. Smile I Live For and Giving it Back...GREAT closers.

Yeah, she opens an album great too. I love Over and Over and Love in Store.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Yeah, she opens an album great too. I love Over and Over and Love in Store.

"Love In Store"...yeah, definitely.

"Over & Over"?? (I think I threw up a little in the back of my throat)

[The Highwayman]

'Gold Dust Woman', big time. Perfect ending track.

But I do love 'Never Forget' a lot...

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by chiliD

"Love In Store"...yeah, definitely.

"Over & Over"?? (I think I threw up a little in the back of my throat)

We agreed at one time on this. It has grown on me to the point where I think it's perfection.

[secret love]

The Tower. [Goodbye Baby] Definitely. I don't care what people say. That song is beautiful. There is a fragility, a vulnerability to Stevie's vocal which just says, "I've been through a lot. I have struggled and I'm sorry I failed you. But I love you and I'll always be there for you."

I would love to ask Stevie (if I ever met this amazing woman) what she originally tried to convey/what event or situation inspired Goodbye Baby. It sounds to my ear like the song is about miscarriage or abortion, but then I think no, that's too literal a meaning for a writer like Stevie. So maybe it is about separating from a past lover? But again, it just seems too simplistic.

I'm inclined to think maybe it was written about losing a child ... she has admitted in rare interviews to a time in her life where she wanted children, and during her Klonopin years even acknowledged the loss of multiple pregnancies. I think she would have made a great mother ... maybe if she grew up in a different time or didn't lose her late thirties and early forties to Klonopin she would have children now, who knows? When people ask her about it she always answers that children wouldn't fit into the busy working life of a rock star such as herself. But others do it - and not just men. Look at Adele, for example, or Cindy Wilson of B-52s fame. Both are mothers and currently working musicians (and Cindy is only 9 years younger than Stevie).

I think there is more to it than Stevie acknowledges - but enough of this pointless speculation.

Second place for me would have to be Never Forget.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Yeah, she opens an album great too. I love Over and Over and Love in Store.

Love in Store might be my favorite album opener on any Mac album.

I feel genuine joy whenever I hear it. So catchy. When all three sing together on the chorus, it's magic.

[MacShadowsBall]

I went with Wish You Were Here, partly cause it's one of my favorites, and I like albums that end with a nice "mellow-ish" song

I agree with what chiliD said in regards to his album closer choices.