Would you welcome an extended era of FM without SN?

[Dreams Unwind]

Originally Posted by MikeVielhaber

They don't have a record company. They are not under any contract. I'm sure they would do the same thing they did with SYW and that is complete the album and then shop it around. Someone will surely be interested. Lindsey, on his own, released several of his albums, including Gift of Screws and Under the Skin, on Reprise, the same company that released Say You Will.

Oh, ok. Thank you for telling me that.

[redbird]

I always thought that Stevie, Lindsey, and Christine can do a lot of magic together. Also, at the end of the day, Stevie is probably my favorite Mac songwriter. But any music is better than no music, and if Stevie is happier without Fleetwood Mac and Fleetwood Mac might actually put something out without Stevie, it seems like it would be mutually beneficial. And I'm curious what Lindsey and Chris would come up with, provided that they focus less on the glossy pop side, and more on blues and weirdness. I would miss Stevie's poetry, but it's entirely possible it wouldn't be there in her songs any more, as I thought her SYW lyrics were hit/miss. So I'm at the point where, you know, may as well, even though I'd like one last effort from the five together.

[AncientQueen]

Nope! All five or nothing. Stevies voice adds something to Christine and Lindseys songs, it would not be FM without her distinctive voice and the element of her mystical songs. FM has always been greater than the sum of the parts when the three songwriters/singers worked together.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by AncientQueen

Nope! All five or nothing. Stevies voice adds something to Christine and Lindseys songs, it would not be FM without her distinctive voice and the element of her mystical songs. FM has always been greater than the sum of the parts when the three songwriters/singers worked together.

The only problem with this is that a Buckingham/McVie only-album has never been tried, the closest being "Tango" where Stevie was, at best, inconsequential. If Lindsey and Christine could do an album full of songs like Big Love, Everywhere, Caroline, Little Lies, and Isn't It Midnight, without any input from Stevie, I'd be fine with that.

[AncientQueen]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

The only problem with this is that a Buckingham/McVie only-album has never been tried, the closest being "Tango" where Stevie was, at best, inconsequential. If Lindsey and Christine could do an album full of songs like Big Love, Everywhere, Caroline, Little Lies, and Isn't It Midnight, without any input from Stevie, I'd be fine with that.

I hate TITN. . I can imagine an album with Buckingham/McVie tunes only, but then with a producer who is not Lindsey Buckingham. Imho LB ruined every single track Christine McVie had on TITN with his overelaborated antics. To me, a LB/CMV based FM album can only work in a blues/pop context with spare production, focussing on actual instruments played by the great musicians of FM without gimicks and outdated effects.

[redbird]

Originally Posted by AncientQueen

I hate TITN. . I can imagine an album with Buckingham/McVie tunes only, but then with a producer who is not Lindsey Buckingham. Imho LB ruined every single track Christine McVie had on TITN with his overelaborated antics. To me, a LB/CMV based FM album can only work in a blues/pop context with spare production, focussing on actual instruments played by the great musicians of FM without gimicks and outdated effects.

Regardless of whether or not Stevie is on the next album (if it ever happens), I do hope that they keep the production far more on the naturalistic, spare side. I'm over a lot of the studio effects, I like their music when it's more organic. IMO the more "studio magic" is on a song, the more quickly it dates.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by redbird

Regardless of whether or not Stevie is on the next album (if it ever happens), I do hope that they keep the production far more on the naturalistic, spare side. I'm over a lot of the studio effects, I like their music when it's more organic. IMO the more "studio magic" is on a song, the more quickly it dates.

I agree with this completely. TITN doesn't stand the test of time. FAR more dated production than Rumours, White, or Tusk(which all still sound fresh).

I worry that Lindsey has lost much of his voice now, and feels he has to rely on the gimmicks to "get it done".

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I think an album and tour without Stevie would be utterly refreshing- and this is coming from a Stevie fan. Her malcontent and refusal to allow forward motion in this band the last decade is unfair to the band and it's fans. Like someone else pointed out- look how amazing and on point Lindsey and Christine were during Tango when Stevie was largely absent. I think the band would become a much lighter, more enjoyable affair if Stevie were allowed to sit out the next 3-5 years. Then if Stevie wanted to come back for a farewell album and tour, it would be a nice full circle thing.

That being said... this plan pushes the band's timeline out nearly a decade. Do we think these folks will want all of that craziness when they're 80? I'm not so sure.

We also have other factors, too. The band told Christine she couldn't come & go- I have to imagine that would hold true for Stevie, too. And Mick has made it a point to say the Rumours 5 is the very final incarnation of the band, and they won't be altering the lineup from here on out. So the odds of Stevie being allowed to leave and return seem pretty slim. The band is on their home stretch, and they want to finish out in tact so they wrap things up with a pretty bow.

Love your post! Unfortunately Stevie Diva goes her own way. I hope she has the dignity to honor the band and its endpoint, and collaborates on the final Fleetwood Mac album. If not, that shouldn't prevent them from releasing the album only with Lindsey and Christine.

I disagree with the notion that they will fail without Stevie. There are different measures of success. They have nothing more to prove. A Buckingham McVie album has every chance to be an artistic and/or commercial success. Filling stadiums and topping the charts is not the prime objective now. I hope they absolve themselves of the rigors of a tour, and market the album in other ways: A one-time Dance-like broadcast/DVD featuring the new songs, maybe handful of live shows, TV performances, social media events, etc.

It's unrealistic to assume an "extended era" of the band would have much longevity. But I do look forward more solo albums from Stevie, Lindsey, and maybe Christine and Mick. Maybe they will release a series of old performances of the band that have been professionally recorded - ones lingering in the vaults.

[nicepace]

I think it's silly to worry that Lindsey would overproduce a new album in the same style as Tango in the Night. That was then, this is now. From all accounts he's thrilled to work with Christine again. I don't see him ruining her songs with production tricks. His own songs? I would assume that at least one or two will feature some odd gimmicky noises and effects, but as long as it's only one or two songs on an album, I can live with that. Just Lindsey being Lindsey.

[AncientQueen]

Originally Posted by nicepace

I think it's silly to worry that Lindsey would overproduce a new album in the same style as Tango in the Night. That was then, this is now. From all accounts he's thrilled to work with Christine again. I don't see him ruining her songs with production tricks. His own songs? I would assume that at least one or two will feature some odd gimmicky noises and effects, but as long as it's only one or two songs on an album, I can live with that. Just Lindsey being Lindsey.

He did alot of tricks from TITN again on SYW. So fearing that he would repeat this stuff again on a new FM album is based on facts.
Example: The background groaning from Big Love is repeated on Everybody finds out. There are alot of other recycled effects on SYW.

[elle]

Originally Posted by AncientQueen

He did alot of tricks from TITN again on SYW. So fearing that he would repeat this stuff again on a new FM album is based on facts.
Example: The background groaning from Big Love is repeated on Everybody finds out. There are alot of other recycled effects on SYW.

well, SYW was 12 years ago... long long time. he used the tape to record still at the time. lot has changed.

Lindsey released 6 albums since SYW - 3 studio albums and 3 live albums, a number of songs on albums produced by other people, as well as FM's EP. probably all these albums are more something to check out if you are trying to extrapolate what kind of production he might bring to FM these days.

[AncientQueen]

Well, the EP did not give me much hope either. His solo work is not relevant to me when it comes to production for FM.

[elle]

Originally Posted by AncientQueen

Well, the EP did not give me much hope either. His solo work is not relevant to me when it comes to production for FM.

it may not be relevant to you, but that's probably more where he is right now, production wise.

EP had 3 different production styles on it, so agree that it doesn't tell you much - other than it's very different from TITN and SYW, which is what you seem to be worried about.

[AncientQueen]

It's not relavant to me because it is his solo work, his preogative. It is important to me how he produces Christines songs and how he puts his own work in a FM context with Christines compositions, Johns bass playing and Micks drums. Can he manage to leave some room for the other musicians, tone it down with effects, keep the guitar playing resonable, to enhance the compositions and not to overpower them, will he keep the show-off of his (really fantastic) picking style tolerable and try to be useful for the band and not let the band be useful for him? Questions over questions.

I think they should just ask Rick Rubin to produce and go for it. It worked for Johnny Cash, why not for FM.

[elle]

Originally Posted by AncientQueen

I think they should just ask Rick Rubin to produce and go for it. It worked for Johnny Cash, why not for FM.

agree would love to hear what Rick Rubin could do for FM, that would be really interesting. i think they are too far into it with other producers right now, maybe next album?!

wasn't LB actually on that Johnny Cash album produced by Rick Rubin, too?