My nit picks for Tusk.

[TheWILDheart]

Originally Posted by Wdm6789

Tusk:

5. They should have had the six minute version of Sara on the album instead of the condensed version.

I haven't read through all your post yet, but for info, they had have the full 6:28 version on the original record release. It is only the original CD release and the 7" single release that feature a shorter version. The 2004 remaster also includes the full verison.

[Macfan4life]

Wow, its hard to nit pick about Tusk but I will force myself.
I love all the songs. The only song I would drop is the Ledge. But I could keep it but place it on the 4th side. Its too early in the mix on side 1 and immediately casts Tusk's quirky side. Although there is nothing quirky about Tusk today. Its held up pretty good. I could not stand to remove any songs due to the creativity on each one.
I was never crazy about the album cover or song Tusk.
My biggest nit pick would have been to release Think About Me as the first single. Its a mainstream rock/pop track that would have been huge. The headline would have been "Fleetwood Mac is back." Even though the single Tusk made the top 10, it confused the masses. I believe Think About Me would have cracked the top 10 if it was the first single. I also believe it would have been a good lead single to promote the album better.
So these are my few nit picks

Oh I too prefer the live version of Over and Over. But I also prefer the live version of Sisters. If there was a way to make those raw live versions a recording in the studio then I would add that too

[Wdm6789]

Originally Posted by TheWILDheart

I haven't read through all your post yet, but for info, they had have the full 6:28 version on the original record release. It is only the original CD release and the 7" single release that feature a shorter version. The 2004 remaster also includes the full verison.

I was going with my iTunes. The Sara on Tusk on iTunes is 4:39. My parents won't let me have their Tusk album, they have the original they got in 1979. My dad was a collector back in the day. He's let me take some of his old albums but there's some he won't give up.

[olive]

Maybe they should have made Rumours 2

[aleuzzi]

I love Tusk and see it as a truly remarkable record. However, my concerns with it are more than mere nitpicks (unlike whatever unreasonable complaint I might have about some aspect of either of the the previous two).

1. The track sequencing is bizarre. That might be part of the point. But it does get in the way of the flow. To start the album with the ultra conventional "Over and Over" and follow it up with music from another planet ("The Ledge") never sits easy with me. I get that Lindsey might have wanted to juxtapose those two worlds--California industry-pop with garage band punk. That's a powerful statement. But it doesn't make for enjoyable back-to-back listening. The result is a fascinating yet frustrating sense of fragmentation.

2. No Christine song on side two is simply wrong. She should have written and performed one in place of "That's all...".

3. Stevie and Christine should be singing harmonies on a number of Lindsey tunes, especially "Save Me a Place" and "Walk a Thin Line." The three harmonies only sound apparent on Christine's songs, and on "Sara" and "Beautiful Child."

4. "Storms" and "Over and Over" give off a strange, echoey vibrato that makes the songs feel chilly when they should feel warm.

I don't know where to start with Tusk. Unlike the previous 2 albums there are plenty of Stevie songs, but she doesn't feature enough in the other songs. I also agree that Lindsey's songs need more Stevie and Christine. IIRC the outtakes of The Ledge, That's Enough For Me and I Know I'm Not Wrong do feature them more which is why I prefer them.

Not that they needed more tracks but I think it's a shame The Dealer didn't make it.

[Macfan4life]

Some of you make some great points. The sequence of songs is pretty random. I think because of the rebel mind of Lindsey Buckingham in 1979 he did this on purpose.

They say Tusk was Lindsey's first solo album where he worked alone on many songs. Yes I would say more group inclusion and harmonies would be better.

I am old enough to have bought Tusk as an album. I had a cheap stereo with cheap needle. Tusk is surely an album for the digital age. Those quiet songs like Storms just get ruined with the scratches and surface sounds on vinyl. I agree that Over and Over and Storms have a chilly effect. That is a great characterization that I agree with.

I would still keep on all the songs. I love Honey Hi and Never Make Me cry even though they are short and sweet. I suppose you could have had a Rumours 2 with dropping The Ledge, Tusk, Not that funny, Storms, Honey Hi, I know Im not wrong, Never Make Me Cry, and That's enough for me. But I cant imagine not ever hearing these songs. Short term yes it would have been a bigger commercial success. But long term Tusk is considered by many including the band members as a crucial album.

[FuzzyPlum]

Love Tusk and would keep all the songs on there and in the same running order. However;

1) I wish Lindsey had reigned it in and made his songs sound at bit more conventional. As has been said, Christine's and Stevie's voices should have been on his songs.
2) Love the packaging but I hate the pictures with Mick wearing that stupid white hat- Otherwise nice pictures make me want to scream just because of that damned hat.
3) Sisters of the Moon should have been released as the first single. It would have been a big hit had it been the lead song (followed by Think About Me).
4) Indeed, as it was intended as such an epic release they could have pushed the boat out and released non-album songs as singles in support of the album (Beatles-style). Its a shame certain songs were not used.
5) Disappointed Peter Green's contribution to Brown Eyes was barely or completely inaudible.

[worldturning]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Some of you make some great points. The sequence of songs is pretty random. I think because of the rebel mind of Lindsey Buckingham in 1979 he did this on purpose.

They say Tusk was Lindsey's first solo album where he worked alone on many songs. Yes I would say more group inclusion and harmonies would be better.

I am old enough to have bought Tusk as an album. I had a cheap stereo with cheap needle. Tusk is surely an album for the digital age. Those quiet songs like Storms just get ruined with the scratches and surface sounds on vinyl. I agree that Over and Over and Storms have a chilly effect. That is a great characterization that I agree with.

I would still keep on all the songs. I love Honey Hi and Never Make Me cry even though they are short and sweet. I suppose you could have had a Rumours 2 with dropping The Ledge, Tusk, Not that funny, Storms, Honey Hi, I know Im not wrong, Never Make Me Cry, and That's enough for me. But I cant imagine not ever hearing these songs. Short term yes it would have been a bigger commercial success. But long term Tusk is considered by many including the band members as a crucial album.

Tusk was crucial album to keep Lindsey in the band. Lindsey didn't want a Rumours 2.

I remember when the Fleetwood Mac cd was first released (1985?). I couldn't wait to hear Crystal w/o any pops and clicks.

I think Tusk was one of the first mass released albums recorded/mastered digitally. I also sort of remember reading an interview with Lindsey about the Mirage album where they didn't record digitally again because it was too time consuming.

The major radio station in my area at the time played Tusk, Sara and Angel regularly. I think I heard Not That Funny played a couple of times and Farmer's Daughter occasionally. One time when I did call up to request a song (NTF), they did ask me what other songs I liked from the album.

I do remember hearing That's Enough For Me played once and of course the DJ made the snide comment after playing it that he had enough.

[ryan4136]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I love Tusk and see it as a truly remarkable record. However, my concerns with it are more than mere nitpicks (unlike whatever unreasonable complaint I might have about some aspect of either of the the previous two).

1. The track sequencing is bizarre. That might be part of the point. But it does get in the way of the flow. .

This is largely because this wasnt intended to be a double album, but actually 2 companion albums released virtually at the same time. There was suppose to be a story between the two. When the record company shot it down they approved a single "double album" release. Which explains partly the sequencing.

[olive]

All this time i thought Stevie did it when really , really ,really, really high

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by ryan4136

This is largely because this wasnt intended to be a double album, but actually 2 companion albums released virtually at the same time. There was suppose to be a story between the two. When the record company shot it down they approved a single "double album" release. Which explains partly the sequencing.

I had never heard this before.

Are you saying each "single" album was originally differently sequenced? And then, when the label said no to releasing two companion albums they went in an resequenced? I'm confused.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I had never heard this before.

Are you saying each "single" album was originally differently sequenced? And then, when the label said no to releasing two companion albums they went in an resequenced? I'm confused.

There was a thread discussing Tusk as two albums a few years ago.

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?p=1040674

[FuzzyPlum]

Originally Posted by ryan4136

This is largely because this wasnt intended to be a double album, but actually 2 companion albums released virtually at the same time. There was suppose to be a story between the two. When the record company shot it down they approved a single "double album" release. Which explains partly the sequencing.

I'm still not sure about this. My understanding was Tusk was always supposed to be a single album but they ended up with far too much material and decided they couldnt not use it so opted for a full double album. I've read your mention of Ken Caillat. I wonder if perhaps he personally had an idea at some point- rather than it being a band idea. KC's ideas and Lindsey's ideas were very different.

In the end I'm pretty sure the odd running order was deliberate to make the album uneven- particularly following Over and Over with The Ledge; lull them in with something they are familiar with and then immediately hit them with the new sound.

I've never personally had an issue with the running order- seems okay to me.

[Macfan4life]

This is just a fun thread. I doubt anyone seriously is trying to de-Tusk Tusk or nit pick it to death. Its just another fun conversation about a great album.
With so many songs sometimes they get over looked. I was just listening to Never Forget Tonight last night. What a great song and an excellent way to close the album.