Tusk at 40: FM's defining record

[Macfan4life]

I don't think anyone disagrees that Tusk was experimental and sort of anti-corporate rock. Bravo. It was a huge risk to dare to be so different.
HOWEVER, lets talk about the band post-Tusk. IMHO life after Tusk killed the band's creativity. While I like Mirage, it was an album that swung way too far into the pop/adult contemporary sphere that was so anti-Tusk. It was purposely commercial almost sweet bubble gum high pop greatness. Then Tango came along and the band again was under HUGE pressure for a commercial success after 5 years apart. We get sweet 80s synth pop. So while Tusk was considered a refreshing change, its impact sort of ruined their rock chops to some extent IMHO.

[sasja]

What Makes You Think You're the One ?

Awesomeness for 40 years long! Still just LOVE that song SO much!

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I don't think anyone disagrees that Tusk was experimental and sort of anti-corporate rock. Bravo. It was a huge risk to dare to be so different.
HOWEVER, lets talk about the band post-Tusk. IMHO life after Tusk killed the band's creativity. While I like Mirage, it was an album that swung way too far into the pop/adult contemporary sphere that was so anti-Tusk. It was purposely commercial almost sweet bubble gum high pop greatness. Then Tango came along and the band again was under HUGE pressure for a commercial success after 5 years apart. We get sweet 80s synth pop. So while Tusk was considered a refreshing change, its impact sort of ruined their rock chops to some extent IMHO.

One review (Rolling Stone maybe?) described the whole album as having a music-box quality and to me that's an apt description of the sort of..... tinkly....elements on most of the songs.

[aleuzzi]

Issuing “Tusk” (the song) as the lead single was the right choice. So left field and so bizarre in comparison to anything from the previous two records (or eight records). It’s not only my favorite song from the album but one of my favorites from the entire band catalogue—as iconic and palate cleansing as “Hypnotized” or “Albatross,” but weirder, so much weirder.

The lush, mysterious “Sara” makes for great contrast. “Think About Me” lands somewhere between the elegant folk of “Storms” and the frenzied rockabilly of “”That’s Enough for Me.”

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Issuing “Tusk” (the song) as the lead single was the right choice. So left field and so bizarre in comparison to anything from the previous two records (or eight records). It’s not only my favorite song from the album but one of my favorites from the entire band catalogue—as iconic and palate cleansing as “Hypnotized” or “Albatross,” but weirder, so much weirder.

The lush, mysterious “Sara” makes for great contrast. “Think About Me” lands somewhere between the elegant folk of “Storms” and the frenzied rockabilly of “”That’s Enough for Me.”

While I do agree that Tusk was the best first single(given how.....DIFFERENT the album was), but I think that Think About Me might have pulled people in more, giving them more of a Rumours vibe. Who knows, maybe it would have sold a bit more? 4M is huge numbers now, but it wasn't then, following their career defining album.

Sara was a good followup. As a former $tevie fan, I was always amazed that Angel didn't make it as a single.

Looking back, there really weren't many "hits" on it(radio listening wise).

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

While I do agree that Tusk was the best first single(given how.....DIFFERENT the album was), but I think that Think About Me might have pulled people in more, giving them more of a Rumours vibe. Who knows, maybe it would have sold a bit more? 4M is huge numbers now, but it wasn't then, following their career defining album.

Sara was a good followup. As a former $tevie fan, I was always amazed that Angel didn't make it as a single.

Looking back, there really weren't many "hits" on it(radio listening wise).

Think About Me---what a great tune. But I like the earlier 1978 version (on the deluxe edition) MUCH better. It's catchy, direct, Christine's voice is not double-tracked, Lindsey isn't hogging the mic, the organ and keys are very present. And you can hear these cool, industrial percussion things going on in the background. I think if the track had been built up in a way that captured the spirit of this initial version, it could have been a BIG statement of girl pop...Still, I do like the finished album version. Just not as much as I do the 1978 version.

[jcalzaretta]

The list price of the album was crazy for the time. And a radio station played the whole album. If neither of them were a factor, I would have said Think About Me for the lead. I am ok with Tusk then Sara. Of course LB wanted his single released first because he wanted the contrast. LB would never have agreed to Think About Me. Also, I do think Think About Me as the lead would have misled buyers into thinking they got Rumours II. Someone might have considered that as well. That could have turned off fans. Who knows. In the end - 40 years later. The songs that hold up - Tusk, Think About Me, I Know I'm Not Wrong. Over and Over and all of Stevie's.

[greendaze5]

I always got the impression that Christine was reluctant to do her 'Tusk' songs on stage during that tour.

Whereas Stevie and Lindsey did 3 to 4 of their songs live, Christine only did 'Over and Over' (and 'Think About Me' only here and there).

What gives?

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by jcalzaretta

The list price of the album was crazy for the time. And a radio station played the whole album. If neither of them were a factor, I would have said Think About Me for the lead. I am ok with Tusk then Sara. Of course LB wanted his single released first because he wanted the contrast. LB would never have agreed to Think About Me. Also, I do think Think About Me as the lead would have misled buyers into thinking they got Rumours II. Someone might have considered that as well. That could have turned off fans. Who knows. In the end - 40 years later. The songs that hold up - Tusk, Think About Me, I Know I'm Not Wrong. Over and Over and all of Stevie's.

LOL the fans were already turned off. Today Tusk is revered but the Mac took a tremendous beating because of Tusk. Rock radio was not going to play Tusk or Sara. Remember during the 1982 US Festival when Lindsey introduced a song from Tusk and Christine explains "the album you guys all hated."
The Mac gets played every day in heavy rotation on classic rock stations across the country. However, anything from Tusk is hardly played. I remember there was a local radio station that used to count down music's biggest "turkeys" on Thanksgiving day. The song Tusk was always in the top 10.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

One review (Rolling Stone maybe?) described the whole album as having a music-box quality and to me that's an apt description of the sort of..... tinkly....elements on most of the songs.

Yes. The band (except Lindsey) felt they had made a mistake with Tusk (shortly after Tusk, not today) and were always chasing pop radio. So while Tusk was anti-corporate and anti-commercial, its impact on the band made them more corporate and more commercial with their final 2 albums with this line up. While I appreciate Tusk, the Tusk hangover impacted their greatness IMHO. I don't see Mirage and Tango as having the depth of greatness their first 3 albums had with this line up.

[BLY]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Yes. The band (except Lindsey) felt they had made a mistake with Tusk (shortly after Tusk, not today) and were always chasing pop radio. So while Tusk was anti-corporate and anti-commercial, its impact on the band made them more corporate and more commercial with their final 2 albums with this line up. While I appreciate Tusk, the Tusk hangover impacted their greatness IMHO. I don't see Mirage and Tango as having the depth of greatness their first 3 albums had with this line up.

I think the reason that Mirage and Tango didn’t have the “depth of greatness” was largely due to the solo career focus that was in full force from 1981-1987.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by BLY

I think the reason that Mirage and Tango didn’t have the “depth of greatness” was largely due to the solo career focus that was in full force from 1981-1987.

I see your point and would agree a tiny bit. The bigger picture is that while the band was creative naturally for their first 2 albums together and very creative for #3. The blowback from Tusk changed the band to be chasing commercial success. It was pivotal for the band for Mirage to chart hit singles and be radio friendly (aka music box). Even more so for Tango. I believe even in Mick's first book Lindsey was under tremendous pressure for the album to get Mick out of bankruptcy. My only point is that something that is not talked about (much). While Tusk is applauded these days for the risk the band took, there is no doubt it changed them forever and seeking commercial success and so anti-Tusk the rest of their album existence.
That is what irks me about Tusk. Not the album itself but the post Tusk era i.e. over compensating future projects. While Tusk is underproduced Mirage and Tango are way overproduced.

[BLY]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I see your point and would agree a tiny bit. The bigger picture is that while the band was creative naturally for their first 2 albums together and very creative for #3. The blowback from Tusk changed the band to be chasing commercial success. It was pivotal for the band for Mirage to chart hit singles and be radio friendly (aka music box). Even more so for Tango. I believe even in Mick's first book Lindsey was under tremendous pressure for the album to get Mick out of bankruptcy. My only point is that something that is not talked about (much). While Tusk is applauded these days for the risk the band took, there is no doubt it changed them forever and seeking commercial success and so anti-Tusk the rest of their album existence.
That is what irks me about Tusk. Not the album itself but the post Tusk era i.e. over compensating future projects. While Tusk is underproduced Mirage and Tango are way overproduced.

Yes..I would agree with your point. Let’s also add the drugs and all the obsessive life styles that was spinning out of control from 1981-1987

[tabruns]

Originally Posted by BLY

I think the reason that Mirage and Tango didn’t have the “depth of greatness” was largely due to the solo career focus that was in full force from 1981-1987.

You may have a point here, although Nicks was a prolific enough songwriter that she always had songs to hand over.

I think MIRAGE suffers as a reaction to TUSK. Buckingham felt burned by the band's shifting reaction when TUSK didn't sell big, so that made MIRAGE "safe" (although Nicks still had "Gypsy", and McVie "Hold Me", both great songs).

TANGO was stronger because Buckingham wasn't in reactionary mode by then. He is really strong on that album. McVie too came up with "Little Lies" and "Everywhere", two great songs. Nicks's drug addiction really impacted her songwriting quality and performance at the time.