Little Lies 35 Years Ago

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

No, that was a dig at me for suggesting that “Little Lies,” which was released 25 days after Lindsey quit, benefited from the drama surrounding the band, who absolutely played it up (see “Little Lies” video, which topped the MTV Top 20 Video Countdown TWICE).

The nerve of suggesting that it helped someone’s musical boner song become a Top 5 hit.

Haha! It felt like a dig but I wasn't sure. Any drama marketing for them was always a plus. MTV was also doing FM Attack with the Tango album. MTV really gave FM a lot of air time. Even Christine's solo was a big deal with them.

[Macfan4life]

Of course it was a dig. Where is everyone's sense of humor

That thread is the Rumours or Mona Lisa of this board. Perhaps the greatest posting of all time.

Little Lies stands on its own. Lindsey's departure had nothing to do with the success of the song. It should have been the lead single and could have reached #1. But I realize Lindsey got screwed on Mirage for his songs not being played (his words, not mine) and he sort of deserved the lead single after all he went through to make the album happen. Go back in a time machine and pretend its March 1987 and you never ever heard Big Love yet and you got an advance listen to Tango In The Night. You are the record company, what do you pick as your lead single? Little Lies of course. It has huge cross over appeal and features all 3 singers (at least we think so). Its also quite catchy. Its like the Hold Me of Tango. Fleetwood Mac was a 70s supergroup and most people would not even know or care he left the band in 1987 except core fans. The song stands on its own. Tiffany, Billy Idol and that crappy Dirty Dancing song blocked Little Lies from the top spot in November 1987. Even on 80s channels you rarely hear Big Love. Its one of those songs that was a quick race up the charts and you never hear again. You hear Little Lies everywhere all the time. If it was the lead single it would have taken Tango to the top. Then Big Love, then Everywhere. Seven Wonders could have been the swan song of the album

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Of course it was a dig. Where is everyone's sense of humor

We recognize your shadows from the past.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Little Lies stands on its own. Lindsey's departure had nothing to do with the success of the song.

It’s hilarious you believe that.

It was released as a single less than two weeks after he quit and the video completely played up his leaving. In true Fleetwood Mac fashion, there was a scandal and suddenly the album skyrockets.

Those are basic, verifiable facts.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

It’s hilarious you believe that.

It was released as a single less than two weeks after he quit and the video completely played up his leaving. In true Fleetwood Mac fashion, there was a scandal and suddenly the album skyrockets.

Those are basic, verifiable facts.

You are the best ever Steve. Please dont change.

Little Lies is the most pop song on the album and the band had just starting touring after a half decade when Little Lies was released. No radio programmer leaned in heavy on Little Lies rotation because Lindsey left. That makes no sense and its an insult to the song to think otherwise. I cannot believe that you think Little Lies would have tanked if Lindsey had not quit in 1987. Record companies always put their biggest hits or lead off singles first track side two in the mid to late 80s.
Iran Contra happened in 1987. Seven Wonders was on heavy rotation on MTV. And Little Lies was released in 1987 and became a big hit. Coincidence? I think not. Those are basic verifiable facts.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

and the band had just starting touring after a half decade when Little Lies was released.

The tour started a month later.

No radio programmer leaned in heavy on Little Lies rotation because Lindsey left.

Radio was only part of the equation in 1987. MTV played the crap out of the video, which, again, heavily played up Lindsey’s leaving. It absolutely was part of the storyline behind the song’s success.

I cannot believe that you think Little Lies would have tanked if Lindsey had not quit in 1987.

Never said that, though. I said it might not have been a top 5 hit. I also said that TITN sold more after he quit.

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I cannot believe that you think Little Lies would have tanked if Lindsey had not quit in 1987. Record companies always put their biggest hits or lead off singles first track side two in the mid to late 80s.

Steve didn’t say Little Lies would have tanked if Lindsey hadn’t quit.

I have no idea if record companies always put the biggest hits or lead off singles as the first track on side two or not back in the 1980s. But I do question that. I thought FM and more specifically Lindsey was the one who sequenced the album, not the record company. By the same token, I thought the record company had more of a voice in which songs would be chosen to be singles. If Lindsey was the one who sequenced the album, than the record company wasn’t the one who put the singles where they were on the album.

I think Big Love was a fabulous choice for a lead single. They didn’t release it first because Lindsey didn’t get a single from Mirage, they released it because it was catchy and a little edgy but not too edgy. The song got people talking for tons of reasons- the grunts, who sang on it, cool video, etc. Little Lies was a great third single because it helpd the album rebound after Seven Wonders only made the top 20- not terrible, but it way underperformed.

I do agree that now, in hindsight, Little Lies and Christine in general is why Tango is so well regarded, but back in 1987, Big Love and Lindsey were given the credit.

[Macfan4life]

This is so silly. I am not going to engage this nonsense anymore. Yes bwboy, he did not say "tank" but said it would not have been a hit. Being a single that is not a hit from a popular album is the definition of the word tank? No? You are playing word games.

Steve makes ridiculous assumptions that somehow Lindsey leaving spiked Tango sales. NOPE. Seven wonders tanked so bad in the UK after Big Love that and it did not chart well in the US greatly. Sales slowed in both countries. Having the biggest hit chart from the album would naturally spike album sales, no? Especially in the UK since Seven Wonders did not chart AT ALL. This has to do with the merit of the song, not a conspiracy theory about everyone conspiring to make a song a big hit because a band member left. Little Lies stands on its own. To say otherwise is complete nonsense and I wont comment on this insanity anymore.

On another note, go back and play your albums from the late 80s. Where is your favorite Stevie song Talk To Me? First track side 2. Where is Stand Back? First track side 2.

With Steve's logic, Sometimes Its A Bitch should have been a smash. The most visible and lead singer of Fleetwood Mac quit the band in anger while releasing it as a single

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

This is so silly. I am not going to engage this nonsense anymore. Yes bwboy, he did not say "tank" but said it would not have been a hit. Being a single that is not a hit from a popular album is the definition of the word tank? No? You are playing word games.

Gulp! I probably shouldn’t point out that Steve actually said that Little Lies wouldn’t have been a top 5 hit, not a hit in general. I don’t mean to play word games, but I think sometimes in your attempt to make your point, you unintentionally misstate what someone else has said, that’s all. I’ve done the same thing myself, in fact most people have. Or we just have differing opinions; for example, I agree Seven Wonders underperformed, but in no way would I say it tanked. Family Man, now that’s a single that tanked. One single made it to the top 20, the other made it to the top 70. Anyway, not a big deal and I certainly don’t mean to tick you off, honest.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

This is so silly. I am not going to engage this nonsense anymore.

Y'all are silly AF. Get a room. Or two.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

This is so silly. I am not going to engage this nonsense anymore. Yes bwboy, he did not say "tank" but said it would not have been a hit. Being a single that is not a hit from a popular album is the definition of the word tank? No? You are playing word games.

Steve makes ridiculous assumptions that somehow Lindsey leaving spiked Tango sales. NOPE. Seven wonders tanked so bad in the UK after Big Love that and it did not chart well in the US greatly. Sales slowed in both countries. Having the biggest hit chart from the album would naturally spike album sales, no? Especially in the UK since Seven Wonders did not chart AT ALL. This has to do with the merit of the song, not a conspiracy theory about everyone conspiring to make a song a big hit because a band member left. Little Lies stands on its own. To say otherwise is complete nonsense and I wont comment on this insanity anymore.

On another note, go back and play your albums from the late 80s. Where is your favorite Stevie song Talk To Me? First track side 2. Where is Stand Back? First track side 2.

With Steve's logic, Sometimes Its A Bitch should have been a smash. The most visible and lead singer of Fleetwood Mac quit the band in anger while releasing it as a single

Oh Daddy is a beautiful song. Thoughts?

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Yes bwboy, he did not say "tank" but said it would not have been a hit.

No, I didn’t. I said it likely wouldn’t have been a top five hit. “Everywhere” wasn’t a top five hit and it’s a great, radio-friendly pop song, too.

Steve makes ridiculous assumptions that somehow Lindsey leaving spiked Tango sales.

It spiked interest in the band in general.

Sales slowed in both countries. Having the biggest hit chart from the album would naturally spike album sales, no?

But, again, the single was released during a moment of intense interest in the band because of its internal drama, which the video fed into.

On another note, go back and play your albums from the late 80s. Where is your favorite Stevie song Talk To Me? First track side 2. Where is Stand Back? First track side 2.

“Behind the Mask?”

“Play in the Rain (Continued)?”

With Steve's logic, Sometimes Its A Bitch should have been a smash. The most visible and lead singer of Fleetwood Mac quit the band in anger while releasing it as a single

There wasn’t popular interest in Stevie by that point.

Fleetwood Mac was promoting moderately successful album that had already had a top 5 single when the guy who sang said song quit the band. Less than two weeks after his departure was announced, “Little Lies” and its video were released.

But we’re somehow supposed to believe that had zero bearing on the song’s success?

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I find it insulting of all the songs in the world anyone would conjure up conspiracies to promote the most radio friendly single song in the world. Steve's argument is Lindsey's departure somehow spiked album sales and made Little Lies a "hit."

Little Lies - Finally Chris releases her pop song greatness and the album rebounds

Two weeks after Lindsey’s departure was announced.

There’s no conspiracy, that’s how it actually played out.

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

This is so silly. I am not going to engage this nonsense anymore.

I’m glad you changed your mind, Macfan4life!

[aleuzzi]

Umm, I don’t think Lindsey’s departure had really much, if anything, to do with the song’s success. I vividly remember the release of “Little Lies” (which certain radio stations were buzzing about BEFORE it was released as a single). It hit and it hit big—and the biggest fans of it were people largely unfamiliar with the band since the 80s. The song had mass crossover appeal and excited everyone. As a huge FM fan at that time (and of course before and since) I saw the song as a last hurrah of the now-broken chain. But my love for it was firmly in place when I first got the album.

In many ways, Little Lies is the Say You Love Me of the 80s. A huge hit that was the last in a line of hits. Like SYLM, it features every member of the band doing what they do best. An ensemble piece. Both songs are clever, wry, bouncy numbers that open the “second side” of their respective albums.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Umm, I don’t think Lindsey’s departure had really much, if anything, to do with the song’s success.

As a huge FM fan at that time (and of course before and since) I saw the song as a last hurrah of the now-broken chain.

Which was something they played up, at least in the video. It was the backdrop to the song’s release as a single.