Fans from the 80's: Tango memories?

[Johnny Stew]

'Tango' was the first new Mac album to be released after my love for Stevie/FM really kicked in.

As I've said before, I "discovered" Stevie when "Talk To Me" was all over the radio. Really dug the song, but more than anything, I was enamoured with her voice. I BEGGED for 'Rock A Little' for Christmas, and luckily I got it. By December 26th, I practically had the whole thing memorized. I was that taken by it.

Because of that, I started to seek out Stevie's earlier work, and when I got my hands on her first two solo albums and some of her albums with Fleetwood Mac, I realized that I had already been listening to FM for years (via the radio) and already knew and loved so many of their songs. Even had memories attached to many of the songs!

Anyway, I was THRILLED when 'Tango' was released... even made sure my parents took me to the mall the day it was released, so I could get it (I was 14 at the time).

As David said, "Big Love" was all over the radio, and the video was in heavy rotation on MTV... the song rocked and it was all very exciting, being a "new" fan.
The album bowled me over... pretty much loved every song on it (though a couple, like "Mystified," had to grow on me), and Stevie's three contributions actually cemented my love for her music.

"Seven Wonders" and "Little Lies" followed... with plenty of MTV airings of their respective videos (I used to sit by the TV with a blank videocassette handy, so that I could tape them and ANY Mac mention the VJs made), and the singles all contained Non-LP tracks, which I thought was totally cool.

As David said, "Little Lies" was unavoidable... every station you turned to was playing it (I even heard the extended version on the radio a few times!), the kids I went to school with would sing it while walking down the halls, even 'The Young And The Restless' played it in the background during one episode. And I couldn't have been happier!

The news that Lindsey was leaving the band was disappointing, because I liked his songs and was really developing an appreciation for his offbeat style... but being that I was a "new" fan, his departure wasn't devastating to me, so long as the band... with Stevie... continued.

Vito and Burnette came on board, and seemed like cool guys who were happy to be a part of Fleetwood Mac (which scored them additional points in my eyes), and I continued to watch MTV as much as possible for all the tourdates, and road reports.

In the meantime, "Everywhere" and "Family Man" were released as singles. For a moment, it almost seemed as if "Everywhere" would match the success of "Little Lies," but its radio play seemed to taper off pretty quickly. At the time, I blamed that on the lack of a video, never realizing that it HAD a video that MTV simply didn't play.
I don't recall ever hearing "Family Man" on the radio... but with the 12" maxi-single in my possession, it certainly got a lot of plays on MY turntable.

Unfortunately, MTV coverage of the band began to wane after the hoopla for 'Tango' died down. Videos like "As Long As You Follow" and "Save Me" received considerably less airplay than the 'Tango' videos. And "Rooms On Fire" was the last Stevie video and single to receive any big attention from MTV.

My enthusiasm for FM remained undiminished, but the next decade became a virtual drought for Mac fans. When 'Time' flopped, I gave up hope of Fleetwood Mac ever again receiving significant attention or airplay for a new album. Then, after reading a comment from Mick that Fleetwood Mac was over and he was moving on with his life, and reading Stevie's comments that she'd never again be a part of Fleetwood Mac unless Lindsey was there too (who, in his own interviews, seemed to squash any hope of that ever happening), I figured my favorite band was dead once and for all.

Guess I should have heeded Christine's advice in "Don't Stop," because "tomorrow" was on its way, and it would prove to be better than before.