Which version of Crystal?

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I've always been in the minority, but I think the Practical Magic version blows all the others out of the water. I've just never understood why Lindsey would sing lead vocals on this one to begin with. It's such a quintessentially feminine Stevie song, it just doesn't make sense for him to sing it. Especially on the Fleetwood Mac version, when Stevie got shafted with only two songs on the whole album... SHE should have sung her own song!

Don't know if you're in the minority... but I couldn't disagree more... To me, when LB sings on her tunes magic happens... He saved When I See you Again, he makes SOTM even more special when he sings his line, and him singing this song for her was something I'm guessing she wanted.

Although I always did wonder why she got the short end of the stick on the White album. Especially because McVie/Buckingham did a tune together... In my opinion, Rhiannon, Crystal are some of her best work...

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Although I always did wonder why she got the short end of the stick on the White album. Especially because McVie/Buckingham did a tune together... In my opinion, Rhiannon, Crystal are some of her best work...

My assumption is they didn't know if she'd work out and wanted to use her sparingly. Prior to her involvement in the band, most new members were given just one, usually two songs to prove themselves. Buckingham was used a lot on the White album, even though he wrote the least amount of songs. My sense is Fleetwood and the McVies wanted a male singer in the foreground, given the band's history as a blues-rock group that toured alongside Deep Purple and Savoy Brown.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

My assumption is they didn't know if she'd work out and wanted to use her sparingly. Prior to her involvement in the band, most new members were given just one, usually two songs to prove themselves. Buckingham was used a lot on the White album, even though he wrote the least amount of songs. My sense is Fleetwood and the McVies wanted a male singer in the foreground, given the band's history as a blues-rock group that toured alongside Deep Purple and Savoy Brown.

That's a really nice point. Hey, that may mean our John was being just a bit sneaky. When he told Stevie he wanted the song on the album, he made her think it's because he loved it so much. It could have been just because he wanted another male vocal and thought that was the best way to get it without hurting her feelings.

Michele

[goldustsongbird]

I don't really like Crystal at all. Stevie's version is probably the one I like best, if I had to choose one to listen to, but other than that, I have never been crazy about the song.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

I don't really like Crystal at all. Stevie's version is probably the one I like best, if I had to choose one to listen to, but other than that, I have never been crazy about the song.

don't worry, nobody will hold it against you. you're canadian.

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by carrie721

don't worry, nobody will hold it against you. you're canadian.

I'll slap you with a beavertail.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

I'll slap you with a beavertail.

don't come on to me this early in the day, canuckbian!

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

My assumption is they didn't know if she'd work out and wanted to use her sparingly. Prior to her involvement in the band, most new members were given just one, usually two songs to prove themselves. Buckingham was used a lot on the White album, even though he wrote the least amount of songs. My sense is Fleetwood and the McVies wanted a male singer in the foreground, given the band's history as a blues-rock group that toured alongside Deep Purple and Savoy Brown.

This is the BEST explanation I've ever heard and probably the correct one as well. I always assumed it was because Stevie didn't play an instrument.(Yes I know she plays piano and guitar and I know there is a pic of her playing guitar onstage in an early tourbook) But generally besides percussion instruments she's just a singer not a player. And just for the record, players only love you when they're playing.

[seekerj]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

My assumption is they didn't know if she'd work out and wanted to use her sparingly. Prior to her involvement in the band, most new members were given just one, usually two songs to prove themselves. Buckingham was used a lot on the White album, even though he wrote the least amount of songs. My sense is Fleetwood and the McVies wanted a male singer in the foreground, given the band's history as a blues-rock group that toured alongside Deep Purple and Savoy Brown.

Then why did the exact same thing happen on Rumours (two lead vocals and three songs), after she established herself as a successful songwriter in the band? And then again on Tusk, where she got five songs on a double album where the others got many more, and then the same thing for Mirage, and of course, on Tango. ????

[Peestie]

Originally Posted by seekerj

Then why did the exact same thing happen on Rumours (two lead vocals and three songs), after she established herself as a successful songwriter in the band? And then again on Tusk, where she got five songs on a double album where the others got many more, and then the same thing for Mirage, and of course, on Tango. ????

I get your point but disagree that Tusk should be considered because the songs Stevie got on Tusk actually take up the same running time as Lindsey's so it's a fair enough balance (about 26 minutes each).

On Tusk, Lindsey had lots of short blasts and Stevie had some longer, more meandering tunes. If Stevie had as many songs as Lindsey then they'd have had to make it a triple album or cut some of Lindsey's and Christine's stuff and the Stevie get a disproportionately large percentage of the running time of the album. The real loser of Tusk is Christine. She has one song more than Stevie, but six minutes less in the total time (about 20 minutes) and one of her songs is sung by Lindsey so in a 70+ minute album she only gets about 17 minutes of lead singing.

As for Tango, I always assumed it was because she wasn't that involved :shrug;

[seekerj]

Originally Posted by Peestie

I get your point but disagree that Tusk should be considered because the songs Stevie got on Tusk actually take up the same running time as Lindsey's so it's a fair enough balance (about 26 minutes each).

On Tusk, Lindsey had lots of short blasts and Stevie had some longer, more meandering tunes. If Stevie had as many songs as Lindsey then they'd have had to make it a triple album or cut some of Lindsey's and Christine's stuff and the Stevie get a disproportionately large percentage of the running time of the album. The real loser of Tusk is Christine. She has one song more than Stevie, but six minutes less in the total time (about 20 minutes) and one of her songs is sung by Lindsey so in a 70+ minute album she only gets about 17 minutes of lead singing.

As for Tango, I always assumed it was because she wasn't that involved :shrug;

You are so right! I should have thought about the running times of each song. Thanks for pointing that out and setting me straight!

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Don't know if you're in the minority... but I couldn't disagree more... To me, when LB sings on her tunes magic happens... He saved When I See you Again, he makes SOTM even more special when he sings his line, and him singing this song for her was something I'm guessing she wanted.

Although I always did wonder why she got the short end of the stick on the White album. Especially because McVie/Buckingham did a tune together... In my opinion, Rhiannon, Crystal are some of her best work...

Oh, I agree 100% that when the two writers share vocals, that real magic happens. When I See You Again is only redeemed by Lindsey's vocals in my opinion. But there is a big difference in Lindsey singing ON Stevie's songs, and Lindsey SINGING her songs. I just think Stevie should have sang Crystal on the White Album, perhaps with Lindsey doing a call and answer verse or something.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Oh, I agree 100% that when the two writers share vocals, that real magic happens. When I See You Again is only redeemed by Lindsey's vocals in my opinion. But there is a big difference in Lindsey singing ON Stevie's songs, and Lindsey SINGING her songs. I just think Stevie should have sang Crystal on the White Album, perhaps with Lindsey doing a call and answer verse or something.

I'll only agree with you if she sings it like she sang Landslide in a very legato form with perfect phrasing.... The only version of Landslide I like is the white album version... every other version, including other bands, falls way short of the pristine quality of the white album...

Having said that...I really think Lindsey gives Crystal justice as he does I Don't Wanna Know, Don't Stop, Hold Me, Think About Me, Mystified.. I know it's a duel vocals... but his voice stands out quite a bit on IDWK.. I have to go back and listen to PMagic version... it's been a while... but I remember going... ehhhh