What song would you wish lead off Tusk?

[David]

Originally Posted by LukeA

On CD, perhaps... but as it was originally sequenced for two vinyl LP's, I think Over & Over could have been a nice way to end Side Two.

But I don't think the band wanted "nice" with Tusk. I think the band wanted to shake the listener's expectations of various formulae that had, even by then, mummified on pop music records (including, perhaps most importantly, on "Fleetwood Mac" & "Rumours").

"Over & Over" introduces not only the album, of course, but also the sense of toying with expectations: in this case, expectations of assertive anthems or hook-laden radio-ready "jingles" that seemed designed by Billboard chart compilers.

"Over & Over" is relaxed; it takes its time as it wends its way through verse & chorus & instrumental bridge. The Rolling Stone critic Stephen Holden characterized the track in his summary: "Tusk" finds Fleetwood Mac slightly jet-lagged, tipsy in the late-afternoon sun.

Another suitable opening track for the album? In my view, "Save Me a Place," which would have amplified the (non)suitability factors of "Over & Over" tenfold.