Stevie's Extra Vocals on Tango

[drzubritsky]

Originally Posted by tabruns

Thing is I can't really hear Stevie on "Everywhere". Maybe if I heard the original version that didn't have Stevie's vocals mixed in and then heard the one that ended up on Tango In The Night I might be able to say "oh yeah now I can hear her"....but just hearing the Tango "Everywhere" it doesn't sound to me like Stevie's voice is noticeable there. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

If Stevie is singing on "Everywhere", then her vocals have been mixed so low as to be inaudible. Her voice is so distinctive that it is almost always recognizable on any recording, but I don't hear it here. If you listen closely to the background response vocals at the end of the chorus, there are some vaguely Stevie-like vocals but they sound much more like LB's voice slightly manipulated (ala "Book of Love").

Compare the TITN version of "Everywhere" to The Dance to get a sense of what the song sounds like with Stevie on backing vocals. I actually like The Dance version better because of the more prominent guitar and the richer backing vocal harmony. The song has a bit more oomph on The Dance as opposed to the light-as-a-feather TITN version.

[tabruns]

Originally Posted by UndoingTheLaces

I'm surprised "What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You?" hasn't turned up somewhere else. Like on a soundtrack or one of Stevie's solo albums or a b-side or something. That was a pretty wild song.

Oh speaking of that, Stevie said once in an interview that originally "What Has Rock'n'Roll Ever Done For You" was supposed to close the Tango In The Night album, but that Christine thought it was too negative of a song. They opted instead for "You and I".

[tabruns]

Originally Posted by mikebise

She turned in:

"Seven Wonders"
"When I See You Again"
"Juliet"
"Whole Lotta Trouble"
"What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You?"
"Joan Of Arc"
"Welcome To the Room... Sara"

Pretty good songs to me!

Hmmm.....and the band picked the ones that they wanted from there? I haven't ever heard "Joan of Arc" so I can't comment on that. "Seven Wonders" is good but I always preferred to see Stevie-penned-only songs on Mac albums. "Juliet" is a good one, I love the "sky is crying, no the sky is blue" section. I've just never liked "When I See You Again" or "Welcome to the Room...Sara"....they both seem like weak songs, the latter one in particular, and definitely the weakest songs on the whole album (and I like Stevie's stuff more than Christine's or Lindsey's normally).

[PenguinHead]

I guess I go against the majority opinion. Of Stevie's three songs on Tango, the one I think is the most unique and intriguing is 'Welcome to the Room Sara." So very Stevie! It's more logical when you know the story behind it. Of course, she wrote it in the most obtuse manner, yet it made perfect sense to her!

Although I intially liked 'Seven Wonders" the most, it hasn't aged well with me. Her modifed lyrics leave a lot to be desired -- butchered, pedestrian and awkward. Definately a missed opportunity for a much stronger song. I feel for Sandy!

I strive to find something redeemable in "When I See You Again," but it's hard to do. Her delivery, as well as the questionable/reeking lyrics don't help the song at all. It could have been her new 'Landslide," but instead it reveals her severe limitations/issues at that point in time. Another missed opportunity, almost as if she didn't really care. That's a shame.

The other attempted song "Joan of Arc," had potential. Yet it succumbs to similar shrill repetition similar to 'When I See You Again." It's choice between " baby, baby baby.." or "Turn it to the wall, turn it to wall." It's a lot of blatent filler to pick up the slack for lazy/poor writing.

Obviously "Juliet" was attempted, but all that emerged from that was the b-side intrumental "Book of Miracles." I remember wondering, at the time, why Stevie would have a song writing credit on an intrumental song. Now we know why.

About the other songs, like "What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done For You?" ...did Fleetwood Mac actually attempt them? I always considered the demo we have of that song is a Stevie-generated demo that she brought to the band for consideration ( like the 'Welcome to the Room Sara" demo). Is there documented studio band work on that song, or on 'Whole Lotta Trouble?"

I wonder if Stevie has any regret or shame over how she behaved during that era, and how she was the weakest link in the band, and how her questionable contributions prevented Tango from ever being a really great album.

[tabruns]

Okay now this is a case where I really like Stevie's demo MUCH better than what Lindsey ended up doing to the song. Here's the demo of "Welcome to the Room...Sara":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AtfCZWIoZk

The demo has nice velvety synths.

I think what really throws me off is Lindsey's "island" style musical arrangement. Those tropical-ish synths and the congas in the song just serve to emphasize how meandering the lyric is, whereas Stevie's original demo grounds the lyrics better.

BTW the "Juliet" demo is better too....it shows that Rupert Hine hindered the song with keyboards when he produced it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_zGH...eature=related

[Artemis]

I think if they picked Seven Wonders, Joan of Arc and Whole Lotta Trouble, then Tango would have been an even better album. I would have liked to see What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You? Close the album too, I think that's a great little song

On the four albums preceding this one, in my opinion, Stevie had the strongest material. On this one, she sank like a lead balloon, while Lindsey and Christine - especially Christine - were on fire.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by Artemis

On the four albums preceding this one, in my opinion, Stevie had the strongest material. On this one, she sank like a lead balloon, while Lindsey and Christine - especially Christine - were on fire.

Without a doubt, Christine and Lindsey were in their moment. A very good thing, because they had to pick up the slack. Perhaps without Stevie's lack of involvement, they had better chemistry and worked especially well together.

[tabruns]

Originally Posted by Artemis

I think if they picked Seven Wonders, Joan of Arc and Whole Lotta Trouble, then Tango would have been an even better album. I would have liked to see What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You? Close the album too, I think that's a great little song

On the four albums preceding this one, in my opinion, Stevie had the strongest material. On this one, she sank like a lead balloon, while Lindsey and Christine - especially Christine - were on fire.

I totally agree. Stevie had a hell of a run from Fleetwood Mac through Mirage but stumbled badly on Tango In The Night....which was really too bad, because, as you pointed out, Lindsey did some good work and Christine turned in really strong songs.

I think Stevie was spotty on Behind The Mask too, as well as "No Questions Asked" on Greatest Hits. It wasn't until "Paper Doll" that I thought there was a glimmer of the old Stevie magic returning. "Twisted" showed some promise as did "Sweet Girl" but it was the Trouble In Shangri-La album where I thought she'd really returned to form as a great songwriter, which was maintained by most of the new songs on the Say You Will album (In fact "Thrown Down" may be my favorite song of hers, ever). I have high hopes for In Your Dreams.

[ahafan02]

I'm just amazed so many people hate "Affairs of the Heart"...which I absolutely adore....It's always on my Stevie best of comps I make from time to time...


As for Tango...yeah Stevie was clearly on autopilot..her songs on the LP, maybe beside "Seven Wonders" (is there a 7" remix?), are very weak...Lindsey and Christine's songs are def the strongest.

[StevieNicksfann]

I believe All The King's Horses was also submitted for Tango.


And I love Affairs of the Heart and No Questions Asked very much!

[wildheart048]

totally agree with you about What Has Rock N Roll...it should have turned up somewhere...as so many of her demos should have...but that one seems to sum things up so well up to that point...I always thought if nothing else, it SHOULD have at least been on Enchanted ...
as to Tango, I wish there had been more Stevie on the (non SN) tracks, but I do love the album...the 'extended' versions are the ones I listen to most, though, as they do have more Stevie...

[Hippocampus]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Although I intially liked 'Seven Wonders" the most, it hasn't aged well with me. Her modifed lyrics leave a lot to be desired -- butchered, pedestrian and awkward. Definately a missed opportunity for a much stronger song. I feel for Sandy!

Erm if I recall correctly, the extent of Stevie's "modifications" on Seven Wonders are limited to a misheard word that morphed into "Emmiline". The rest is all Sandy.

[UndoingTheLaces]

Originally Posted by Hippocampus

Erm if I recall correctly, the extent of Stevie's "modifications" on Seven Wonders are limited to a misheard word that morphed into "Emmiline". The rest is all Sandy.

Yeah, the original line was something like "All the way down you held the line" and she changed it to "all the way down to Emmiline". I don't think it changed the song that much.

And I've always totally loved No Questions Asked. I can get that not everyone is gonna like every song but I'm always amazed at how many people just hate this song.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by Artemis

I think if they picked Seven Wonders, Joan of Arc and Whole Lotta Trouble, then Tango would have been an even better album. I would have liked to see What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You? Close the album too, I think that's a great little song

On the four albums preceding this one, in my opinion, Stevie had the strongest material. On this one, she sank like a lead balloon, while Lindsey and Christine - especially Christine - were on fire.

I def agree about the inclusion of Joan Of Arc, that song would have segued nicely after Tango In The Night - the song. However, I disagree about WLT, it has never been my favorite song, in fact, as it has aged, it's fallen even further near the bottom of all Stevie songs written, never been a fan of the Stevie lryical mash-up songs (*The Nightmare excluded). For Stevie's third song I would have gone with Juliet or Welcome To The Room...Sara - provided Lindsey ditched his tropical-ish arrangement. WTTRS had potential in demo form. And I also agree, it should have had layers of vocal overdubs by Stevie herself, and many more from Chris & Lindsey.

And it's a flat out crime that Stevie's harmonies are not on Everywhere at the very very least!! Because, if they are, to my ears they buried her under any audible trace of existence. Ahhhh, so many could of been moments in Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks history.

Originally Posted by ahafan02

I'm just amazed so many people hate "Affairs of the Heart"...which I absolutely adore....It's always on my Stevie best of comps I make from time to time.

I'm adore the song, just not a fan of the nanoscale production and arrangement! Sounds like the band was on auto-pilot when the whisked through this song. Even the widely traded outtake if far far better. This is a song that probably would have benefited from Lindseys help and arrangement.

[starshine]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

I guess I go against the majority opinion. Of Stevie's three songs on Tango, the one I think is the most unique and intriguing is 'Welcome to the Room Sara." So very Stevie! It's more logical when you know the story behind it. Of course, she wrote it in the most obtuse manner, yet it made perfect sense to her!

Although I intially liked 'Seven Wonders" the most, it hasn't aged well with me. Her modifed lyrics leave a lot to be desired -- butchered, pedestrian and awkward. Definately a missed opportunity for a much stronger song. I feel for Sandy!

I strive to find something redeemable in "When I See You Again," but it's hard to do. Her delivery, as well as the questionable/reeking lyrics don't help the song at all. It could have been her new 'Landslide," but instead it reveals her severe limitations/issues at that point in time. Another missed opportunity, almost as if she didn't really care. That's a shame.

The other attempted song "Joan of Arc," had potential. Yet it succumbs to similar shrill repetition similar to 'When I See You Again." It's choice between " baby, baby baby.." or "Turn it to the wall, turn it to wall." It's a lot of blatent filler to pick up the slack for lazy/poor writing.

Obviously "Juliet" was attempted, but all that emerged from that was the b-side intrumental "Book of Miracles." I remember wondering, at the time, why Stevie would have a song writing credit on an intrumental song. Now we know why.

About the other songs, like "What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done For You?" ...did Fleetwood Mac actually attempt them? I always considered the demo we have of that song is a Stevie-generated demo that she brought to the band for consideration ( like the 'Welcome to the Room Sara" demo). Is there documented studio band work on that song, or on 'Whole Lotta Trouble?"

I wonder if Stevie has any regret or shame over how she behaved during that era, and how she was the weakest link in the band, and how her questionable contributions prevented Tango from ever being a really great album.

I really agree with your opinions on Tango. Good observations. Tango hasn't ever been one of my favorite Mac lp's just like RAL hasn't ever been one of my favorite Stevie lp's either. I think 'When I see You Again' version we have with Lindsey and Stevie' s vocals at the end are better than just Stevie by herself. Seven Wonders really have not ever cared for. Just like Joan of Arc to repetitive verses for me. I agree with you about the lazy writing aspect of that.I think FMac would've done better with the LP if more Stevie had been on it. I do think without Stevie on it more it makes it 'less' of a FMac record to me. Its more of a Lindsey/Christine record really. Which if I'd been a member and wasn't really aloud to contribute to it that would've made me angry. Yes, Stevie had 'issue's than but they should've had some sort of understanding really. Its not like they didn't know her. I just don't think they handled well on all fronts really. Yes, Stevie was at fault too but so was FMac. Though I know this LP sold well it probably could've sold even better with more Stevie than less. Some thoughts.