RS: "Fleetwood Mac: They Dared to be Different"

[blemelin]

I remember reading this back in February 1980, when I was a senior in high school. I spent most of that winter with my headphones on, listening to Tusk. I was enthralled with some of the sounds on that album, especially the subtle piano-guitar sounds on Sara (aural mysteries that sounded like someone taking a velvet hammer to piano strings) and the intricately wrapped vocals on an otherwise throw-away song like Honey Hi. At first, a lot of Lindsey's songs left me cold, but as I listened to the record Over and Over, I started to get it. That's All for Everyone left me almost hypnotized, as did Walk a Thin Line. Listening to the whole album from start to finish was a true commitment, but in the harsh winter of the rural Indiana plains, what else did I have to do? Storms broke my heart, as did Never Make Me Cry and Brown Eyes. Other songs rocked me. A few bored me. Over the years, the album has continued to evolve within and without me. Last year, I was having brunch with a friend at a restaurant in the East Village, and someone working there started playing the record. It was a large space with very good acoustics and a good sound system, so we sat there eating and drinking through the whole thing. We schmoozed with the staff (some of whom sat down and drank with us), and by the time we left, we were quite buzzed and floating a few inches off the sidewalk, and not just because of the drinks. "It will be all right. We'll never forget tonight." http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...erent-19800207

[elle]

Originally Posted by blemelin

I remember reading this back in February 1980, when I was a senior in high school. I spent most of that winter with my headphones on, listening to Tusk. I was enthralled with some of the sounds on that album, especially the subtle piano-guitar sounds on Sara (aural mysteries that sounded like someone taking a velvet hammer to piano strings) and the intricately wrapped vocals on an otherwise throw-away song like Honey Hi. At first, a lot of Lindsey's songs left me cold, but as I listened to the record Over and Over, I started to get it. That's All for Everyone left me almost hypnotized, as did Walk a Thin Line. Listening to the whole album from start to finish was a true commitment, but in the harsh winter of the rural Indiana plains, what else did I have to do? Storms broke my heart, as did Never Make Me Cry and Brown Eyes. Other songs rocked me. A few bored me. Over the years, the album has continued to evolve within and without me. Last year, I was having brunch with a friend at a restaurant in the East Village, and someone working there started playing the record. It was a large space with very good acoustics and a good sound system, so we sat there eating and drinking through the whole thing. We schmoozed with the staff (some of whom sat down and drank with us), and by the time we left, we were quite buzzed and floating a few inches off the sidewalk, and not just because of the drinks. "It will be all right. We'll never forget tonight." http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...erent-19800207

enjoyed reading your story... and somehow i never read that whole 1980 RS interview, so it was fun reading a few extra pieces in there that i couldn't remember seeing before.

[bombaysaffires]

remember this article well; it was fun to read it again after so long. thanks for posting! I have the cover photo matted and framed still... how it didn't get lost all these years beats me.

[StevieNicksfann]

Thanks for posting - I had never read it before. I had no idea they ever rehearsed I Don't Want To Know for the Tusk tour (or any tour for that matter)!

[aleuzzi]

I always thought it strange that Christine was not interviewed for this article. I am assuming she declined...

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I always thought it strange that Christine was not interviewed for this article.

Weirder still that Sharon Celani was...

[blemelin]

As they are currently preparing for the new tour, I thought it would be interesting to go back and reflect on this article as they prepared for the Tusk tour. Sharon was still very much a neophyte (only 22 years old!) as compared to all the experience she has gained in the last 33 years. The old crew was still around. The writer of the piece explicitly mentioned alcohol and drugs. Several mentions of the current album, picking songs from it to play, supporting it, Lindsey's creative process, etc.

Here's hoping the new tour contains some surprises and their energy is good!