The Last 16 years of FINISHED vault songs

[sorcerer999]

"Without You" is the weakest link. When it comes up on my Ipod, for some reason I still have to listen to it, even though I hate it. I guess I just enjoy picking apart everything about it that isn't right.

Anyone else annoyed by the seemingly endless "Ooo yeahs" sung in many different ways that go on forever and ever before the song concludes?

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by sorcerer999

"Without You" is the weakest link. When it comes up on my Ipod, for some reason I still have to listen to it, even though I hate it. I guess I just enjoy picking apart everything about it that isn't right.

Anyone else annoyed by the seemingly endless "Ooo yeahs" sung in many different ways that go on forever and ever before the song concludes?

YES! The song is too long with the neverending "Oooo yeahs"! So annoying! Another reason, besides the guitar tone & production, that I critique this song so harshly.

[drzubritsky]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

[I seem to be in a minority, but I really like "Without You." I do have two nitpicks about it, though. For one, it was mastered way too loudly and therefore completely brick-walled. And, secondly, it goes on a little too long. But I adjusted the peak volume, and edited out about 34 seconds near the end. Now it's perfect, lol. ]

I think I'm the only other person in the world who actually kinda likes the released version of "Without You". I agree that it is mastered too loudly (just like all of SYW). I may try editing the ending as you did.

I understand the criticisms of this track, but those issues haven't bothered me for some reason. While I agree that the guitar is a bit strident, to me it sounds somewhat similar to the guitar in "Without a Leg to Stand On". I thought perhaps this was intentional, to subtly evoke the original BN sound. And yes, the balance of instruments and vocals in the mix sounds a little askew, but I suspect that may have been done to force the duet vocals to blend better. The timbre of Lindsey & Stevie's modern day voices just doesn't blend like it did in the old days.

Certainly not a perfect track, but for me it's not the disaster that it appears to be for most fans.

[ragrsrocalot]

Torn between Moonlight, and Without You. But, I went with Without You. I always loved the BN version. I still prefer that version over the FM version. But, seeing them perform that song, live, was amazing, and so now the live version of Without You has become my favorite.
Sidenote- Loved every single introduction to the live version as well.

[Phil]

I actually couldn't comprehend Stevie's need to waste god-knows how much time on those introductions for "Without You", particularly since they were so inarticulate and boring. The song itself, at best, was a naïve little ditty suited to it's time (ie the early 1970's) and was clearly derivative of Cat Stevens. Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve! It was never anything special, but it was kind of cute in it's original incarnation. The re-recording was simply awful and more to the point, completely unnecessary. I think Stevie knew it was a case of old slops and intentionally handed it over for a release she was not at all invested in. It didn't matter to her that it was buried away on an EP that not many people were going to buy - hell, it didn't even get a physical release and you can imagine what that means in Stevie's world.
The biggest surprise for me about "Without You" was that it was actually written by Stevie and not Lindsey. Based on the original demo version from the Buckingham Nicks era, I just assumed it was his song because he essentially sang lead and it reminded me of his compositions from the BN album. I guess it was another case of "Crystal", with Stevie wanting him to interpret another of her songs? Maybe it was simply Lindsey arranging the song, as he did in the demo for "I Don't Want To Know". In any case, the 2013 version ultimately proved to be a dismal affair for these ears.

[MoonSister75]

Originally Posted by Phil

I actually couldn't comprehend Stevie's need to waste god-knows how much time on those introductions for "Without You", particularly since they were so inarticulate and boring.

And when everything has to be articulate that gets very boring Many people enjoyed Stevie's rambling intros to WY. I can see why they might have irritated some, and were endearing to others.

I honestly believe Stevie really likes the song, and enjoyed sharing the story behind it. Its not a favourite of mine, but it's not that dreadful. Its a sweet, likable song.

[sorcerer999]

Well I guess no matter which song is your fav and which song is your least fav, EVERY song in the poll has gotten a vote!

It's nice to see that "Candlebright" has gotten three votes. Nobody has really talked about that one yet.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by sorcerer999

It's nice to see that "Candlebright" has gotten three votes. Nobody has really talked about that one yet.

It's always been a favorite of mine. I love the TISL version, and think Stevie and Sheryl did a great job with it.

[peer_gynt10]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

It's always been a favorite of mine. I love the TISL version, and think Stevie and Sheryl did a great job with it.

I just voted for Candlebright to bump it up a little. I think I've said it before, but Sheryl did an amazing job on TISL (and that includes the marvellous If You Ever Did Believe which should have been on the album). I agree with almost everything stated on this thread - and what a GREAT topic to discuss. I think one thing that deserves to be mentioned is that all of these examples show what an amazingly gifted songwriter the lady is. I know she picks good producers, but only the truly talented artists could re-record songs that were originally written three or four decades ago and turn them into great records that do not sound old-fashioned or contrived.

[markolas]

"Candlebright" is one of the highlights of TISL. It's really difficult for me to choose just one from this list - that one is most definitely a favorite, along with "Sorcerer" and "Planets of the Universe."

[Japhry]

Running Through The Garden #1 choice.

Tie for second place would be POTU and Candlebright/Nomad.

I don't care at all for Goodbye Baby/The Tower...I would put that at the bottom of the list along with Without You. Everyone has their own taste with Stevie Tunes.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by Japhry

I don't care at all for Goodbye Baby/The Tower...I would put that at the bottom of the list along with Without You. Everyone has their own taste with Stevie Tunes.

Not a big fan of it either. The demo was a long-time favorite of mine, but the track on Say You Will fell short somehow.

[brad975]

I didn't think too hard about this. Just which song I'd pick to listen to first right now. So I said "Sorcerer." I'm not the biggest fan of Sheryl Crow as a performer, but she was a great match for Stevie as a producer on a few songs (i.e. "If You Ever Did Believe").

It's a shame that space wasn't made on TISL for the full version of "Planets of the Universe." That extra verse adds so much meaning.

"Moonlight" is a successful revision of a song sorely in need of more structure (a chorus). "Annabel Lee" is also a stunner from IYD.

"Running through the Garden" was a highlight of SYW (which I appreciated particularly after having written an essay on "Rappaccini's Daughter" in college many years earlier). Lindsey did a nice job helming this production. Plus, it's easier for modern-day Stevie to compete with her fairly ravaged RAL voice than the fiery demo of "Smile at You" from several years earlier. Even she'd lost those high reedy notes by 81/82, she still packed a lot of power in the BellaDonna/Mirage period.

If Lindsey's vocal addition to "Smile at You" ("I should have turned away and ran, just as fast as I can") was intended to compensate, it only conclusively succeeded at being grammatically incorrect.

"Secret Love" and "Goodbye Baby" sound sweet enough to my ears. So I say keep digging through the vaults, Gold Dust Woman.

[Jondalar]

Without You and Smile at You are my favorites. I admire what was done to Planets but the ballad is much better.

I hate Goodbye Baby. It's a tiny song and very bland. I could of written it.

[Nicks Fan]

My pick for the best would be Secret Love. The demo version is amazing but the IYD version is stellar. The worst for me would Smile at You as I am not a fan of the production on that song.