Stevie's vocals

[ViscountViktor]

This has probably been discussed on the Ledge before, but I want to ask which FM album does everyone think Stevie produces her best vocals on. I only say this because Stevie's vocals on FM album's have fluctuated so much, probably gradually decreasing as the addiction gets stronger, that people will probably have different opinions. Here are my views:

Fleetwood Mac: Stevie's vocals on this album are full of punch. Aggressive yet never straying out of tune - mostly. Landslide is the exception, which I think is set way to low for her to sing on the album version anyway. Overall, Stevie's vocals are raw and have character - she attacks her songs.

Rumours: I'm not the biggest fan of Rumours, but this is a weird one for Stevie. You have the powerful vocals of GDW - and then Dreams. Compare Stevie's vocals on Dreams to Rhiannon two years earlier. A massive change! Stevie sounds feeble on Dreams, she can barely hold the tune for more than a couple of seconds. When her other vocals on this album are acceptable, I do wonder what happened on this song.

Tusk: Stevie's voice has become bigger - there's more vibrato in her voice, and yet in Tusk I think we see her best vocals. Powerful, yet tuneful - not overly powerful as her later albums would show. Sisters of the Moon is one of her best ever vocal performances IMO, and overall she is excellent.

Mirage: Stevies well into her cocaine adiction at this point - and it shows. She sings out of tune on many songs - the opening of Gypsy for example. Overall, I think Stevie's voice is starting to go here - and the vibrato is increasing.

Tango in the Night - Stevie is at an all time low here. Addicted to Klonopin, TITN is not a vocal performance to be proud of. Not much to say, except it;s understandable when you realise her circumstances.

Behind the Mask - Stevie vocals are OK. Nothing special. I suppose she's vulnerable as she's starting to wean off the drugs. Not her best however.

The Dance - Not a studio album, but I've included it anyway. Stevie's great on this album. She's lost weight, she's off the drugs, she's happy. It shows in her singing. Although her range is decreasing, she still pulls off a wonderful performance, Landslide being a standout.

Say You Will - Stevie is 55 here, so her vocals are good for her age. However, her range has decreased significantly, and therefore her songs are extremely low, which makes the album quite uniform and plain.

So, I would choose either the Dance or Fleetwood Mac. But what about you Ledgies?