So I just listened to Why for the first time.

[Wdm6789]

I think it might be the most beautiful Fleetwood Mac song. Even more than Sara.
Although, I would have rather them have a minute and a half instrumental at the end of the song than the intro they had.

I think the "Rumours five" should have covered this song. I know they played it live, but I think they should have recorded a cover of Why on either Fleetwood Mac or Rumours or Tusk.

[BLY]

Originally Posted by Wdm6789

I think it might be the most beautiful Fleetwood Mac song. Even more than Sara.
Although, I would have rather them have a minute and a half instrumental at the end of the song than the intro they had.

I think the "Rumours five" should have covered this song. I know they played it live, but I think they should have recorded a cover of Why on either Fleetwood Mac or Rumours or Tusk.

It is one of my farorites..... I do love the live versions that the " 5" did in the 1976 tour. A studio version with the 5 would have been great!

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by BLY

It is one of my farorites..... I do love the live versions that the " 5" did in the 1976 tour. A studio version with the 5 would have been great!

And they raised the key a whole step!

These days, the keys are dropping like Stevie's wig hair!

[FuzzyPlum]

The intro is very laboured but it's part of what makes the song so good. By the time Christine's voice kicks in the anticipation has built up so much it gives a sense of euphoria. A gem of a song thats ulikely to be played by FM again but I'd love to see a major artist cover it.

[FuzzyPlum]

Originally Posted by Wdm6789

I think it might be the most beautiful Fleetwood Mac song. Even more than Sara.
Although, I would have rather them have a minute and a half instrumental at the end of the song than the intro they had.

I think the "Rumours five" should have covered this song. I know they played it live, but I think they should have recorded a cover of Why on either Fleetwood Mac or Rumours or Tusk.

I urge you to check out the rest of the great 'lost' music from the 'Middle Ages'. Show Me a Smile, Come a Little Bit Closer, Spare Me a Little of Your Love etc, as well as Bob Welch's & Danny Kirwan's songs.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by FuzzyPlum

The intro is very labored but it's part of what makes the song so good. By the time Christine's voice kicks in the anticipation has built up so much it gives a sense of euphoria. A gem of a song that's unlikely to be played by FM again but I'd love to see a major artist cover it.

Your description is so accurate and eloquently written.

I agree that the guitar solo proceeding the piano intro from the album version is a great set up, providing striking drama to the song. It's great that we have a recording of the band performing the song in 1975-76, when they were still mining songs from Fleetwood Mac back catalog.

Most of those songs were dropped from their sets when Rumours came out; they now had enough material representing the new band configuration to fill their show. Oh Well was the only song that lingered around for a while. Why should have lingered longer; its power is similar to that of Songbird.

The middle, transitional period of Fleetwood Mac circa 1970-1974 (Kiln House, Future Games, Bare Trees, Penguin, Mystery to Me and Heroes are Hard to Find) is so fascinating and beguiling. Each album has its own unique dimensions, containing lots of unsung sonic treasures.

I wish Christine would have revisited some of those songs, and Stevie and Lindsey revisit a few Buckingham Nicks songs (Don't Let Me Down Again on the Live album is such an a anomaly!) They seem to ignore those older songs, but have been holding tight to old songs, circa 1975-1987, which they are still performing now.

[Danielle]

Originally Posted by FuzzyPlum

The intro is very laboured but it's part of what makes the song so good. By the time Christine's voice kicks in the anticipation has built up so much it gives a sense of euphoria. A gem of a song thats ulikely to be played by FM again but I'd love to see a major artist cover it.

I agree. The intro is as beautiful as the rest of the song.

[Macfan4life]

Why live during 1976 is a deeply powerful song. The harmonies are the best ever.
I wish they would have time to play it live on this tour. But look at some of the comments on this board bashing the Mac for playing "I know Im not wrong." and say people walk out and just because people don't recognize it, it should not be played.
I suspect many would feel the same way and want the hits.
I would prefer to hear Why than Songbird at the end.

[Mr Scarrott]

When I met Mick at a book-signing recently I asked him about Why and if they might perform it again. I'll never forget his incredulous reaction when I told him there was a video on youtube of them doing it in 1976. A studio re-working would be great, too.

It's just a sublime track. The crazy thing about the studio verstion is that only about a minute and a half of it is taken up by vocals, but somehow you don't notice this.

It's all too late now, and the music industry has moved on, but I so wish there had been a compilation album in the 80s and 90s of the best of the Bob Welch years. It might have opened the doors to this era for so many people. It's always annoyed me that this period has either been ignored (the Very Best of Fleetwood Mac) or under-represnented (the Chain-25 years) on official compilations. I suppose we can only blame the label and Stevie, Lindsey and Chris for this (unless Clifford Davis has some kind of unseen legal influence).

Induct Bob! Play Why!

[FuzzyPlum]

Originally Posted by Mr Scarrott

When I met Mick at a book-signing recently I asked him about Why and if they might perform it again. I'll never forget his incredulous reaction when I told him there was a video on youtube of them doing it in 1976. A studio re-working would be great, too.

It's just a sublime track. The crazy thing about the studio verstion is that only about a minute and a half of it is taken up by vocals, but somehow you don't notice this.

It's all too late now, and the music industry has moved on, but I so wish there had been a compilation album in the 80s and 90s of the best of the Bob Welch years. It might have opened the doors to this era for so many people. It's always annoyed me that this period has either been ignored (the Very Best of Fleetwood Mac) or under-represnented (the Chain-25 years) on official compilations. I suppose we can only blame the label and Stevie, Lindsey and Chris for this (unless Clifford Davis has some kind of unseen legal influence).

Induct Bob! Play Why!

I just checked out that 1976 performance and I have to say (though its still great) it actually suffers from Lindsey's intro. Its too short and what Lindsey plays sounds a lot like Never Going Back Again. Its great to see all three singing together though.

[bethelblues]

^^^ Agreed completely! You can hear so much of Never Going Back Again throughout the song...in that recording and in the bootlegs from 75-76.

[jbrownsjr]

It's such a beautiful song. Like many songs before Lindsey and Stevie joined, Christine wrote some really amazing tunes.

I like the studio version the best. It's simply majestic.
I don't like the live version with SN and LB very much. This tune definitely calls for a Welch touch!

Great post.

[sorcerer999]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

And they raised the key a whole step!

These days, the keys are dropping like Stevie's wig hair!

I'm baffled as to why you ALWAYS have to insult or make a jab at Stevie on thread topics that have nothing to do with her. ALWAYS. It's getting pretty old.

[chiliD]

I think Bob Weston's bluesy slide guitar intro is essential to the song...when they played it in '75 & '76 without that, the song just didn't have the impact of the studio version (for me, anyway)...the vocal harmonies, while much improved over the studio version, were chilling, they didn't make up for the missing intro.

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

But look at some of the comments on this board bashing the Mac for playing "I know Im not wrong." and say people walk out and just because people don't recognize it, it should not be played.

It was my experience (Forum, 11/28) that there were people walking in & out throughout the concert. About 3 or 4 just in my row alone. JEEEZ, people...do you have THAT bad of bladder control? Do you really need TWO MORE beers before the next song? Sit your a$$es down, watch & listen...is it really THAT much to ask? After all, you paid through the nose for your tickets.

[ViscountViktor]

I love Mystery to Me. Favourite Mac album.