My nit picks for Tusk.

[FuzzyPlum]

Originally Posted by ryan4136

This is largely because this wasnt intended to be a double album, but actually 2 companion albums released virtually at the same time. There was suppose to be a story between the two. When the record company shot it down they approved a single "double album" release. Which explains partly the sequencing.

I'm still not sure about this. My understanding was Tusk was always supposed to be a single album but they ended up with far too much material and decided they couldnt not use it so opted for a full double album. I've read your mention of Ken Caillat. I wonder if perhaps he personally had an idea at some point- rather than it being a band idea. KC's ideas and Lindsey's ideas were very different.

In the end I'm pretty sure the odd running order was deliberate to make the album uneven- particularly following Over and Over with The Ledge; lull them in with something they are familiar with and then immediately hit them with the new sound.

I've never personally had an issue with the running order- seems okay to me.

[Macfan4life]

This is just a fun thread. I doubt anyone seriously is trying to de-Tusk Tusk or nit pick it to death. Its just another fun conversation about a great album.
With so many songs sometimes they get over looked. I was just listening to Never Forget Tonight last night. What a great song and an excellent way to close the album.

[FuzzyPlum]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

This is just a fun thread. I doubt anyone seriously is trying to de-Tusk Tusk or nit pick it to death. Its just another fun conversation about a great album.

Yes, got to talk about something!

[Wdm6789]

Yeah I said in my original nit pick thread about the white album that I have OCD and I'm too critical. I'm also a perfectionist. We needed some debate around here.

[ryan4136]

Originally Posted by FuzzyPlum

I'm still not sure about this. My understanding was Tusk was always supposed to be a single album but they ended up with far too much material and decided they couldnt not use it so opted for a full double album. I've read your mention of Ken Caillat. I wonder if perhaps he personally had an idea at some point- rather than it being a band idea. KC's ideas and Lindsey's ideas were very different.

In the end I'm pretty sure the odd running order was deliberate to make the album uneven- particularly following Over and Over with The Ledge; lull them in with something they are familiar with and then immediately hit them with the new sound.

I've never personally had an issue with the running order- seems okay to me.

I certainly can't speak on anything beyond what I was told. I was having a convo with KC, I forgot what my specific question was, probably something like "did you go in with the plan to make this a double album" or something similar, and his answer was basically "it wasn't always intended to be a double album" which sparked my interest. He went on to explain the concept of partner albums that were destined to tell two individual stories that would compliment each other.

I didn't press the tracking question (largely because the concept caught me off guard" it was my impression the idea died prior to finalizing the exact number of tracks, so it's possible there was no final track listing concept for partner albums but I'm guessing there was a rough sketch at least. I wonder if ine was to be more "pop" the other "creative leaps" or if it was just to tell a love story some sort of "get together" album and "breakup" album. I wish I had time to grasp how many questions I really had.


EDIT:::: I found word for word the part of my convo that I was looking for. We talked about several things but this line clears up what I mentioned. This Is straight from the horses mouth.

"It was supposed to be 2 single albums that eventully would fit in a custom jacket that both albums would form one picture, but the label chickened out and went w a traditional double album format"

[He's So Unusual]

I love the artwork, especially the pictures inside.

[worldturning]

Originally Posted by FuzzyPlum

Each to their own. For me the Tusk artwork was brilliant- epic, even (the ambition of the packaging matching the ambition of a double album).
The ceiling shots in particular were fantastic. The hours I spent pouring over that album cover and all the inner sleeves.

Same here.

I also remember when the entire album was played on the radio. The host mentioned to Mick that there was a lot of cardboard.

[worldturning]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Some of you make some great points. The sequence of songs is pretty random. I think because of the rebel mind of Lindsey Buckingham in 1979 he did this on purpose.

They say Tusk was Lindsey's first solo album where he worked alone on many songs. Yes I would say more group inclusion and harmonies would be better.

I am old enough to have bought Tusk as an album. I had a cheap stereo with cheap needle. Tusk is surely an album for the digital age. Those quiet songs like Storms just get ruined with the scratches and surface sounds on vinyl. I agree that Over and Over and Storms have a chilly effect. That is a great characterization that I agree with.

I would still keep on all the songs. I love Honey Hi and Never Make Me cry even though they are short and sweet. I suppose you could have had a Rumours 2 with dropping The Ledge, Tusk, Not that funny, Storms, Honey Hi, I know Im not wrong, Never Make Me Cry, and That's enough for me. But I cant imagine not ever hearing these songs. Short term yes it would have been a bigger commercial success. But long term Tusk is considered by many including the band members as a crucial album.

Tusk was crucial album to keep Lindsey in the band. Lindsey didn't want a Rumours 2.

I remember when the Fleetwood Mac cd was first released (1985?). I couldn't wait to hear Crystal w/o any pops and clicks.

I think Tusk was one of the first mass released albums recorded/mastered digitally. I also sort of remember reading an interview with Lindsey about the Mirage album where they didn't record digitally again because it was too time consuming.

The major radio station in my area at the time played Tusk, Sara and Angel regularly. I think I heard Not That Funny played a couple of times and Farmer's Daughter occasionally. One time when I did call up to request a song (NTF), they did ask me what other songs I liked from the album.

I do remember hearing That's Enough For Me played once and of course the DJ made the snide comment after playing it that he had enough.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by FuzzyPlum

Lets put things into a little context. The album's appreciation has grown- there's no denying that. I'd still say its far from universally lauded though. There are plenty of people out there that still find a lot to be desired- a spectrum that stems from full 'de-Tusking' as you put it, to little gripes here and there.

Very well stated!

For certain the album is, so to speak, not everyone's cup of tea. That is a large part of its distinction; much like fine art --some get it, some don't. Lindsey's intention was not to placate the masses by replicating what was to be expected. And he succeeded! I understand the yearning to edit the album to make it more traditional and accessible, but that misses the point as to why Tusk is what it is.

With the benefit of space and time, more people have warmed up to the album, recognizing the approach was purely motivated by something more than just universal commercial appeal. It was a daring move, but it allowed new musical avenues to open up.

I admittedly was one of many fans who was initially disappointed and confused about the album, mostly about Lindsey's songs. But that didn't dampen my intrigue, because it had such a unique, albeit, challenging aura. Fast forward from 1979 to now. I see the defiant artistic brilliance of Lindsey challenging the norm. For a band inclined to plays it safe, this was a unique moment in their history.

[brad975]

If Tusk needed to be two discs in order to get five stellar Stevie songs, then so be it.

But I will always have a problem with a Lindsey Buckingham solo album spread out across it. I even read an interview where he basically bragged that "Tusk" essentially contained his first solo album.

And it's a pretty good solo album too But the problem is Lindsey was/is in a "band."

Adding Stevie and Christine harmonies to some of his songs would have helped solve this problem (and likely improved the songs).

It still would have been the California rock equivalent of "Prince & the Revolution" (where the "band" contributions were often limited to Wendy & Lisa's background vocals in the studio). But it might have added cohesion (same goes for Tango). Actually, Lindsey might not be that far removed from Prince in terms of wanting to produce and play songs mostly by himself.

But Tusk is what it is. If you love it all, that's awesome. But to me, it's just not a fully enjoyable listening experience all the way through. Maybe I'm getting too old to appreciate jarring musical numbers like "What Makes You Think You're the One" and "Not That Funny."

I also read an article where Ken Caillat said he took the lead on album sequencing to help it flow better. I actually think "Sara" should have opened the whole damn thing.

And you know what, I can make that happen by constructing my own Tusk playlist. I did the same thing with 24K, whacking that down to 10 or 12 songs, depending on my mood.

There's plenty of great stuff on Tusk to make it your own.

I actually do enjoy listening to Mirage straight through. It's not perfect. But it flows.