Sara Questions

[Jason T.]

Could someone help me out here...

I know that there is suppose to be a longer version of "Sara" that was originally put on the Tusk album, but cut short when transferred to compact disc format for spacial reasons. I was wondering...is this version the one found on disc one of The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac? And if not, how long is the actual version suppose to be?

Also, there is an alternate version of "Edge Of Seventeen" floating around out there that I have a clip of, the portion that I do have is about eight minutes long, but is not complete...so how long is the complete version of this song?

I'd really appreciate some helpful responses, and thanks for taking the time to read my thread.

-- Jason.

[EricBliss12345]

I think the original version is 6:26.

I know the uncut version is on The Chain boxed set, but I'm not sure about the new greatest hits. I'd imagine it would be the original version.

As far as I'm concerned, the edit is much better anyway.

[blinker12]

Jason,
Yes, the version of "Sara" that originally appeared on TUSK is the one that's on "The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac." That version is also available on the 1988 "Greatest Hits" CD and on "The Chain" box set.
But even this version is an edit. The song was originally 8 or even 10 minutes long... Apparently, that version of the song will appear on the TUSK reissue scheduled for release this fall on Rhino.
I can't help you with Edge of Seventeen, unfortunately. Is the version you have a live recording? Because live, the song can last an eternity....

[mylittledemon]

I've heard everything from the original being 9-12 minutes long. If you look on ebay you may find "Tusk Take II." It's a silver CD bootleg that has a 9+ minute version of it that's not that bad. Has two or three verses included that are not on the 6 minute version you typically hear. Personally, I like the 6 minute version. I think it's beautiful and its just the right length.

The only thing I've never understood is WHY THEY NEVER SING IT LIVE anymore...!?

[dissention]

Originally posted by mylittledemon
I've heard everything from the original being 9-12 minutes long. If you look on ebay you may find "Tusk Take II." It's a silver CD bootleg that has a 9+ minute version of it that's not that bad. Has two or three verses included that are not on the 6 minute version you typically hear. Personally, I like the 6 minute version. I think it's beautiful and its just the right length.

The only thing I've never understood is WHY THEY NEVER SING IT LIVE anymore...!?

There are so many versions of Sara out there that no one can even keep count. Last time I checked, I had twelve goddarn versions of that song. Then I got three more about two weeks ago, which is a grand total of fifteen. There's everything out there: studio demos, piano demos, alt vocals, alt guitar work, cleaning lady version, outtakes; you name it, it's out there. And someone even claims to have a 30 minute version, but they're full of malarkey.

As for why they never do it live anymore, I think it might be two reasons. One, Stevie said she doesn't like how it translates onto the stage. Two, I think it's too emotional for her to perform it every night.

The Edge of 17 that you're talking about Jason is only about eight and a half minutes long, so you're only missing 30 seconds. It annoys the hell outta me. Those dove coos are lucky they didn't make the final version.

[Sorcerer386]

Stevie said somewhere that Sara was 16 minutes long, then it got edited to 12, to 8, to 6, and finally to 4 and a half. She wondered if they were going to edit it more and if the name Sara was even going to appear in the song because it was being edited so much. This is a blatant paraphrase, but it's definitely in some interview. I might have even gotten it from sararhiannon.com.

[Jason T.]

Thanks everyone, your answers really did clear up quite a few things for me. I had a feeling that the version on TVBOFM was the same as the original on Tusk, but I wasn't sure. The reason I was confused was because I had heard that there was a longer 8 minute version...I guess now I understand "Sara" comes in many different forms. Another question, what is this "cleaning lady" version that was mentioned earlier?

As for "Edge Of Seventeen," I know that it wasn't a live version. And dissention, I know you're talking about the version I'm referring to because it annoys the hell out of me too...the dove coos that is, but in a bitter-sweet way that only Stevie could annoy me in.

It would really be interesting to hear what "Sara" was originally suppose to sound like according to Stevie -- hmmm...I always thought the only problem with that song was that is so short, but then again, I find that's the problem with most Fleetwood Mac songs...


One more question I swear, I was listening to the live version of "Say You Will" on the limited edition bonus disc today...am I the only one who can swear Christine is singing with them, that voice in the back couldn't be anyone else's? Maybe it's just my wishful thinking. I miss her so much! I can't wait for her solo release


-- Jason

[David]

Originally posted by Jason T.
Thanks everyone, your answers really did clear up quite a few things for me. I had a feeling that the version on TVBOFM was the same as the original on Tusk, but I wasn't sure. The reason I was confused was because I had heard that there was a longer 8 minute version...I guess now I understand "Sara" comes in many different forms. Another question, what is this "cleaning lady" version that was mentioned earlier?

It's just more "Sara" tracking by Fleetwood Mac at the Village Recorder, as the song slowly took shape from a production standpoint. The fans call it the Cleaning Lady version because during the lead-in, the mic picks up Stevie chatting about something inconsequential & you can overhear her saying "I want to be a star -- I don't want to be a cleaning lady," or something like that. It's of absolutely no consequence, but the vocal she lays down is nice.

It would really be interesting to hear what "Sara" was originally suppose to sound like according to Stevie -- hmmm...I always thought the only problem with that song was that is so short, but then again, I find that's the problem with most Fleetwood Mac songs.

Just put "Sara" on your CD player & let it play nearly to the end, & then hit the rewind button & hold it down, letting go after about 20 seconds so that you hear the song play all over again. Follow this procedure until you have heard "Sara" for 15 minutes. You will have essentially heard what it was "supposed" to sound like, according to Stevie. (Fleetwood Mac edited the song down by lopping off stanzas, not by altering the structure or the instrumentation in any way.)

[Sarah]

4 minutes and however much is still too long. The 9-something minute is nearly unbearable- it's just so redundant. I *think* I have a version that is nearly 12 minutes long- I have several on all these demo compilations, but I just can't listen to the same thing over.and.over.and.over. Much too a.d.d. for that.

Also, didn't Stevie *SAY* they don't do it anymore because it's so boring translated onto the stage? (imo, boring on the record, too.) I'll have to find that article.. I'm 99.99 percent certain she SAID that.

And, I agree with you that whoever says they have a 30 minute version is full of it. Maybe they have a 30 minute version of different ones thrown together.. but that's a little crazy to think of one song being 30 minutes. That's very Led Zep, and I don't think LiddyBuck would go for that.


Actually, to go back on what I've said a little, I find the first minute or two of the cleaning lady version to be entertaining. I guess it's the pouty factor. But I do find Sara to be a very boring song. Pretty, yes.. but also boring. Very muzak-esque.

[mylittledemon]

Personally I love the live version of Sara on the double 1980 LIVE album! I like it better than the Tusk version.

Originally posted by Sarah
4 minutes and however much is still too long. The 9-something minute is nearly unbearable- it's just so redundant. I *think* I have a version that is nearly 12 minutes long- I have several on all these demo compilations, but I just can't listen to the same thing over.and.over.and.over. Much too a.d.d. for that.
But I do find Sara to be a very boring song. Pretty, yes.. but also boring. Very muzak-esque.

wow....interesting....i disagree but i can see where you're coming from. it's not a rocker....it is in its own way i guess. but it's my favorite song from her aside from the original silver springs and any live 75-77 rhiannon.

a friend of mine said it sounded like the "Hills Street Blues" theme song and i used to argue and say, "no....HSB sounds like Sara cause Sara was first!".

anyway, i probably could listen to the 16 minute version. there's something so unique about the sound of that song. it never translated live that well cause it was missing the special atmosphere created in the studio...that's definately a song where less is not more...i thought the way Stevie's solo band did it sounded like muzac. then again, her band never did justice to FM's songs.

[strandinthewind]

On my old hard drive that has sice died taking most of the Stevie/FM stuff on it, I had a version of Sara with a very 1977 sounding Stevie playing the Sara riffs. So, while LB and FM's production was killer IMO, the basic riffs were Stevie if this piano demo is the original thing.

[Jason T.]

Originally posted by mylittledemon
Personally I love the live version of Sara on the double 1980 LIVE album! I like it better than the Tusk version.

I completely agree with you -- that live performance is awesome!

Again, it's really interesting to hear all of these interpretations of the song itself and how different people enjoy it or cannot stand it. I think it is an incredible song. While I wouldn't be bothered by Stevie going on for about an hour singing "Sara," I can see why she said it got boring to perform on stage.


-- Jason

[Vianna]

is my favorite song.

I only have the released versions-Live, Tusk, Greatest Hits, VBOFM, Chain Boxed Set. I also have the Cleaning Lady version.

What other versions are there and how can I get them?

I've heard there's a 16 minute Sara out there somewhere.

Originally posted by Vianna
is my favorite song.

I only have the released versions-Live, Tusk, Greatest Hits, VBOFM, Chain Boxed Set. I also have the Cleaning Lady version.

What other versions are there and how can I get them?

I've heard there's a 16 minute Sara out there somewhere.

I think that 16 minute version is locked away forever. Even Stevie said she doesn't think it'll ever see the light of day.

There are several live soundboard recordings that are floating around. My favorite is from the Tusk tour documentary. This show is available on many trader's sites. It's from St.Louis 11-6-79. The song (as appears on the video) was edited quite a bit but the full version is available on the soundboard.

Incidentally, this version IS the version on the Live album but they rerecorded the vocals and added harmonies from Lindsey and Chris. I personally don't really like it. I thought the original version had so much more passion. If you listen carefully to the Live album version there are parts where the original vocal bleeds through. One part that comes to mind is on the final "in the sea of love" verse....when Stevie sings "when you build your house" quicker than the original vocal you can hear that original vocal right after....go listen to it! it goes "when you build your house" (Live album vocal) and then right after that is the faint remnants of the original "build your house....then (call me)" in a higher key which she's belting out....

Anyway, i'm forever stuck with the visual of the performance. It represents an essence of Stevie that i've never seen since. She made sure that performance was special. Back when that song was out and a few years after in the very early days of video, that video was used as a promo clip for the band whenever they were featured on tv....i remember first seeing it on solid gold in 1980 and it was always on MTV...go figure. My....times have really changed....anyway, she looked like a victorian goddess with the hair up in that big onion bun and the red shawl draped around her....and the ending is classic with her head back at Lindsey's mic singing " all i ever wanted was to know........" if that's not classic, then shoot me down!

So, you need to get that!

just my $.02