Mirage live... thoughts?

bwboy · #1 09-03-2016, 09:59 AM

I know the Mirage expanded edition hasn't been released yet, but a lot of us have already seen the video. That's why I'm skipping the DVD version, I already transferred my vhs copy onto dvd. I remember seeing this concert for the first time, probably back in 1987 right after Tango was released, and being overall disappointed. The Chain just seemed messy, Not That Funny went on what seemed like forever, and Stevie really seemed like she was playing up for, and to, the cameras. Sisters of the Moon came across as so fake to me, with the whole speaking in tongues gibberish, and especially during (I think) Eyes of the World, when she's following Lindsey around on stage so she can be on camera. Shockingly apparent how much she wants to be in the spotlight during this concert! And I'm a huge Stevie fan, but it's hard to see her act that way. The only Stevie moment I really love is when the camera catches her singing along with Christine on Love in Store off the microphone- it seems genuine and it's nice to see that she liked the song, too.

Anyway, I would love to hear detailed thoughts by other people on what they think of this performance.

AlexD · #2 09-03-2016, 10:03 AM

It's not the actual dvd of the concert right? It's just an audio dvd?

Macfan4life · #3 09-03-2016, 10:24 AM

Its really amazing how fans of the same group see things so differently. The Mirage tour live in concert is the reason I became a Mac fan. Just everything about the concert left me in awe. I would wake up at 3am to put my tape recorder against the TV to record it from HBO. It was the early 80's and the Mac looked amazing. The women were at their beauty peak showcasing their beauty away from the hippy 70's. The guys looked great too with Lindsey in short hair and Mick making his famous faces over and over. I have never heard anyone bash the speaking in tongues version of sisters before. Stevie could never duplicate that and its definitely a highpoint in her career. I love the Stevie dance during Blue Letter and Christine playing piano during Not that funny. The Mirage concerts are the best ever IMHO. It was the last tour of the band without including back up singers and percussionists.
We differ 100% but we do agree on the finest moment.... Stevie mouthing the lyrics to Love in Store back to Christine.
Stevie's voice is fried during Rhiannon but she is so sexy she can get away with it. I also think Go Your Own Way is incredible.
I sometime dream of the "lost footage" from these shows....Sara, Don't Stop, Brown Eyes, etc

bwboy · #4 09-03-2016, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexD

It's not the actual dvd of the concert right? It's just an audio dvd?

No, I transferred my vhs copy to dvd a few years back. Since the expanded edition of Mirage has the exact same performance, there's no incentive for me to pay big bucks for it.

Now, if they had added any more material to the concert, I would have bought it...

jmn3 · #5 09-03-2016, 11:27 AM

Yikes....I couldn't disagree anymore. The Mirage Tour Video has some of my favorite Fleetwood Mac live moments ever, in particular two that you mention: The Chain and Sisters of the Moon. I don't think there's been a version of The Chain that I find better than this one and Sisters is simply ridiculous (in a good way). I absolutely love that version of Go Your Own Way too....love the way Lindsey screams out some of the lyrics and I'm partial to Stevie's Mirage-era "assistance" throughout the tune! Gypsy and Rhiannon are pretty sloppy but still manageable in their own, it was 1982-way. I love the 1982 "I don't change and you don't change" lyrical adjustment in Rhiannon a LOT! Eyes and Love in Store, along with Blue Letter, YMLF, and Songbird sound great. Not That Funny could be deleted from existence in all forms and I'd probably not shed a tear.

Now, on the other hand, no Fleetwood Mac concert video is a cringe-worthy as the following one, that dreadful Tango in the Night concert video. I find that one to just be painful to watch and those Stevie close-ups that were edited in later are simply put, terrible.

The Chain · #6 09-03-2016, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwboy

No, I transferred my vhs copy to dvd a few years back. Since the expanded edition of Mirage has the exact same performance, there's no incentive for me to pay big bucks for it.

Now, if they had added any more material to the concert, I would have bought it...

AlexD was referring to the upcoming re-issue.. a DVD of the Mirage concert is not included, it's a DVD-Audio of the Mirage album.

bwboy · #7 09-03-2016, 12:04 PM

Wow- I was so wrong! I thought the 3 CD Mirage Deluxe Edition included the concert on dvd but it doesn't- it's only the audio. Definitely glad I didn't fork out $85 for this on amazon!

Wouldn't THIS have been the time and edition to release the concert on dvd? Puzzling... anyway, sorry to all for the confusion.

Wdm6789 · #8 09-03-2016, 02:10 PM

The Chain is awesome, Sisters of The Moon is awesome. The rest of the performances are great too. Gypsy could have been a little better, but I like when Christine and Lindsey both sing at the end of the song. I don't like the editing they did of You Make Loving Fun, they turned down the organ too much and then added in a weird guiro sound, no one was even playing a guiro, where is it coming from? It does not sound good, imo. I hope it sounds better on the deluxe Mirage. Of course I would love to see/hear all the songs that got cut especially Sara and Hold Me.

bwboy · #9 09-03-2016, 02:46 PM

There was another guitarist on the Mirage tour, he just stayed in the background and the cameras avoided him. Honest! So that's probably the guitar sound you're hearing but not seeing.

Macfan4life · #10 09-03-2016, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwboy

There was another guitarist on the Mirage tour, he just stayed in the background and the cameras avoided him. Honest! So that's probably the guitar sound you're hearing but not seeing.

That was Ray Lindsey who toured with the Mac a few times (1979-1982). He is spotted on camera during Go Your Own Way (acoustic).

Wdm6789 · #11 09-03-2016, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwboy

There was another guitarist on the Mirage tour, he just stayed in the background and the cameras avoided him. Honest! So that's probably the guitar sound you're hearing but not seeing.

I said guiro, not guitar. The guiro sound on You Make Loving Fun does not sound good.

BLY · #12 09-03-2016, 04:33 PM

I'm so glad I got to see them live in '82. The band would never sound that way again live. In their prime!

bwboy · #13 09-03-2016, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wdm6789

I said guiro, not guitar. The guiro sound on You Make Loving Fun does not sound good.

Dang, I am screwing up on all my posts on this thread! I don't even know what a Guido is, but I thought I saw guitar. Sorry about that.

BlueDenimLamp · #14 09-03-2016, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwboy

Dang, I am screwing up on all my posts on this thread! I don't even know what a Guido is, but I thought I saw guitar. Sorry about that.

"GUIDO"

bwboy · #15 09-03-2016, 07:17 PM

Guido, Guido, spell check won't let me say it! I give up!