Little Lies 35 Years Ago

[aleuzzi]

Umm, I don’t think Lindsey’s departure had really much, if anything, to do with the song’s success. I vividly remember the release of “Little Lies” (which certain radio stations were buzzing about BEFORE it was released as a single). It hit and it hit big—and the biggest fans of it were people largely unfamiliar with the band since the 80s. The song had mass crossover appeal and excited everyone. As a huge FM fan at that time (and of course before and since) I saw the song as a last hurrah of the now-broken chain. But my love for it was firmly in place when I first got the album.

In many ways, Little Lies is the Say You Love Me of the 80s. A huge hit that was the last in a line of hits. Like SYLM, it features every member of the band doing what they do best. An ensemble piece. Both songs are clever, wry, bouncy numbers that open the “second side” of their respective albums.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Umm, I don’t think Lindsey’s departure had really much, if anything, to do with the song’s success.

As a huge FM fan at that time (and of course before and since) I saw the song as a last hurrah of the now-broken chain.

Which was something they played up, at least in the video. It was the backdrop to the song’s release as a single.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Which was something they played up, at least in the video. It was the backdrop to the song’s release as a single.

See, I thought they were redirecting people, getting them hooked on the chemistry of the Rumours five to buy tickets for the tour. They were hoping no one would think too hard about Lindsey being gone…

[DownOnRodeo]

I definitely think the 75, 77, and 87 albums reached a certain bestseller threshold on account of the sheer quantity of timeless radio hits those albums contained (ie separate to the narrative context), although obviously the narrative aspects further propelled them (most obviously Rumours) into the overshoot/outlier category.

Mirage and Tusk had their hits but not in the quantity of those other three albums.

Two hits is like "Oh, that's nice," but three or more is like "I should just buy that whole album."

Albums with 3 or more big radio hits
White album: SYLM, Rhiannon, OMH
Rumours: Dreams, GYOW, YMLF, Don't Stop
Tango: Little Lies, Big Love, Seven Wonders

Albums with 2 big radio hits
Tusk: Tusk, Sara
Mirage: Hold Me, Gypsy (and in some countries, Oh Diane)

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by DownOnRodeo

I definitely think the 75, 77, and 87 albums reached a certain bestseller threshold on account of the sheer quantity of timeless radio hits those albums contained (ie separate to the narrative context), although obviously the narrative aspects further propelled them (most obviously Rumours) into the overshoot/outlier category.

Mirage and Tusk had their hits but not in the quantity of those other three albums.

Two hits is like "Oh, that's nice," but three or more is like "I should just buy that whole album."

Albums with 3 or more big radio hits
White album: SYLM, Rhiannon, OMH
Rumours: Dreams, GYOW, YMLF, Don't Stop
Tango: Little Lies, Big Love, Seven Wonders

Albums with 2 big radio hits
Tusk: Tusk, Sara
Mirage: Hold Me, Gypsy (and in some countries, Oh Diane)

Everywhere is a huge hit on Tango too.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Everywhere is a huge hit on Tango too.

In my heart and mind, Think About Me was also a hit!

[Villavic]

I ask, was the success of a song (especially in the 80s) based mostly on the fans, or the general public? I think the second. And I'm sure a lot of people who listened to Little Lies or Everywhere on the radio that year didn't know about the complete lineup of the band or its history. It was 1987, not 1977 and in 10 years many things change.

So I don't think Lindsey's departure benefit the popularity of Christine's songs so much.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Everywhere is a huge hit on Tango too.

Absolutely.

It reached 14 in the US and 4 in the UK, the highest charting hit in the latter for this record. It was released third in both countries. The band (or the label) chose the same release pattern as Rumours— Lindsey, Stevie, Christine, Christine.

[DownOnRodeo]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Everywhere is a huge hit on Tango too.

Oops, yes thanks John.
There I go acting peculiarly again!

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by DownOnRodeo

Oops, yes thanks John.
There I go acting peculiarly again!

That's why you're his temporary one.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

See, I thought they were redirecting people, getting them hooked on the chemistry of the Rumours five to buy tickets for the tour. They were hoping no one would think too hard about Lindsey being gone…

I think we have a winner! Tell them what they've won!!