20 years since Say You Will...

[BigAl84]

One memory that really stands out from that time - there was like an entire year between knowing they were working on something and the album being released. I remember constantly thinking that the entire project could implode at any time. Some sort of argument would go nuclear and the whole thing would be scrapped. I remember being in disbelief actually holding the album in my hand and witnessing a tour that went for nearly a year.

When Destiny Rules was released it was fascinating to watch, but I think it showed how difficult the process was and a diminishing likelihood that they would do it again. I don't remember what the initial reaction was here at the ledge, it would be fascinating to go back to those threads if they still exist.

The end of the SYW tour marked the start of what seemed like YEARLY greatest hits tours from Stevie which put FM on hold until 2009.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by BigAl84

The end of the SYW tour marked the start of what seemed like YEARLY greatest hits tours from Stevie which put FM on hold until 2009.

Absolutely. SYW was not only a near-miracle but a substantial body of work. Though initially estranged to anything without Christine, I soon warmed to it and was grateful for such an enormous amount of new songs.

Sadly it was a sort of swansong for THAT lineup. BuckVie was an equally fine FM album.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Absolutely. SYW was not only a near-miracle but a substantial body of work. Though initially estranged to anything without Christine, I soon warmed to it and was grateful for such an enormous amount of new songs.

Sadly it was a sort of swansong for THAT lineup. BuckVie was an equally fine FM album.

And if you compare it to TISL it's pretty solid. Like I've always said about this album: You can tell the musical and romantic relationship these two had was dead as a door nail. (I've never understood that expression)

There are some bright spots on this album, but it's a pooper as a concept. I give LB a lot of credit for really trying to do something different. But, he needed all 4 of them to see his vision. And commercially it would have cost them because the other 3 weren't all on board.

I think they just put songs together rather than making an album together. LB solo project with the other 3. Even though, he wanted and invited more from them.

[bombaysaffires]

I'm sure someone has done this in some thread or other, but a thought experiment: what Christine songs would have made SYW better and removed some of the S&L dead wood? The closest timeframe material we have of Chris's was the set of songs she did for In the Meantime (even though they were a bit later in time at least in terms of the album coming out, but it's the closest we have of her material in that general timeframe). Which ITM songs (and I guess that would exclude those written by her nephew) would have improved SYW overall and which S & L songs would they replace?

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

I'm sure someone has done this in some thread or other, but a thought experiment: what Christine songs would have made SYW better and removed some of the S&L dead wood? The closest timeframe material we have of Chris's was the set of songs she did for In the Meantime (even though they were a bit later in time at least in terms of the album coming out, but it's the closest we have of her material in that general timeframe). Which ITM songs (and I guess that would exclude those written by her nephew) would have improved SYW overall and which S & L songs would they replace?

Yes, there was a thread that came out not long after ITM was released. Don’t know where it is...

But I always thought six songs from each of them.

Lindsey:

Red Rover
Say Goodbye
Steal Your Heart Away
Peacekeeper
Miranda
Murrow

Stevie:

Say You Will
Everybody Finds Out
Throw Down
Destiny Rules
Illume
Running Through Her Garden

Christine:

Friend
Anything is Possible
Forgiveness
Liar
So Sincere
Giving It Back

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Absolutely. SYW was not only a near-miracle but a substantial body of work. Though initially estranged to anything without Christine, I soon warmed to it and was grateful for such an enormous amount of new songs.

Sadly it was a sort of swansong for THAT lineup. BuckVie was an equally fine FM album.

Yeah, but BuckVie was such a positive, happy album. THE ANTITHESIS OF SAY YOU WON'T.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Yeah, but BuckVie was such a positive, happy album. THE ANTITHESIS OF SAY YOU WON'T.

No doubt. SYW was moody and dark. Some of which may have been due to the political climate (Peacekeeper, Murrow, Illume, WTWCT) but also perhaps a reflection of how Lindsey and Stevie felt working with one another, sans Christine as a crucial buffer.

I LOVE BuckVie (and mostly prefer it to SYW), but there’s no question I would have loved it more as an official FM record, with 3 or 4 Stevie songs, her backing vocals, and Christine playing keyboards on Lindsey’s songs.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

No doubt. SYW was moody and dark. Some of which may have been due to the political climate (Peacekeeper, Murrow, Illume, WTWCT) but also perhaps a reflection of how Lindsey and Stevie felt working with one another, sans Christine as a crucial buffer.

I LOVE BuckVie (and mostly prefer it to SYW), but there’s no question I would have loved it more as an official FM record, with 3 or 4 Stevie songs, her backing vocals, and Christine playing keyboards on Lindsey’s songs.

Good point... it was barely a couple years post-9/11 when the album came out in 2003, so it would have been recorded at some point in 2002....and things were rather dark and scary overall....

[WalkAThinLine.]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

And if you compare it to TISL it's pretty solid. Like I've always said about this album: You can tell the musical and romantic relationship these two had was dead as a door nail. (I've never understood that expression)

There are some bright spots on this album, but it's a pooper as a concept. I give LB a lot of credit for really trying to do something different. But, he needed all 4 of them to see his vision. And commercially it would have cost them because the other 3 weren't all on board.

I think they just put songs together rather than making an album together. LB solo project with the other 3. Even though, he wanted and invited more from them.

Say You Will is essentially the work of two solo artists with Mick Fleetwood and John McVie serving as the rhythm section. With Christine McVie (unfortunately) gone from the band, Buckingham and Nicks could have used the opportunity to highlight their dynamic by writing new songs together. Instead, the two brought in largely finished material with varying degrees of quality to the studio. Several of Lindsey's songs ("Murrow", "Red Rover", and "Come") are more akin to solo songs than Fleetwood Mac songs, with Nicks entirely absent from them. As much as I enjoy the song, I'm surprised that "Murrow" was selected as track 2 given its relatively experimental nature. And "Illume" grinds the album's momentum to a halt.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by WalkAThinLine.

Say You Will is essentially the work of two solo artists with Mick Fleetwood and John McVie serving as the rhythm section. With Christine McVie (unfortunately) gone from the band, Buckingham and Nicks could have used the opportunity to highlight their dynamic by writing new songs together. Instead, the two brought in largely finished material with varying degrees of quality to the studio. Several of Lindsey's songs ("Murrow", "Red Rover", and "Come") are more akin to solo songs than Fleetwood Mac songs, with Nicks entirely absent from them. As much as I enjoy the song, I'm surprised that "Murrow" was selected as track 2 given its relatively experimental nature. And "Illume" grinds the album's momentum to a halt.

How could any negative review leave off Come? It's a horrible song, and trashy subject matter. And also the reason I was gifted the deluxe SYW by my cousin's roommate, because she hated Come, and said, "this album doesn't sound like FM!"
Indeed. The queen was retired.

[jmn3]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

How could any negative review leave off Come? Is a horrible song, and trashy subject matter. And also the reason I was gifted the deluxe SYW by my cousin's roommate, because she hated Come, and said, "this album doesn't sound like FM!"
Indeed. The queen was retired.

Awwww you’re clutching your chiffon about the subject matter in Come? You and ol’ $tevie have your common ground after all!

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by jmn3

Awwww you’re clutching your chiffon about the subject matter in Come? You and ol’ $tevie have your common ground after all!

I'm no prude. I've had several wh*rish chapters in my life(god I miss those days). But I don't want my FM trashy. I want my FM with melody, and harmony. WITH ZERO SCREAMING.

SYW should've been cut down to the best 8 songs by S&L, and added 4 Christine songs. THAT would've worked.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

How could any negative review leave off Come? It's a horrible song, and trashy subject matter. And also the reason I was gifted the deluxe SYW by my cousin's roommate, because she hated Come, and said, "this album doesn't sound like FM!"
Indeed. The queen was retired.

Agreed! “Come” is so indulgent and boring. At least it has good guitar, but man, what a slog…

[SteveMacD]

This is what should have happened. Way better, more consistent album than anything we got, too.

Buckingham Fleetwood McVie (1998)

The Right Place to Fade
Wait For You
Miranda
Red Rover
Murrow
Someone’s Gotta Change Your Mind
—
Down On Rodeo
Come
Steal Your Heart Away
Gift of Screws
Bleed to Love Her
Say Goodbye

[BigAl84]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

This is what should have happened. Way better, more consistent album than anything we got, too.

Buckingham Fleetwood McVie (1998)

The Right Place to Fade
Wait For You
Miranda
Red Rover
Murrow
Someone’s Gotta Change Your Mind
—
Down On Rodeo
Come
Steal Your Heart Away
Gift of Screws
Bleed to Love Her
Say Goodbye

That’s a solid set of tunes and I agree, it stands on its own for that concept/lineup.