U.S. single releases

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by KenB

Wild! So it appears we’ve confirmed Farmer’s Daughter was released in the U.S. I wonder if any stations actually played it? I absolutely adore their cover of the song. I think it’s one of the best showcases of their three-part harmonies ever.

I THINK Farmer's Daughter was the B side to.....fukc..... the Fireflies 45? I have it, SOMEWHERE.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by WalkAThinLine.

For Behind the Mask, I'm curious if "Save Me" was the best choice as the first single. According to Rick Vito, the band and record label had differing opinions on what to release first. With the exception of Rick, who wanted "Love is Dangerous" to be selected, the rest of the band wanted "Save Me" instead. Meanwhile, the record label suggested "Skies the Limit". Rick also said that there were "different opinions on the second single" as well. Ultimately, "Skies the Limit" became the second single whereas "Love is Dangerous" was a promotional single, which actually charted in the lower realms of the Canadian charts based on airplay alone. Below is a link to a newspaper article where Rick discussed the selection of the singles.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/537...g_id=173653229

I think Save Me was the best choice. I did hear Love Is Dangerous on the radio once. Anyone remember when John Candy had a radio show? I was called Radio Kandy. It was nationally syndicated and there was a local radio station that picked it up for about a year or two. I heard it on his show in the summer of 1990 which gave me a false belief Love Is Dangerous was the second single.
Gosh you know Stevie's songs are bad when they are not even considered being released as singles. She lucked out with Seven Wonders because she was close to not having singles on that album either.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by WalkAThinLine.

Meanwhile, the record label suggested "Skies the Limit".

This time I agree with the label. I think I'm one of the few ledgies who likes Skies more than Save Me. Neither of them is a gem, but I tend to listen to Skies more often.

I think the results are usually unpredicble. I remember I bought Donna Summer's Spring Affair single in the mid 70s. Winter Melody was on side B. And after a few weeks WM was the most popular song of Four Seasons of Love on local radios.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I THINK Farmer's Daughter was the B side to.....fukc..... the Fireflies 45? I have it, SOMEWHERE.

According to this page, FM was side A. I don't how reliable is, but if you find the record it would be interesting to compare it.

https://www.45cat.com/record/wbs49700

[KenB]

Originally Posted by WalkAThinLine.

For Behind the Mask, I'm curious if "Save Me" was the best choice as the first single. According to Rick Vito, the band and record label had differing opinions on what to release first. With the exception of Rick, who wanted "Love is Dangerous" to be selected, the rest of the band wanted "Save Me" instead. Meanwhile, the record label suggested "Skies the Limit". Rick also said that there were "different opinions on the second single" as well. Ultimately, "Skies the Limit" became the second single whereas "Love is Dangerous" was a promotional single, which actually charted in the lower realms of the Canadian charts based on airplay alone.

The first time I heard “Save Me” on the radio knowing that a new Mac album was on the way, my immediate thought was “Ugh, this is the best they can do?” I disliked it from the moment I heard it and even today I think it’s one of Christine’s worst songs. “Skies the Limit” is a bit cheesy, but it would have been by far the best pick for first single, given that it has a Stevie harmony and sounds a bit like “Little Lies,” a huge hit from their previous studio album. Second single should have been “Love is Dangerous” and third single should have been “When the Sun Goes Down,” which, although it would have represented a different, countrier side of Mac, also has the most Buckingham-like production on the album and is pretty damn catchy.

[aleuzzi]

To me, Save Me is the only song on BTM that has great bones. The arrangement stinks but the core song is excellent, especially the verses and the “I will follow you” part right before the chorus.

Skies is the only Christine song I truly hate. That chorus—ugh!

Love is Dangerous has a certain appeal for rock radio. It’s generic, but Stevie sings those lyrics like they mean something.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Villavic

According to this page, FM was side A. I don't how reliable is, but if you find the record it would be interesting to compare it.

https://www.45cat.com/record/wbs49700

I was wrong. IF I had a Fireflies 45, it's either lost, or I'm having a hard time remembering 1980 details. I went through the 45s I still have, tonight, and no luck.

You know, for a couple DECADES, I could tell you the Mirage concert set list, in order! Oh Well(pun).

$h1t happens.....

[WalkAThinLine.]

According to page 22 of this February 1981 edition of Billboard, "Farmer's Daughter" received some airplay in Cincinnati, although "Fireflies" was comparatively played on more radio stations.

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Ar...1981-02-07.pdf

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by WalkAThinLine.

According to page 22 of this February 1981 edition of Billboard, "Farmer's Daughter" received some airplay in Cincinnati, although "Fireflies" was comparatively played on more radio stations.

I suppose Steve's voice had a more guaranteed commercial effect? So no surprise.

But in my inner universe (home) I've played Farmer's Daughter way more times than Fireflies.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by bwboy

I know we’re all playing Monday morning quarterback here, and I had never thought of it before, but you’re right, Isn’t It Midnight would have been an incredible first single. I mean, Big Love got the job done, it created the buzz for the new album, had folks wondering who provided the love grunts’ lol, and had an interesting (but really dated) video, but IIM would have really created buzz too. Tango really showcased Christine’s growth and confidence as a songwriter, I have no idea how much of that could have been due to her then husband, I know she said or implied after they divorced he didn’t do much with her songs, but you can definitely see a difference. IIM, Big Love, Seven Winders, Little Lies, and Everywhere would have been a more successful sequence of singles, I think.

Checking the Tango in the Night 2017 Deluxe edition, it has 4 Remix/Extended/12”/etc. versions of Big Love. Seven Wonders, Everywhere and Little Lies have 2. Family Man have also 4 remixes. I wonder if Lindsey was the one who came up with the idea or pushed to produce those remixes, (since his songs has more than the girls), in order to show the band aligned to the 80s.

I don't usually listen to those versions; I don't like them. I don't think it fits the Fleetwood Mac sound. I always found the 12" remixes cool in the sound of bands like OMD or Thompson Twins, not Fleetwood Mac.

Talking about Isn’t it Midnight, it has an “Alternate Mix”, just 3:39, not a remix (a different version from the “Edited Alternate Version” from the 1992 The Chain Boxset). I guess it’s kind of an alternate, not final version but not a commercial remix. Unless someone remembers hearing it on the radio. That confirms they didn’t see that song as a main single. So unfair, and wrong.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I suppose Steve's voice had a more guaranteed commercial effect? So no surprise.

But in my inner universe (home) I've played Farmer's Daughter way more times than Fireflies.

Really? I LOVE Fireflies, and can't stand FD.

Fireflies makes every greatest hits I've ever made.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

Checking the Tango in the Night 2017 Deluxe edition, it has 4 Remix/Extended/12”/etc. versions of Big Love. Seven Wonders, Everywhere and Little Lies have 2. Family Man have also 4 remixes. I wonder if Lindsey was the one who came up with the idea or pushed to produce those remixes, (since his songs has more than the girls), in order to show the band aligned to the 80s.

I don't usually listen to those versions; I don't like them. I don't think it fits the Fleetwood Mac sound. I always found the 12" remixes cool in the sound of bands like OMD or Thompson Twins, not Fleetwood Mac.

Talking about Isn’t it Midnight, it has an “Alternate Mix”, just 3:39, not a remix (a different version from the “Edited Alternate Version” from the 1992 The Chain Boxset). I guess it’s kind of an alternate, not final version but not a commercial remix. Unless someone remembers hearing it on the radio. That confirms they didn’t see that song as a main single. So unfair, and wrong.

Back in the 1980s extended remixes were pushed by the record companies. They were played in dance clubs and it was more promotional than anything. It was common and sort of the norm. I dont think the members are involved in any of those remixes. David brought up a good point awhile ago about the added Stevie singing at the end of the Little Lies extended remix. No, Stevie did not go into the studio to cut that. It was left over from the original recording and then all remixed together in some extended version remix.

[Mr Scarrott]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Really? I LOVE Fireflies, and can't stand FD.

Fireflies makes every greatest hits I've ever made.

I think I would have liked to have heard a proper studio version of Fireflies.

I really think the Mac version of Farmer's Daughter is an enhancement of the original, which to my inexpert ears at least, is a bit Beach-Boys-by-the numbers; I'm sorry I never got to hear FM play it live. Didn't they put "Thanks, Brian, you're the greatest" in the credits? It's a little gift from BW to dwell upon in the days following his passing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lpr...&start_radio=1

[BLY]

Originally Posted by Mr Scarrott

I think I would have liked to have heard a proper studio version of Fireflies.

I really think the Mac version of Farmer's Daughter is an enhancement of the original, which to my inexpert ears at least, is a bit Beach-Boys-by-the numbers; I'm sorry I never got to hear FM play it live. Didn't they put "Thanks, Brian, you're the greatest" in the credits? It's a little gift from BW to dwell upon in the days following his passing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lpr...&start_radio=1

I love Farmers Daughter and was happy to hear it on the Dance tour. I wish it was included on the album. Great harmonies which is what I have always loved about Fleetwood Mac. Those three voices sounded amazing on that tour.

[jbrownsjr]

Using the vocal Christine has live. I would have loved a proper version of One More Night.

A better form or arrangement might help. The vocal is Pristine McVie.