The Dance

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by WalkAThinLine.

Within less than two years, the band went from having an album completely missing the Billboard 200 to a debut at number one. That's quite the turnaround. The problem is that the band failed to capitalize on this by waiting several years before beginning work on a studio album. They were still able to coast off some of their residual success from The Dance, but the pop music ecosystem had changed significantly from 1997 to 2003.

The Dance would essentially serve as a template for future Fleetwood Mac tours, with only minor variations depending on the circumstances. The acoustic rendition of "Big Love" would remain a staple in the setlist from that point onwards, "Landslide" would be a key fixture in the acoustic portion of the setlist, and "I'm So Afraid" would be another vehicle for Lindsey's guitar skills. There are still aspects of The Dance Tour that are still unique, including the addition of four new tracks, the banjo-infused rendition of "Say You Love Me", the incorporation of the USC Marching Band on "Don't Stop", and even a cover of "The Farmer's Daughter" in the setlist (but not the album).

Most songs from that album have at least one memorable attribute, perhaps with the exception of "You Make Loving Fun" and "Go Your Own Way", which while competent, sound like the band is simply going through the motions. This is even more apparent with their rendition of "Over My Head", which did not even make the album. It's overall a well-balanced album that I have little complaints about. The new material is pleasant and fits in well with the "classic hits". The lack of representation from Mirage on the album is somewhat glaring; the band generally avoids this material with the exception of "Gypsy" and "Eyes of the World". However, the rendition of "Gypsy" found on video version suffers from a shaky vocal performance from Nicks, so perhaps it was for the best that it was omitted.

^^^^ THIS ^^^^^
very well said

The Dance was a carbon copy of The Eagle's Hell Freezes Over. It was inspired by managers and concert promoters where the bands were promised boatloads of money. Both albums went to #1 and sold about 9 million copies. Both were promoted before the album release by a VHS/Laser Disk show broadcast on MTV. The Dance stayed at #1 longer and sold faster than Hell Freezes Over but in the end they sold almost the same amount of units. In 1994 the United States was coming out of a recession which probably hurt the Eagles some while in 1997 the economy was great.
One big difference that I tip my hat to the Eagles for actually going into the studio for their new songs. The songs charted too.
Just imagine if the reunion was more organic for creative reasons and the band recorded in 1995 instead of Time and released a studio album in 1996 followed by the live album The Dance and tour in 1997. Dream on silly dreamer.
While I loved The Dance and I was there waiting in line for tickets I found much of the performances wooden and uninspiring. Don't get me wrong, I had to pinch myself that I was seeing Fleetwood Mac live again. I must of watched the MTV special a million times before the concert and the band said the same things to the audience they did on the special. It just seemed so programmed. I could sense Chris was not happy to be there either. The Dance is a mixed bag for me. I never play that album. I much prefer the 1980 Live album or the 1982 Mirage concert.

Anyone remember SPECS music? It was a record store chain here in Florida. I went the morning the tickets went on sale and there was a mob of people outside so they gave people numbers and there was a lottery drawing to sequence the order to get in line. I was one of the lucky ones and got in relatively early and was able to secure tickets inside the Ampitheater. Then it was all lawn seats. It was sold out like all the other shows and had about 20,000 people in West Palm Beach. Donald Trump was in the second row. They had a very late sound check. The paper reported the next day that Stevie showed up really late to sound check. I was in line at the gate when the soundcheck started and the band played Dreams. I was in fear of a stampede and the Who concert in Cincy was rushing in my head where there was a stampede based on music coming from the arena and people died. Stevie could have indirectly killed us all. Seriously, who does a soundcheck at an outdoor show while 10,000 people are at the gate at 6:00 to get inside. Not smart at all. Luckily Mac fans were older people and did not overreact. I was still a spring chicken in my 20s
Lindsey had to be rushed to the hospital after this show because one of his guitar strings broke and cut his finger or hand during GYOW. I woke up the next day and heard about it on the news. The hospital he went to was right up the street from my apartment.