Blue Letter - Why?

squealy · #1 03-23-2004, 04:57 PM

Does anyone know why Fleetwood Mac recorded "Blue Letter" on the self-titled album? Was it something the record company wanted on there? FM must have had plenty of original material. I don't think it's bad, but I can't imagine anyone in the band (least of all Lindsey) thinking it was so great that it would be worth doing instead of an original. It's just a generic piece of mid-70s light rock; any band of the time could have recorded it. What's the story?

Johnny Stew · #2 03-23-2004, 05:54 PM

The story goes that the Curtis Brothers (the fellas who wrote "Blue Letter") were working in the studio next to Fleetwood Mac, and the two bands hit it off and became friends.

Having also become familiar with each other's material thru their close studio proximity, FM dug "Blue Letter" and asked the Curtis Brothers if they could use it for their album.

The band, including Lindsey, must have liked the song quite a bit, since it became a staple in their setlists for the next 15 years.

squealy · #3 03-23-2004, 06:10 PM

"The band, including Lindsey, must have liked the song quite a bit, since it became a staple in their setlists for the next 15 years."

Huh. How about that - I've always thought of it as one of their most (relatively) obscure songs. I suppose it would be a fun song to play live. It just surprises me that they'd do a cover when they must have all been competing to get songs on that record (although actually, you never hear much about FM fighting over whose songs to include - until Say You Will anyway).

chiliD · #4 03-23-2004, 06:20 PM

Christine had "Say You Love Me", "Over My Head", "Warm Ways" & "Sugar Daddy" ready for the sessions. Lindsey & Stevie had "Rhiannon", "Monday Morning", "I'm So Afraid", "Landslide" from their never completed second Buckingham Nicks album...and they chose "Crystal" to re-record for the Fleetwood Mac album. (why they didn't choose "Don't Let Me Down Again", I'll never know) Christine & Lindsey worked up "World Turning" during the sessions. Nothing could be considered a balls out rocker tune. Hearing the Curtis Bros recording the song in the next studio, they probably heard that "Blue Letter" done in a particular way would fit their needs. Plus, lyrically, is very "Stevie-esque".

Since they weren't really covering an already released tune, it would still be considered "an original". And, thanks to that choice, the Curtis Bros have a fairly steady income to this day. The Curtis Bros own version sounds very similar to the Eagles (along the lines of "Already Gone" or "Chug All Night"). If you really want to hear what John McVie adds to a song, play the Curtis Bros version back to back with Fleetwood Mac's. In a similar vein to how Lindsey's acoustic guitar part on "Go Your Own Way" MAKES the song come alive, John's bass line on "Blue Letter" is the difference between a good song and a GREAT song.

AgainLindsey · #5 03-23-2004, 06:29 PM

“blue letter” is a change from lindsey’s usual tossing of artistic curveballs. it is a head scratcher, all right, but it’s my favorite track on the group’s self-titled album!!!

lindsey opts for a countrified flair with a fast, steady beat. his fine lead vocal proves a major impact on the song. It’s his best on the cd, imo!!!

lyric-wise it may have interjected well into the stevie-lindsey soap opera which was prevalent at the time.

squealy · #6 03-23-2004, 06:30 PM

I guess I'm assuming they had more songs than they did. I always thought Stevie had tons of songs FM didn't use.

"(why they didn't choose "Don't Let Me Down Again", I'll never know)"

I agree.

"And, thanks to that choice, the Curtis Bros have a fairly steady income to this day."

Yeah, the only way they could have been more lucky would be if it had been on Rumours!

blinker12 · #7 03-24-2004, 08:17 AM

I really like this song. Back when I was first getting into Mac, it was one of my favorites on the White Album.
Its inclusion really speaks to how much more casual the band was about recording at that time. They took only three months, recorded a fun cover, didn't do a bunch of extra songs... and simply put it out.
Due to high commercial expectations, the process would never be so carefree again!

Cristian · #8 03-24-2004, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chiliD
(why they didn't choose "Don't Let Me Down Again", I'll never know)

I thought it was John's choice? I read somewhere that John liked "Crystal" from the Buckingham Nicks album so much that he wanted to re-record especifically that one. But then again I'm not sure. I would have chosen "Crying In The Night" or something more Stevie-representative song since she only gets two songs in this album and it is supposed to be a "present the new singer to the audience" song collection. Because she just does background vocals in some songs...

Song of the moment - Gold And Braid

HomerMcvie · #9 03-24-2004, 02:24 PM

Quote:

since she only gets two songs in this album and it is supposed to be a "present the new singer to the audience" song collection. Because she just does background vocals in some songs...

Wasn't she only invited into the band through Lindsey's coercion? That probably explains the diminished role in the first album.
Taking cover.....