Pre and Post Christine

[GateandGarden]

Well, I prefer "The Dance," though both LIB and TD lack songs I would've loved to hear, but I know everyone can say that. I'm one who feels Christine's absence a lot. I know she doesn't perform the way S&L do, but I just accept that she's different, and I don't think of it as a bad different. However, I've seen more enthusiastic performances from her than TD, obviously. But I loved the vocals. I thought her songs (particularly "Say You Love Me" and "Everywhere") sounded great live. I consider them some of the highlights of the show. So, I do prefer it to LIB, though LIB does a lot for me as well. Stevie always will be my favorite, so I guess there's always going to be something in it for me as long as she's around.

Hillary

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by tommer

sometimes, when i do manage to put sentimentality aside, i think that chris did the band a favour when she left, leaving them to find back their edge.

I guess I can see what you mean. I think it's like when Lindsey left in '87 he did the band a huge favour by leaving because they added Rick and Billy and that gave them a whole new edge.

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by David

"Say You Will" is a lot edgier than "Tango in the Night" or "Mirage," but that isn't because Christine left. She didn't have that much influence over the band's direction, quite frankly, & she certainly never shanghaied the shows. If earlier albums with the five of them aren't edgy enough, I think it's unfair to blame Chris. Blame them all. "The Dance" was presented & packaged by ALL of them & ALL their managers & producers as a very stately, precisely performed & essentially immaculate affair.

Besides, quite a bunch of the songs on "The Dance" are also on "Live in Boston" -- so it's a good bet that the "Live in Boston" participants, being on the second go-round, as it were, were just a little more fired up themselves & in the mood to stretch a little (the way that song arrangements evolved & performances got more brazen from the Rumours tour to the Tusk tour).

"Boston" is a different agenda from that of "The Dance." If Christine had been along on the tour the last two years, Lindsey & Stevie would have still performed just the way they did perform.

The Dance was a much bigger "deal" than LIB in my opinion. The Dance's broadcast on MTV was either or going to make or break their comeback. I think that's part of the reason it's so polished sounding. Also, I think they couldn't take risks because they didn't want to alienate old fans, epscially casual fans. Those types want the hits, that's it.

Lindsey is the one who looks more alive on LIB. Stevie looks about the same. She sounds better on the Dance. Beautiful Child and Stand Back were her highlights this time around. (Rhiannon was pretty good as well.) But the LIB performances of Landslide, Gypsy, and Silver Springs -- yikes.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

She sounds better on the Dance. Beautiful Child and Stand Back were her highlights this time around. (Rhiannon was pretty good as well.) But the LIB performances of Landslide, Gypsy, and Silver Springs -- yikes.

I hadn't even thought of that, but it's so true. Yet another reason why I prefer TD.

Hillary

[markolas]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

But the LIB performances of Landslide, Gypsy, and Silver Springs -- yikes.

Silver Springs and Landslide I might agree with you on, but I much prefer the LIB version of Gypsy to the one on The Dance.

[tommer]

Originally Posted by Bryan

I guess I can see what you mean. I think it's like when Lindsey left in '87 he did the band a huge favour by leaving because they added Rick and Billy and that gave them a whole new edge.

you're being sarcastic, right?

[markolas]

Originally Posted by macfan 57

But, there is NOTHING boring about Christine & Bob Welch together...And, Sentimental Lady(the Bare Trees version) is one of my favorite Bob Welch songs. It's NOT boring.

I like the Peter Green version of FM, and I'm crazy about the Buckingham Nicks version, obviously. But the "middle years" with Bob Welch, I can't get into. I bought Bare Trees, and thought it was a pretty sleepy album, mostly. A few high points, but mainly I couldn't get into it. So, I haven't bought any further Bob Welch FM albums.

As for Sentimental Lady...blech. I will say that Christine's vocals add a little color to the FM version, but not enough for me to be able to stomach it.

[mondaymornin1]

IMO, the reason SYW/LIB has fewer sales than TD has nothing to do with Christine's absence. TD was full of past hits that even casual fans would spend money on. The SYW releases got minimal radio time here. Let's face it, if you don't show your bellyring and perform a synchronized dance with each song (while lip-synching, I might add!), you're not going to sell as many records or get as much air time. It's not just about music anymore, and adult music fans like us aren't the marketing target anymore, either. I know we have lots of younger fans on the Ledge, but you've got to know you are in the minority with your age group, though I have to commend your wonderful taste!

I prefer the edgier LIB line-up, but I do miss Christine since I never saw her live. I've been a fan since the "White album," but the past tour was the first time I've ever seen the band live!

[markolas]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

Lindsey is the one who looks more alive on LIB. Stevie looks about the same. She sounds better on the Dance.

I think she both looks and sounds better on The Dance, but I still prefer LIB.

Stevie didn't look so good on this tour, IMO. Especially the last leg where she had those hideous bangs and that scarf around her neck. Maybe it was covering up a tracheotomy scar, or something. That would explain her voice.

I was watching the video clip of the Jones Beach performance of Sara, and though that red outfit she had on was dreadful. The layers and layers of clothes make her look too heavy. Whoever is picking out her wardrobe needs to be fired.

At the very least, she should get a new haircut for the next album and tour.

As for Lindsey...I think I said once before that the Fab Five from Queer Eye need to get ahold of him.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by tommer

you're being sarcastic, right?

lol..no! I think that the band NEEDED fresh input at that point. I think that if Lindsey did agree to join them on tour in '87 then it would've made Fleetwood Mac pretty stale pretty fast. Just look at the inaguration performance of Don't Stop in '93...it just wasn't right. It was dull. But with changes happening in the band throughout those years it seemed right to have The Dance happen at that particular time in 1997. I don't think that Fleetwood Mac could've gone on to be hugely successful in the early nineties even if Lindsey were still in the band.


-Bryan

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by markolas

Stevie didn't look so good on this tour, IMO. Especially the last leg where she had those hideous bangs and that scarf around her neck. Maybe it was covering up a tracheotomy scar, or something. That would explain her voice.

I was watching the video clip of the Jones Beach performance of Sara, and though that red outfit she had on was dreadful. The layers and layers of clothes make her look too heavy. Whoever is picking out her wardrobe needs to be fired.

At the very least, she should get a new haircut for the next album and tour.

Ditto! Her wardrobe on this tour was terrible. The length of her dresses was so unflattering....and that @*!#*# cardigan!!!!

I also think she needs a new haircut. I think the long, straight look makes her look older. Some inches off the length, and a little wave and volume...and she'd look spectacular.

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by markolas

Silver Springs and Landslide I might agree with you on, but I much prefer the LIB version of Gypsy to the one on The Dance.

Really? If frustrates me she just says, "and it lights up the night," instead of trying to belt it. And I think the "la la las" sound a little flat.

Now that I think about it though, musically it sounds better on LIB.

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I hadn't even thought of that, but it's so true. Yet another reason why I prefer TD.

Hillary

Yeah. LIB had some great moments, and as everyone says, it was "edgier." But I'm just a sucker for the five of them together.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by Lux

I think you might have the situation contorted. He didn't make the band dull, you mean the band made Lindsey dull. If the removal of Lindsey gave anyone a new edge, it was himself and the favour was not to them. There was no new edge in FM after Lindsey, more of a gaping void.

Both the band and Lindsey himself received a new and better edge by parting ways. After all,he did release 'Out Of The Cradle' after leaving,which is his greatest work to date IMO. I don't mean Lindsey made the band dull either,I mean the band would have made themselves dull by carrying on as 'the Rumours lineup'. It wouldn't have lasted very long,and quite possibly Fleetwood Mac would've died an eventual death had it not been for Lindsey leaving and then re-joining ten years later. So yes,it's all good.

[Bryan]

While we're on the subject of TD vs. LIB,
I think these first two Amazon reviews of LIB sum it up pretty well. (still,i think the 2 outta 5 stars is a bit harsh on that one!)


Bryan