Live 1980 and The Dance 1997

PenguinHead · #1 02-25-2005, 05:52 PM

A ramble...

In comparing their two official live albums (excluding the Boston DVD/CD), I feel that the 1980 album is often overlooked by many people, and overshadowed by The Dance, especially for newer fans.

For me, the Live album really embodies the true essence of their peak live performances. Unlike The Dance -- with its numerous side musicians and compressed, steril and safe sound -- the Live album is just the five of them and the overall mix is very airy and organic. Granted --there appears to be some studio tinkering and vocal overdubs -- but generally it's the band -- the "five firelies" at their gritty best. I recall at the time of its release, Christine was quoted "it's a warts and all album."

As excited I was at the time of its release, however, I was slightly disappointed...only because I knew there were other more blistering performances (and song selection) that could have been included that would have made the album even better. Still we get some incredible songs/performances:

Oh Well
Fireflies
Farmer's Daughter
One More Night
Don't Let Me Down Again
Over and Over

In my newfound "re-appreciation" for the Live album, I wonder how other fans feel about these two albums. I wish we'll someday get a live album from their 1975-77 era. Would love to have an official release of some of their rare performances, like:

Frozen Love
Tell Me All The Things You Do
Sunny Side Of Heaven
Get Like You Used To Be
Hypnotized
Believe Me
Spare Me A Little
Why
Green Manalishi
Crystal (Did they really perform this?? There's no evidence of it other than a mention in Mick's book)

When pigs (and penguins) fly.

shackin'up · #2 02-25-2005, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

For me, the Live album really embodies the true essence of their peak live performances.

I'd throw away the dance in a blink of an eye if I had to choose between those two. Live 1980 rocks bigtime. And lindsey is not singing about Come, he just does it. Live in Boston would be my Nr2, if it had been released on audiodisc completely.

MirrorInTheSky · #3 02-25-2005, 06:14 PM

Fireflies is currently my favorite Fleetwood Mac song. (Because of course my favorite is never static...)

"The stiletto cuts quick..."

ShangriLaTroubl · #4 02-25-2005, 08:03 PM

I love both...although my only problems with the LIVE CD is that I would prefer it to be recorded from one show...it doesn't flow very well..and some of the performances are not from where they actually claim they are from...a few of them are not even from the actual TUSK Tour..although I loved that they listed all the tour dates in there..

The Dance was just incredible...the sound is just so superb it's hard to compare...but the performances on the LIVE CD, like Rhiannon, Oh Well, Sara an Dreams are far better

Chris

PenguinHead · #5 02-25-2005, 08:20 PM

I somewhat agree that the album may have flowed better if all the performances were from one show. Still, even The Dance album isn't from one show...it's the best of two.

The Tusk tour was their most massive tour up until that time. I like that they recorded many of the shows and (someone) selected what they thought were the best performances. But having listened to so many shows from that tour, there were some amazing performances that would have better represented the songs.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the following songs were the only ones from the Rumours tour:

Monday Morning
Say You Love Me
Rhiannon
Don't Let Me Down Again

Looking at the liner notes, it's noted that there was additional guitar, percussion and keyboards by Ray Lindsey, Tony Todaro and Jeffery Sova, respectively. Ray Lindsey is familiar only because he appeared on stage to provide acoustic guitar for 'Go Your Own Way." Not sure what other songs he or the others play on.

I think they may have "sweetened" things up in the studio. "Not That Funny" seems to have more than just Mick drumming. Yet, on the bootleg of that particular performance, I don't hear that extra percussion, and the song is edited.

ShangriLaTroubl · #6 02-25-2005, 08:25 PM

I thought DREAMS was also from the Rumours Tour

Chris

strandinthewind · #7 02-25-2005, 08:30 PM

All of the songs on the 1980 release show the band in their prime vocally. Therefor, I must say I like it better than The Dance. I personally think had The Dance NOT contained a video performance with Silver Springs and Landslide, it would not have sold as well. Those two sent it skyrocketing. AND - lest I be attacked for allegedly giving La Nicks too much credit, I state here I am not. Though it was her vocal and her song, the BAND played on SS and the passion just flowed

ontheEdgeof17 · #8 02-25-2005, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the following songs were the only ones from the Rumours tour:

Monday Morning
Say You Love Me
Rhiannon
Don't Let Me Down Again

DLMDA is from the White Album Tour.

#9 02-25-2005, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShangriLaTroubl

I thought DREAMS was also from the Rumours Tour

Chris

Don't Stop as well. Actually, both of those songs are from the Paris soundcheck....and it was filmed as well which is where the videos are from.

ontheEdgeof17 · #10 02-25-2005, 08:43 PM

I love both albums. I think Chris' songs on The Dance were better selected(Everywhere, a better SYLM, YMLF). Lindsey's stuff is 10 times better on '80. The NGBA is my favorite version of that song. And call me a freak, but I love Not That Funny live. The only song better on The Dance is ISA.

As for Stevie, it's a toss up. I love Sara, Fireflies, and Rhiannon from '80. Landslide is excellent on both. Her fragile voice on '80 brings a tear to my eye (Fragile as in hoarse

). SS is of course a highlight from The Dance. Dreams.....both good versions.

If I had to bring one with me to a deserted island....I would take '80....

77Rumours77 · #11 02-25-2005, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shackin'up

I'd throw away the dance in a blink of an eye if I had to choose between those two. Live 1980 rocks bigtime. And lindsey is not singing about Come, he just does it. Live in Boston would be my Nr2, if it had been released on audiodisc completely.

Amen to that! I LOVE Live '80, the Dance is great. But Live '80 is more like a piece of history.

Cour · #12 02-25-2005, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

All of the songs on the 1980 release show the band in their prime vocally. Therefor, I must say I like it better than The Dance. I personally think had The Dance NOT contained a video performance with Silver Springs and Landslide, it would not have sold as well. Those two sent it skyrocketing. AND - lest I be attacked for allegedly giving La Nicks too much credit, I state here I am not. Though it was her vocal and her song, the BAND played on SS and the passion just flowed

It's a shame they couldn't see the potential of Say Goodbye and Beautiful Child from Live in Boston. It probably wouldn't have come close to the airplay and success of The Dance, but The Dance was a reunion and they could have definitely gotten a lot of attention if they had put those 2 LIB live videos in circulation. What the heck did they release for LIB? Stand Back (Stevie twirling in those reebocks) and..... ::::scratches head to remember Lindsey's song:::::???? SHN?

dumb, dumb, dumb

estranged4life · #13 02-25-2005, 09:32 PM

copy of "Live" in surround sound (Just for ****s & giggles) and it sounds so much better than "the Dance" disc to my ears (But the mix I made of "the Dance" DVD's audio is even more smoking!!!), So my poor ol' copy of "the Dance" is collecting micro-inches of dust bunny breeding ground material

strandinthewind · #14 02-25-2005, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

It's a shame they couldn't see the potential of Say Goodbye and Beautiful Child from Live in Boston. It probably wouldn't have come close to the airplay and success of The Dance, but The Dance was a reunion and they could have definitely gotten a lot of attention if they had put those 2 LIB live videos in circulation. What the heck did they release for LIB? Stand Back (Stevie twirling in those reebocks) and..... ::::scratches head to remember Lindsey's song:::::???? SHN?

dumb, dumb, dumb

SG and BC were THE highlights of this last tour for me and many. Come was good (not to me though) but not single worthy on the level of SS from The Dance, etc. So, ITA with you!!!!!!

strandinthewind · #15 02-25-2005, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estranged4life

copy of "Live" in surround sound (Just for ****s & giggles) and it sounds so much better than "the Dance" disc to my ears (But the mix I made of "the Dance" DVD's audio is even more smoking!!!), So my poor ol' copy of "the Dance" is collecting micro-inches of dust bunny breeding ground material

I think it does because The Dance's plethora of musicians tend to make it sound a tad muddled - at least to me.