LB Says FM: With or Without Sheryl

[Nico]

This is such awesome news! And even more shocking (to me) because he says he has no interest in producing whatever FM project may result...big step for Lindsey. Yay!!! I'm over-the-moon if this goes through!!!

[shackin'up]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

.which is why he'd be GREAT for Stevie.

I still say Jim O'Rourke.

What's great for Stevie must be great for FM. If lindsey is stepping back, it'll be great for him too. Or even better: great for them WRITING together. That's why I say Rubin. Although I still think that O'Rourke or Jack White would be the perfect match for Lindsey Solo.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Nico

because he says he has no interest in producing whatever FM project may result

I don't believe that. But if he is not miserable and feeling oppressed letting someone else do it, then great. I just hope he's happy. He said the record company (back when he still had one) suggested an outside producer for his next solo album. So, it's an idea he's had time to play with and digest. Full steam ahead. Michele

[danax6]

So, it seems like Stevie's whip still works.

Any time I read or hear 'new material' my heart skips a few beats. Bring it on, but please veto Sheryl Crow.

[John Run]

I find the not producing thing kind of laughable. Those of us who have watched this band for a while have heard that before. In 1987 Lindsey was going to let someone else produce Tango in the Night. 3 weeks into it the producer, Jason Corsaro, was headed home and Lindsey took over the reigns. Every album with this line up from Rumours on, Lindsey has been the point man on producution and the principle sonic architect. He is too much of a control freak when it comes to music. He can't let it go, even when from afar if he thinks it might be a good idea. It just won't happen. Maybe a co -produced project with someone else to provide some balance and contrast, but Lindsey as just the guitar player and vocalist, having someone else tell him how to play his parts, or doing the vocal arrangements on FM songs? Nope.

[David]

Originally Posted by John Run

I find the not producing thing kind of laughable. Those of us who have watched this band for a while have heard that before. In 1987 Lindsey was going to let someone else produce Tango in the Night. 3 weeks into it the producer, Jason Corsaro, was headed home and Lindsey took over the reigns. Every album with this line up from Rumours on, Lindsey has been the point man on producution and the principle sonic architect. He is too much of a control freak when it comes to music. He can't let it go, even when from afar if he thinks it might be a good idea. It just won't happen. Maybe a co -produced project with someone else to provide some balance and contrast, but Lindsey as just the guitar player and vocalist, having someone else tell him how to play his parts, or doing the vocal arrangements on FM songs? Nope.

I completely agree with John Run. Lindsey might talk about another producer, but he won't let another producer stay on in the primary role. Jason Casaro, an engineer, was handed his walking papers in 1986; & even serious talk of getting Nile Rodgers of Chic (a guy with a great ear & a proclivity for miniaturist orchestration) resulted in nothing -- undoubtedly because of Lindsey himself. This is a guy who, for all his adult life, has had a compulsion to oversee his own projects & those of Fleetwood Mac (as long as he's been a member). It isn't just something he can flip on & off like a light switch. It's a fundamental facet of his personality. I know he's been in therapy, but no therapy is that good. He is not going to relegate himself to the position that, say, Stevie or John is in: Record this & that & then go home. It would be like asking an eye surgeon to assist with a tooth extraction in a dentist's office.

[danax6]

^Lindsey's appeasing. For now.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by David

He is not going to relegate himself to the position that, say, Stevie or John is in: Record this & that & then go home. It would be like asking an eye surgeon to assist with a tooth extraction in a dentist's office.

That's fine. The question then becomes what is going to happen to FM when Lindsey and the outside producer inevitably lock heads? Will they scrap the FM album, because Stevie doesn't want another repeat of SYW or, by that time, will they be too far invested in the album for the band to back out and will they have to forge ahead with Lindsey? If it's the latter -- then Lindscrafter's Machiavellian plan will have worked and all will be right with the world. If it's the former, then the fans will lose big time.

Michele

[SandyMac]

Originally Posted by danax6

So, it seems like Stevie's whip still works.

The imagery of that statement opens up so many thread jack possibilities.

[Betsy]

A new album, a few solo concerts, and working with the Mac?

He puts the Energizer Bunny to shame.

(Or is it the image of Stevie's whip?)

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by michelej1

That's fine. The question then becomes what is going to happen to FM when Lindsey and the outside producer inevitably lock heads?

Well, I think that's a pretty negative attitude. Yes, he's disagreed with producers in the past, but perhaps it's different this time, now that he's had a chance to put out a couple of solo albums and do solo tours where he is the undisputed master of his domain; he got it out of his system. For all we know, maybe he's tired of 'being inside of his own head' and thus receptive to doing things a bit differently. I can certainly relate to feeling paralyzed with decisions; sometimes it's just healthy to hand over the reins to someone you trust.

Will they scrap the FM album, because Stevie doesn't want another repeat of SYW or, by that time, will they be too far invested in the album for the band to back out and will they have to forge ahead with Lindsey? If it's the latter -- then Lindscrafter's Machiavellian plan will have worked and all will be right with the world. If it's the former, then the fans will lose big time.

Why do you think Lindsey is hellbent on leaving FM? If anything, he seems to be the one most vocally championing new FM projects. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Lindsey was the one dangling Sheryl Crow on a stick in front of Stevie to lure her back into the fold. He really wants to make this happen, and I think he will do whatever it takes because it reinforces his faith in cycles!

Although I like the thought of Sheryl in the band as a singer/songwriter/musician, I think she sucks as a producer. Accordingly, I hope, through her associations, she is good for referrals- Bill Bottrell, Tchad Blake, Mitchell Froom, and yes, John Shanks would be wonderful options in my opinion. In fact, I believe Lindsey was the one giving Shanks kudos for figuring out what to do with Stevie's more eccentric songs.

[DavidMn]

Jesus, there's so much great news to process in this article. I feel like I have an ice cream headache!

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Why do you think Lindsey is hellbent on leaving FM? If anything, he seems to be the one most vocally championing new FM projects.

I don't think Lindsey is bent on leaving FM. In fact, that's exactly the opposite of what I think.
Michele

[Phoenix]

[QUOTE=HejiraNYC;748266] I wouldn't be surprised if Lindsey was the one dangling Sheryl Crow on a stick in front of Stevie to lure her back into the fold. He really wants to make this happen, and I think he will do whatever it takes because it reinforces his faith in cycles!
QUOTE]

That was great. Any reference to Lindseys faith in cycles never fails to get me goin.

[GoldDustOrphan]

First choice: Rick Rubin, followed by Brian Eno, Linda Perry, Nigel Godrich, Scott Litt, Brendan O'Brien, Steve Lillywhite, Don Was and Ken Caillat, not because of nostalgia, but he did just produce a platinum album for his daughter Colbie Caillat, whose song "Bubbly" is a massive top 10 hit. Of course, Richard Dashut would have to be there.

Just for fun studio-hijinks, Swedish hitmaker Martin Karl "Max Martin" Sandberg who was also ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year for three years in a row, 1999 - 2001. He wrote & produced all the massive hits for Britney Spears (Hit Me Baby One More Time), Backstreet Boys (I Want it That Way) and N'SYNC (Tearing Up My Heart), before readjusting his sound to write & produce solid commercial pop rock smashes for Kelly Clarkson - Since You Been Gone & Behind These Hazel Eyes. The he salvaged Pink's last CD with two unexpected top ten hits, U+R Your Hand and Who Knew (a song I actually loved) and he co-wrote Daughtry's new hit single, Feels Like Tonight.

Could you imagine him in the studio with LB? It would be like a bad French farce, with lots of slamming doors, odd-balls sound-effects and two grimaced leads prone to awkward physical comedy that can't understand each other. Stevie would just sit and watch - copy of Cat Fancy in one hand, sugar-free Red Bull in the other - maintaining a permanent, detached grin, not because LB has to endure suggestions from the "architect" of Britney/Backstreet/N'SYNC, but because she knows Martin can probably craft a contemporary pop/rock hit (with a big, money-shot chorus) using something from her demo vault.

p.s. I do not want Sheryl Crow to touch a single knob on that soundboard. To be safe, I don't want her to each touch the doorknob to the studio. To be nice, FM can let her think she's singing guest harmony on a track or two, but then they can just overdub Stevie or Sharon's voice. Crow won't even notice. She can open for FM on a big tour and perhaps join them on-stage for Don't Stop and maybe World Turning if she behaves herself. Sheryl Crow......Doesn't Stevie have any really cool rock diva friends her own age? Can't she hang out with that nice Ann Wilson? Or even that lovely Benatar girl from down the street? Debbie Harry would be a bad influence and it's impossible to get Linda Rondstat off ebay, but Annie Lennox was just dropped from her label and I wouldn't mind hearing her sing Songbird....