Brown Eyes

[hildymac]

Geeze, it's been probably 2 years or more since I've been on the forums. Anyways, glad to finally have the time to be back and posting on a, duh, Christine-related thread. I think that, as a whole, these are Chris's strongest songs... she was on such an amazing creative roll during Tusk. "Brown Eyes" is just amazing, and it's got the added perk of being a great driving song, what with the bass and all. "Never Forget," "Honey Hi," "Forget About Me..." I could go on and on and rave about her tracks on this album. Heck, I could go on and rave about *all* of her tracks, esp. the ones on Bare Trees and Mystery to Me. To the person who just bought BT, it'll grow on you, but "Spare me a Little" is hands down (other than "Why" from MtM) my favorite song of her's. I'm thrilled she's working on a new solo CD (here's hoping for some blues), but I really do miss her presence on the new FM CD. I know I can hear her harmonies on "SYHA" and "BTLH" but that's it... I guess that's why those are my favorite tracks.
Ta!
Laura

[DownOnRodeo]

Christy - it's funny you mention how Peter Green features on the outro to Brown Eyes, becuase in the Penguin Q&A the reply was that he didn't. But then some opinion was that the Q&A wasn't answered by him personally, so who knows. One thing's for sure - it sounds like Peter Green!!

Eric - I think yoiu'l find Brown Eyes (as one reviewer remarked) was done almost just for 'the production;. I don't think it was meant to be wordy or particularly meaningful - just "groovy", like a dance track . Who would have thought that a chorus of just "Sha la la" would pay off ... when you read the lyrics it doesn't look like much chop. But when that second layer of "Ooh"s kicks in and ascends, it's magic.

[jeffles]

I've read in several sources that Green is playing the guitar piece at the end. It sounds great and it compliments such a great song. I would tend to agree that Christine was at the top of her game on Tusk. Interesting how none of her songs became major hits. The only minor hit, Think About Me, though not bad, is probably her weakest song on there.

[stefan]

Well it seems I am the only one in this thread that doesn't agree on this topic.
Tusk is a fantastic album- my favorit FM LP. Except of the Christine tracks. Somehow these songs for me never really belonged to the album. That means I immediately made a tape of Tusk without her songs except of "Think about me". There is a great balance between the superb Lindsey tracks and Stevies contributions. Christines songs did not fit into this balance and to the concept of this album imo. I always regarded her tracks on Tusk as completely shallow and mediocre and simply could not stand them. Especially- Brown eyes...
Well O.K. a lot of people here like her contributions to Tusk, so that`s all about taste. There are other ones she made , that I like more.

[Les]

Originally posted by DownOnRodeo
Christy - it's funny you mention how Peter Green features on the outro to Brown Eyes, becuase in the Penguin Q&A the reply was that he didn't. But then some opinion was that the Q&A wasn't answered by him personally, so who knows. One thing's for sure - it sounds like Peter Green!!

I think it's been confirmed by more than a couple of sources that he was there. But it's possible that Peter, after some of the difficulties he's been through, just simply doesn't remember playing on it.

[chiliD]

Ya gotta remember that 1979 wasn't a really good time for Peter Green, healthwise (according to both Mick's book and Jet Celmins' bio of Peter).

It is very apparent that he doesn't remember playing on the track. My thought is that since (according to Mick's book) Peter was hanging out in LA and with the band in 1978/79, he probably was at the studio and was just noodling around along with some of the tracks that they were recording. Somebody might've just slapped a mic in front of Peter's guitar amp and recorded his noodlings without his knowledge. Hence, his denial of playing on the track. But, the fact is, that guitar at the fade out IS Peter.


As far as stefan's point about Chris' songs "never really belonged to the album"---I disagree. Tusk made the differences in their three writing styles more pronounced. Also, I fail to see the "balance" between Lindsey's songs & Stevie's contributions...they're as night & day as ever, if not MORESO. It was Christine's tunes that gave the album its "balance".

The inclusion of "Brown Eyes" during the 1987/88 tour was just incredible, my favorite version is from that tour. It was part of the greatest "three-song stretch" in any Fleetwood Mac show I've ever seen:

HAEWAFY (just Stevie at the mic, Christine on piano...awesome!)
I Loved Another Woman (only Mick, John & Rick) segueing seamlessly into:
Brown Eyes (with full band...how'd Billy, Stevie & Christine get back on stage unnoticed?)

[DownOnRodeo]

Originally posted by trackaghost
I can't believe I forgot that one, Never Forget is one of my absolute faves!

trackaghost - you should Never Forget!!

[cliffdweller]

Originally posted by trackaghost
I just love Tusk, everyone was at the top of their game on that record, Lindsey, Stevie and Chris too definitely. I think there isn’t one weak track on the record, it’s just so perfect IMO. Its strange too than it sounds rather sparse and minimal, yet quite intricate, dreamy and spacious. Does that sound weird?
Anyway I always loved Chris’ songs on that record, I reckon they are her very best. Think About Me, Honey Hi, Brown Eyes, Over And Over... all amazing!

And Tamara, I love the quotes you have for your signature. So true!



~Sharon~

I totally agree, Tusk does showcase Chris's best material. However, I don't know about Tusk being flawless: one song I skip over and over is "Not That Funny" it's just too much, Lindsey is way too mean spirited on that one. It's like he's spitting venom at Stevie or something (I don't even know if it's about Stevie but it makes sense that it is). Anyway, I can't take it. The rest of the songs on Tusk are fabulous though.