Has anyone here NEVER heard the demo of Smile At You?

[David]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Well, so your vote is that it's FM playing. I think it's them, but it's a point of conflict.

Sounds like Lindsey & Mick on their respective instruments. Mick occasionally made recordings with Stevie's musician friends, but I don't think Lindsey did. As for the piano, it's exactly the same part played on the run-through a few years earlier. It isn't necessarily Christine-esque, but it isn't necessarily not, either. It's a repeating motive, hands close together part, which can be considered a Chris McVie practice.

I say it's FM. FM themselves say they tried tracking it during the Mirage sessions, but decided it was too "bitter" (or some such) for inclusion. You remember that.

What's kind of odd is that Ken Caillat says FM never tried it -- yet he knew about it. How would he have known about it if he hadn't heard FM try it? I think he was just mistaken.

We're at the point now (& I think we've been there for several years) where we can't completely trust the memories of anyone involved in FM work from those old years. Human beings are human beings, & they all get old & dotty. If you were to grab Hernan Rojas for a Q&A, he'd probably be fumbling around trying to remember things as they happened, too.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by David

I say it's FM. FM themselves say they tried tracking it during the Mirage sessions, but decided it was too "bitter" (or some such) for inclusion. You remember that.

Yes. Stevie said it in 1982.

Michele

[JeannieKartis]

Originally Posted by vivfox

Since you've never heard any of the demos for Smile At You, what is your opinion of the song on the Say You Will album? I'm curious because everyone who has heard any of its demos always like the demo better than the released track.

The demo kicks it..the version on SYW totally loses its passion....

[BellaDonna93]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

I feel so sorry for the poor souls who have never heard that demo. It is pure magic.

I totally agree with you, Danni!!! The Smile At You "Angry" demo is one of the best demos she's ever done, I mean, just listen to the feeling in her voice and in the lyrics It's, as you said, pure magic...

[wheart]

the demo I've heard, dubbed the "angry version" is possibly one of Stevie's greatest vocals ever. I love it when she's pissed and you can just hear the anger in every single note.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by LukeA

Demo is unnecessarily abrasive all-around.. instrumentation is cliche at best, and Stevie's vocals never deviate from the replication of the sound of a car trying to start in a snowstorm. UNLISTENABLE.

Well, God-Damned, Luke! You & I acutally agree on this point!

Pfftt! I have NO hope for those who think "the angry version" is anything more than an out of control MESS of a vocal track. So WHAT if she was pissed off, it doesn't make a good vocal track in ANY stretch of the imagination...OR reality. The only thing "magical" about it is how it has gotten so many people think it's so wonderful. Pass the barf bag, PLEASE!!

AND, none of the "demos" that I've heard have that John McVie bass line that absolutely just MAKES the SAY YOU WILL version so superb.

[markolas]

The "angry" demo is a fiery performance for sure, but I honestly don't think the song itself is that great. I mean, I can't help but laugh every time I hear Stevie sing about her "flaming walls."

I need to listen to this album again - I haven't heard it in forever, but apparently there is a whole group of new Ledgies who were in kindergarten when it came out, and there's more conversation on here about it now than in 2003.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by markolas

The "angry" demo is a fiery performance for sure, but I honestly don't think the song itself is that great. I mean, I can't help but laugh every time I hear Stevie sing about her "flaming walls."

I'd have to agree that the song itself, any version, is not really exceptional in my book. I mean, I think I like the idea of it, but nothing about the actual song itself ever floored me. I like it well enough though. It just wouldn't make a list of favorites.

Michele

[TrueFaith77]

Originally Posted by chiliD

AND, none of the "demos" that I've heard have that John McVie bass line that absolutely just MAKES the SAY YOU WILL version so superb.

So true.

I think John's presence can really be felt on a lot of Stevie's tracks on this album -- to their benefit.

Also, as I recall, chili, you usually rank "Smile At You" as the album's best track.

[David]

Originally Posted by michelej1

I'd have to agree that the song itself, any version, is not really exceptional in my book. I mean, I think I like the idea of it, but nothing about the actual song itself ever floored me.

The opening couplet --

Go on, save yourself
Leave the key here

-- is the best two lines Nicks ever wrote, by light years. You & I could spend hours analyzing it stylistically & thematically, but that would be boring. Suffice it to say that it's the most devastatingly succinct expression Nicks ever put into words. It's so unlike her. In fact, I'm inclined to believe she stole it from something or other.

The twiddly orchestration of this work on the Fleetwood Mac album is grotesque. It's nux vomica. It probably spreads swine flu, too. The lead vocal is worse than anything on the Mirror album, as well.

[markolas]

Originally Posted by David

The opening couplet --

Go on, save yourself
Leave the key here

Except that it doesn't make sense within the context of the next two lines:

You love someone else
I shouldn't be here

Oh, I just listened to the SYW version and remembered what irked the hell out of me about this song (besides the above). It's the lyrics "I should have turned away and ran as fast as I can." I should have been an English teacher, I think.

Stevie's vocal is a bit strained, but I like the song otherwise. Except for the fact that I can't help thinking she's singing about a UTI.

[Black_Moon]

Originally Posted by markolas

Except that it doesn't make sense within the context of the next two lines:

You love someone else
I shouldn't be here
Oh, I just listened to the SYW version and remembered what irked the hell out of me about this song (besides the above). It's the lyrics "I should have turned away and ran as fast as I can." I should have been an English teacher, I think.

Stevie's vocal is a bit strained, but I like the song otherwise. Except for the fact that I can't help thinking she's singing about a UTI.

I know what you mean, she should have said --

'You love someone else,
You shouldn't be here'

Who are we to question Stevie's warped logic though?

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

So Also, as I recall, chili, you usually rank "Smile At You" as the album's best track.

The more I listen to the album, that "best track" changes upon just about each listen, but it's always in the Top 3 or 4....but, 7 times out of 10 it's #1.

I definitely think her good songs are really good...but, her bad songs are REALLY bad and Lindsey's "bad" songs are still pretty decent.

[fleetwoodtrick]

If you have not heard this demo, I pray for you. Because you have not lived.



Please, the play button is calling you.

[starshine]

I love the 'angry' version also of Smile At You.....but I've always thought it was a Mirage 'outtake' more than a demo. We do tend to use the word demo too much. There are also alternate versions/Masters of course/outtakes ....many many outtakes of various songs/than there is the unpolished demos/extended versions....I guess the list can go on & on really? Of course there is a shorter Tusk SAY as well but I prefer the Mirage version.....not a fan of the SYW version.....esp the lyric changes ugh.....anyway....thats IMO........