DISCUSSION: Christine's songs from Tango in the Night

[David]

Originally Posted by astro-addy

The thing about Tango is, its all about the production, chris has no pretense in her music, she just writes songs and they can just slot into any type of production because they are just good songs.

The reason Lindsey and especially stevie, didnt come off as well on tango is because they have so much pretense that it sometimes goes against the grain of the more "modern" production.

Hmmm...that's an interesting insight, & I shall think about it further.

It sort of reminds me of Robert Hilburn's comment, way back in 1980 in a Los Angeles Times review of a Fleetwood Mac concert at the Hollywood Bowl, that Christine's material has greater shelf life than either Lindsey's or Stevie's "more stylized" songs.

[vivfox]

My picks as follows(with help from another Ledgie)

1) Little Lies-ab fab
2) Mystified-brilliant
3) Isn't It Midnight - This song friggin' rocked live on the "Tango" tour. Rick's solo was killer and the rhythm section (as always!!!!!!) just absolutely nailed it.
4) Everywhere-tolerable, but annoying, especially the first 20 seconds
5) You and I Part II-this song doesn't even exist

[astro-addy]

Originally Posted by David

Hmmm...that's an interesting insight, & I shall think about it further.

It sort of reminds me of Robert Hilburn's comment, way back in 1980 in a Los Angeles Times review of a Fleetwood Mac concert at the Hollywood Bowl, that Christine's material has greater shelf life than either Lindsey's or Stevie's "more stylized" songs.

Thats definitely true of a lot of Lindseys material... Stevies problem is that Stevie Nicks cannot sound like anything other than Stevie Nicks.

I think that was one of the reasons Mirage didnt gel, Lindsey and chris were going for a certain vibe and their songs sound cohesive. Stevie is just being stevie, so her songs, while in my opinion are the best of the album, act as a spanner in the works and detract from the end product as a whole.

Tango avoided this, somewhat, by whitewashing over stevies nicksness with fancy studio trickery.

[David]

Originally Posted by astro-addy

Thats definitely true of a lot of Lindseys material... Stevies problem is that Stevie Nicks cannot sound like anything other than Stevie Nicks.

Totally agree.

I think that was one of the reasons Mirage didnt gel, Lindsey and chris were going for a certain vibe and their songs sound cohesive.

Yes, they're much more of a piece. Even as far back as "Tusk," Chris & Lindsey, by design or by coincidence, both take a minimalist approach in lyric writing & to a degree in instrumentation (allowing brief riffs to create casual vibes), & their tracks are more like siblings (with Lindsey's of course having the "brother" energy & Christine's having the "sister" energy). Stevie's songs are almost entirely in their own faraway world.

Stevie is just being stevie, so her songs, while in my opinion are the best of the album, act as a spanner in the works and detract from the end product as a whole.

I can't agree that "Gypsy" is a better song than "Hold Me." The latter's lyrics are cleverer, peppier, & wittier, & the song construction is tighter. What "Gypsy" has going for it is a breathtaking, beguiling orchestration, but credit for that goes to the whole band.

Tango avoided this, somewhat, by whitewashing over stevies nicksness with fancy studio trickery.

Yes. Word was that the album's esthetic approach & technology were ramped up in order to cover Stevie's absence. But that approach seems to have worked perfectly for the album's overall unity.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by David

I can't agree that "Gypsy" is a better song than "Hold Me." The latter's lyrics are cleverer, peppier, & wittier, & the song construction is tighter. What "Gypsy" has going for it is a breathtaking, beguiling orchestration, but credit for that goes to the whole band.

Well, the thing that both songs have going for them, are that they're both so brilliantly OVER-produced, that playing them live, almost wasn't possible. Live, both are/were so lame, compared to the recordings. Although I think Hold Me rocked, in such a RAW manner, that I loved it, even if the band didn't.

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by Gailh

Tango is one of my favourite FM albums. I know that Stevie was away with the fairies for most of it
Gail

I have a soft spot for Tango, as well, and I think it represents some of Christine's best work.

Isn't it Midnight -- LOVE this. I like that it has a harder edge than most of Chris's other songs. LB's guitarwork is great too.

Little Lies -- Just a perfect little pop song. I enjoy listening to it through headphones. Kudos to Lindsey on his production here; I especially like how the three of them are seemingly "calling" to each other in the chorus.

Mystified -- Pretty song, with nice harmonies.

Everywhere -- Better on the Dance.

You and I, Part II -- Not the strongest song by far, but yet I still like it. "Hoping tomorrow will never come, for you and I."

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by David

Word was that the album's esthetic approach & technology were ramped up in order to cover Stevie's absence. But that approach seems to have worked perfectly for the album's overall unity.

I never heard this. I just assumed they got all synthesizer and studio slick because they wanted to make a mid-80s sounding record in the mid-80s, to establish a certain musical relevance. The approach works best on Christine and Lindsey's material (though not always uniformly) probably because the band spent a heck of a lot more time shaping that than they did with Stevie's material. And, let's be honest here, Stevie's Tango songs--no matter what arrangement was given to them--were weak, career lows for her.

Tango has a unified sound, but that sound is a bit dated now. Songs like Little Lies and Big Love hold up because they are interesting and unusual. As Andrew Oldham once said: three ingredients for a hit are a good song, a good song, and a good song. Lindsey and Chris gave a lot of these on Tango.

[louielouie2000]

Christine's songs on Tango are just perfection, what else is there to say?

I know a lot of people don't like Mystified, but it's one of my all time favs. So beautiful and ethereal.

To me, Christine's songs are what truly defines this album, and makes it what it is. Everywhere & Little Lies are '80s icons. Isn't It Midnight is just such a sophisticated '80s pop rocker. Christine was probably at her utter height when this album was recorded. But then again, everything she's ever done is A+ material.

[TerraRhiannon]

I love the song Isn't it Midnight. Chris' voice is so beautiful in it.

[jbrownsjr]

Isn't It Midnight is simply a kickass tune!

[chiliD]

Mystified - To me, this sounds like Lindsey & Chris were purposely attempting to write a Bob Welch song. Seems like they used Heroes Are Hard To Find's "Safe Harbour" as the basis. Love this one.

Little Lies - Just a typical Christine tune ramped up by technology. Would like to hear a stripped down Tusk-like mix of it for comparison purposes.

Isn't It Midnight - one of my top 3 favorite Christine tunes. Lindsey pulls off his best guitar solo on record on this one.

Everywhere - like, but do not love, this song...it just sounds like a "hit". (Even like Chaka Khan's cover about as much as I do this original)

You & I, Part 2 - Not a big fan of this one (probably should've just written Christmas lyrics and made it into a Christmas song; it kind of has that feel)...prefer "Soul Drifter" off of Lindsey's Out Of The Cradle better...they sound like "twin songs, separated at birth". Of the "Part 1", "Part 2" "You & I"'s, I also prefer "Part 1" (the "Big Love" single B-side).

[MacShadowsBall]

Mystified, Isn't it Midnight, You and I Part II...

...count as Christine or collaboration...?

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by chiliD

Mystified - To me, this sounds like Lindsey & Chris were purposely attempting to write a Bob Welch song.

I never thought that, but I have typed Hypnotized when I've intended to say Mystified.

Michele

[jcalzaretta]

1. Isn't it Midnight
2. Little Lies
3. You and I, Part II
4. Everywhere
5. Mystified

[jbrownsjr]

1. Isn't It Midnight
2. Everywhere
3. Mystified
4. You and I part 1
5. You and I part 2
6. Ricky
7. Little Lies