"Smile At You" - Demo or SYW version

[LiquidBlue5000]

Originally Posted by Kelly

Oh boy, much as I hate to agree with LiquidBlue, I have to do it here.

come on, u know u love me

[gldstwmn]

Does anyone know what she is saying in the beginning of the Mirage demo? I mean when she is speaking? She sounds pissed.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Does anyone know what she is saying in the beginning of the Mirage demo? I mean when she is speaking? She sounds pissed.

I think she says "Think about feelings for once in your life"....ouch! Could that possibly be directed at Lindsey.

[vermicious knid]

BAM magazine: September 11, 1981

BAM: What did you contribute to the next Fleetwood Mac album?

Stevie Nicks: I have three songs as it stands now, but I think we may replace one of them with another song. . . . . . There was also a song called "Smile at You" that I don't think we'll put on. I think Lindsey wants me to record another one and so do I. It's kind of a bitter song and that's really not where any of us are at right now, even thought it's a wonderful song.

Just use your best material, Stevie!

[Johnny Stew]

I still find it interesting that Ken Caillat claims Fleetwood Mac never recorded this. That it is, instead, a Stevie solo demo that she wanted FM to do, but that Lindsey balked at.
It doesn't seem possible that Ken could be correct about this, and yet he seemed totally convinced that was the case.

From the Penguin's Q&A with Ken Caillat....

Hi Ken, thanks for your time. There is a song of Stevie's called 'Smile At You'. I've heard a few different versions of this tune but there is one kick-ass take that sounds like it fell right off the 'Rumours' album. Do you remember anything about this tune? And if you do, find it and get it released! Thanks again. (Doug Levasseur, Providence, Rhode Island, USA)

Good question! I do remember Stevie's song "Smile at You". It's great! It was done as a demo with her friends. This was all Stevie. I can't remember who the guitar player was but he nailed Lindsey's parts. Was it ever put on record? I like it now that I'm the one asking questions. I just called Leo, and he doesn't know of a "Smile at You". I've got her demo at the studio, I'll look into it. Thanks!

Hi Ken! Thank you so much for taking your time to answer our silly questions! This means more to all of us fans than we can say. My question is, why was the song "Smile At You" left off of both Tusk and Mirage? In my opinion, this is Stevies most powerful song ever. Will we ever hear from it? Again, thank you so much! (Louie Golden, Sanford, North Carolina, USA)

Hello Louie: I think answered a question about "Smile at You " yesterday. Smile at You was a great song, but it was never recorded for Mirage or Tusk. Stevie played that for me, it was a demo she had done at home with some musician friends. I remember suggesting to Lindsey that we record "Smile at You". I think he was put off with some of the musicians used by Stevie. Anyway he didn't want to record it.

[GardenStateGirlie]

I would say I like them both equally. However, I feel her demo -- I mean, wow -- it's fierce. Vocally, I think she's incredibly strong and what she lacks in technique (because it's more of her just screaming and working the vocal out, IMO but I love it) she makes up for in emotion.

[Serrart]

I love every version of it, as with all great songs, I always like to discover how many faces they can have.

Romy

[SapphireSister]

Smile At You has never been a favorite song but I MUCH prefer the demo. It's more rocking and her vocals are spectacular and the emotion is raw. In most cases I prefer the album versions to demos for 2 reasons: 1) I like production and it's sometimes hard for me to get into a song when it's just instruments and vocals without any production and 2) I heard all of the album version before I ever heard any demos so I got used to them. It may have been different if I heard the demos before the album versions although I do prefer some demo versions.
They SYW version of SAY is boring to me. I can't believe the songs of hers that were picked for Mirage over this, although I can see how it may have caused some controversy amongst the band members and press, etc.
I do however like the SYW version of Goodbye Baby over The Tower demo. It is a very deep, dark, emotional song and the Tower demo is sung higher and the music is more upbeat. I like that the music and vocals on the SYW version are more intense and haunting. It seems to fit the theme and the lyrics better.

[lagringader&r]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I still find it interesting that Ken Caillat claims Fleetwood Mac never recorded this. That it is, instead, a Stevie solo demo that she wanted FM to do, but that Lindsey balked at.
It doesn't seem possible that Ken could be correct about this, and yet he seemed totally convinced that was the case.

From the Penguin's Q&A with Ken Caillat....

Hi Ken, thanks for your time. There is a song of Stevie's called 'Smile At You'. I've heard a few different versions of this tune but there is one kick-ass take that sounds like it fell right off the 'Rumours' album. Do you remember anything about this tune? And if you do, find it and get it released! Thanks again. (Doug Levasseur, Providence, Rhode Island, USA)

Good question! I do remember Stevie's song "Smile at You". It's great! It was done as a demo with her friends. This was all Stevie. I can't remember who the guitar player was but he nailed Lindsey's parts. Was it ever put on record? I like it now that I'm the one asking questions. I just called Leo, and he doesn't know of a "Smile at You". I've got her demo at the studio, I'll look into it. Thanks!

Hi Ken! Thank you so much for taking your time to answer our silly questions! This means more to all of us fans than we can say. My question is, why was the song "Smile At You" left off of both Tusk and Mirage? In my opinion, this is Stevies most powerful song ever. Will we ever hear from it? Again, thank you so much! (Louie Golden, Sanford, North Carolina, USA)

Hello Louie: I think answered a question about "Smile at You " yesterday. Smile at You was a great song, but it was never recorded for Mirage or Tusk. Stevie played that for me, it was a demo she had done at home with some musician friends. I remember suggesting to Lindsey that we record "Smile at You". I think he was put off with some of the musicians used by Stevie. Anyway he didn't want to record it.

One word for Lindsey Buckingham. EGO.

[Mad4stevie]

Originally Posted by Christopher

I think she says "Think about feelings for once in your life"....ouch! Could that possibly be directed at Lindsey.

Yes, that is exactly what she says!

For me, the demo version is much better than the official version, although I can appreciate the SYW version, too.

Her "flaaaaaaaaamin" at the end is GREAT!!

I was so pleased when the "masters" of SYW surfaced. The sound quality is much better than the other demos that I had listened to previously.

[tlssln]

Originally Posted by EnchantedSLN

I prefer the demo version. The SYW one is ok, but it's one of the songs I tend to skip on that cd now. I think I would have been a lot more impressed with it had I never heard the greatness that was the original. I appreciate what Lindsey & the rest of the band members did with it (I wouldn't have wanted them to try to re-create the demo version), but that song will always be one big missed opportunity to me.

I totally agree. I think the SYW version is neutered lyrically probably because of LB's fragile ego.

[tlssln]

Originally Posted by vermicious knid

It is important to point out the difference in the Tusk demo and the Mirage demo. The Mirage "angry" demo is stellar and anybody who prefers the tepid SYW version is on crack.

LMAO. Indeed.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by tlssln

I totally agree. I think the SYW version is neutered lyrically probably because of LB's fragile ego.

You mean because the song isn't about him?

[tlssln]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

You mean because the song isn't about him?

No, because it is about him.

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by tlssln

No, because it is about him.

Really? I always thought it was about someone else.

- Jake