Mirage at 40

[DownOnRodeo]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I mean, I should get a gold star.

That is a very good multi-point "did you ever notice". Gold star earned!

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by DownOnRodeo

That is a very good multi-point "did you ever notice". Gold star earned!

I want a Silver Star. And a Silver Spring.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

I want a Silver Star. And a Silver Spring.

I’ll give you Emmaline.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I’ll give you Emmaline.

Pfft... Frontline baby!

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Pfft... Frontline baby!

Pshaw...Deja vu!

[David]

Originally Posted by dougl

Mirage spent five weeks at #1 in the US

Five weeks? I thought it was at #1 for just one week. I mean, I was alive then and I remember one week. Do I need to follow the science and consult the data?

[David]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

But see, I’m still proud of my trivial observations:

In tempo and (sort of) theme Buckingham’s “Empire State” resembles Welch’s “The City,” which was also about NYC. Whereas Welch mines fear and paranoia, Buckingham goes for goofball valentine. Both feature killer guitar solos and both open the second side of the fourth studio FM record each guitarist contributed to during their respective tenures.

I think you have uncovered an Illuminati thing.

I mean, I should get a gold star.

How about a raspberry?

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by David

Five weeks? I thought it was at #1 for just one week. I mean, I was alive then and I remember one week. Do I need to follow the science and consult the data?

Yes, 5 weeks, that's according to Mick's book, and this page:

https://www.billboard.com/artist/fle...t-history/tlp/

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Pshaw...Deja vu!

Don't ever turn your head, cuz I'll be there instead!

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by David

I think you have uncovered an Illuminati thing.


How about a raspberry?

A raspberry! How dare you!

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Don't ever turn your head, cuz I'll be there instead!

We’re American Flyers, baby

[moon]

Come on, the whole Mirage, with demos and rarities, is GOLD!!!! You won't find that kind of songs in any other FM album. I mean, Empire State, Oh Diane, Goodbye Angel, Smile At You, Teen Beat, Blue Monday, Can't Go Back...
Lot of people have very mixed thoughts about them, but come on, you can't forget them! Even for something bad, you will remember them as "that crazy FM song", or "that song which needed to be included on...". Am I wrong??
Probably this album was not the most successful of the band, but has more rare and different songs than any other album. Rumours, Tusk and TITN had a very unique style. Mirage isn't.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by moon

Come on, the whole Mirage, with demos and rarities, is GOLD!!!! You won't find that kind of songs in any other FM album. I mean, Empire State, Oh Diane, Goodbye Angel, Smile At You, Teen Beat, Blue Monday, Can't Go Back...
Lot of people have very mixed thoughts about them, but come on, you can't forget them! Even for something bad, you will remember them as "that crazy FM song", or "that song which needed to be included on...". Am I wrong??
Probably this album was not the most successful of the band, but has more rare and different songs than any other album. Rumours, Tusk and TITN had a very unique style. Mirage isn't.

I love Mirage and agree the reissue gives us so many delights. I will disagree about Mirage not having a “unique style.” Regardless of the very different songs being thrown together all is unified through the production. The sound on Mirage is pure pop, generally major-key songs with catchy melodies and youthful lyrics. There’s a bubbly ebullience—and warmth. (Tango has all but the warmth.)

The production on each FM record since 1975 is distinct, so that each album sounds like an intentional album rather than a storehouse of songs. Even the White Album has a different sound than Rumours, though these two records are closest in style to one another.

[ricohv]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I love Mirage and agree the reissue gives us so many delights. I will disagree about Mirage not having a “unique style.” Regardless of the very different songs being thrown together all is unified through the production. The sound on Mirage is pure pop, generally major-key songs with catchy melodies and youthful lyrics. There’s a bubbly ebullience—and warmth. (Tango has all but the warmth.)

The production on each FM record since 1975 is distinct, so that each album sounds like an intentional album rather than a storehouse of songs. Even the White Album has a different sound than Rumours, though these two records are closest in style to one another.

Couldn't have said it better myself-I agree 100%!

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I love Mirage and agree the reissue gives us so many delights. I will disagree about Mirage not having a “unique style.” Regardless of the very different songs being thrown together all is unified through the production. The sound on Mirage is pure pop, generally major-key songs with catchy melodies and youthful lyrics. There’s a bubbly ebullience—and warmth. (Tango has all but the warmth.)

The production on each FM record since 1975 is distinct, so that each album sounds like an intentional album rather than a storehouse of songs. Even the White Album has a different sound than Rumours, though these two records are closest in style to one another.

I recall a review of the album at the time that called it a "music box" of sounds and I always thought that was a good way to put it... Metaphorically it is sort of a wind- up music box with lots of tinkly and plinky sorts of sounds and as you say, a bubbliness and cheeriness, even if lyrically some of the songs weren't as cheery (Gypsy is actually a bit dark, but the arrangement is most definitely not).