As Long As You Follow live?

[Macfan4life]

Its a great song. I was always confused why MTV never played the video or promoted the Mac's greatest hits. The video was in heavy rotation on VH1 at the time which played soft rock and adult contemporary songs. I was confused why the world was not interested in the "new" Mac and at least play the song. It was the first time the Rick/Billy Mac recorded with the band.
However, there is a reason why the band was very limited in promotion of the Greatest Hits package. Stevie was putting the finishing touches on OSOTM. During the Rockline interview with the band in December 1988, she predicted her solo album to come out in March. I don't think it came out until May. In any event, Stevie was in solo gear pretty much when the song was released. Which pretty much explains why the band never did it live or promoted it very much except for a video.

[MikeInNV]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Its a great song. I was always confused why MTV never played the video or promoted the Mac's greatest hits. The video was in heavy rotation on VH1 at the time which played soft rock and adult contemporary songs.

I think you've almost answered your own question. I seem to recall it was around that time where they were pushing a pretty hard distinction between MTV and VH1, the former being a rock channel for kids and the latter being softer sounds for adults. Fleetwood Mac were transitioning into "your parents' band" around then. They were a rock band in the seventies, so by the late eighties they were for old folks. And a song like "As Long As You Follow"--adult contemporary to the max--only helped that idea along.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by MikeInNV

I think you've almost answered your own question. I seem to recall it was around that time where they were pushing a pretty hard distinction between MTV and VH1, the former being a rock channel for kids and the latter being softer sounds for adults. Fleetwood Mac were transitioning into "your parents' band" around then. They were a rock band in the seventies, so by the late eighties they were for old folks. And a song like "As Long As You Follow"--adult contemporary to the max--only helped that idea along.

Yes of course, I knew that at the time. However, MTV was playing a ton of light pop songs that were also main plays on adult contemporary stations. I thought at the time because the Mac was such an established band they should not have been shunned by MTV. Just a few years earlier they heavily promoted Tango with their "Mac Attack."

[blinker12]

Glad to see others loving on this song!

I mean, the song reached #1 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. That’s a pretty big deal! So I’m extra surprised they didn’t perform this at least on the Behind the Mask tour.