If You Were My Love

markolas · #1 12-11-2004, 11:33 PM

So, I've been listening to the "tropical version" of this song an awful lot lately. It sounds like this was maybe recorded for Tango in the Night? They should've used this, it's great. Anyone else a fan of this song, or have any thoughts on it?

Hawkeye · #2 12-12-2004, 12:55 AM

Are you KIDDING

If You Were My Love is AMAZING, one of my top 5 favorite demos. But the TROPICAL version sucks so badly it makes me want to shoot myself to hear to what was done to that amazing song.

Josh2003 · #3 12-12-2004, 01:26 AM

I'm fairly certain that the "tropical" version is the Street Angel version. Her voice on that version sounds just like it does on the Street Angel tracks.

Johnny Stew · #4 12-12-2004, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh2003

I'm fairly certain that the "tropical" version is the Street Angel version. Her voice on that version sounds just like it does on the Street Angel tracks.

It's definitely a 'Street Angel' outtake... that whole "tropical version" nickname annoys me.

For the folks who feel Stevie doesn't always demonstrate the best judgement... well, at least she knew better than to release this sucker!

It's a beautiful song, lyrically... one of my favorites... but I have a deep dislike for this particular version.
Stevie's vocal is OK... except for a few off-key moments. Mainly she just doesn't sound too committed.
But the instrumentation and production are atrocious. And what's up with that salsa beat?

If that track is representative of the direction Glyn Johns wanted for the album, it's no wonder Stevie was horrified.

I hope she revisits the song for her next solo album or the next Mac album though... it's way too good to languish away in obscurity.

markolas · #5 12-12-2004, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

It's definitely a 'Street Angel' outtake... that whole "tropical version" nickname annoys me.

I never would've guessed Street Angel, but I guess I can see it now. Her voice sounds kind of wizzened and nasally on it, which is what made me think of Tango in the Night.

Quote:

It's a beautiful song, lyrically... one of my favorites... but I have a deep dislike for this particular version.
Stevie's vocal is OK... except for a few off-key moments. Mainly she just doesn't sound too committed.
But the instrumentation and production are atrocious. And what's up with that salsa beat?

I like that salsa beat. :P

Her vocal sounds really tired, I'll admit, so maybe that's why she didn't use it. So, how many versions of this song are there? I have this "tropical" one, and then I have a piano demo. Are there others?

sodascouts · #6 12-12-2004, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

It's definitely a 'Street Angel' outtake... that whole "tropical version" nickname annoys me.

Welll.... I am responsible for that nickname, lol. At the time I first posted it for download ages ago, I wasn't sure of the era and I needed something more descriptive than "Stevie Solo Demo #2." So I tagged it the "tropical version."

takenbythesky · #7 12-12-2004, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

It's definitely a 'Street Angel' outtake... that whole "tropical version" nickname annoys me.

For the folks who feel Stevie doesn't always demonstrate the best judgement... well, at least she knew better than to release this sucker!

It's a beautiful song, lyrically... one of my favorites... but I have a deep dislike for this particular version.
Stevie's vocal is OK... except for a few off-key moments. Mainly she just doesn't sound too committed.
But the instrumentation and production are atrocious. And what's up with that salsa beat?

Ugh...Soon as I heard this song, I thought "Street Angel outtake." The vocal is the thing that irritates me..."If you were my looOove...", "where is the wild white roOose?"... And, you're right, she does not sound very committed at all.

Johnny Stew · #8 12-12-2004, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sodascouts

Welll.... I am responsible for that nickname, lol. At the time I first posted it for download ages ago, I wasn't sure of the era and I needed something more descriptive than "Stevie Solo Demo #2." So I tagged it the "tropical version."

Ok, kiddies, pay attention as I do my most famous trick.... opening my mouth nice and wide, and sticking my ENTIRE foot in it!

Sorry, Nancy.

(I'm thanking my lucky stars that I only wear size-7s!

)

blinker12 · #9 12-13-2004, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markolas

So, how many versions of this song are there? I have this "tropical" one, and then I have a piano demo. Are there others?

There are TONS of versions of this song out there. Most are from the Bella Donna sessions and treat the song as a piano ballad, but there's also a rockin' version from the Mirage sessions and of course that dreadful "tropical" version from Street Angel.

I definitely prefer it as a ballad.

Here's SaraRhiannon's list:

piano demo #1 (5:17)
piano demo #2
Mirage outtake (4:52)
Street Angel outtake
Bella Donna undated master reel to reel:
take 1 (4:24)
take 2 (4:14)
take 3 (4:24)
take 4 (2:47)
take 5 (4:25)
take 6 (5:15)
take 7 (4:26)
Bella Donna master reel to reel (undated):
take one (5:25)
take two (5:38)
Bella Donna master reel to reel (undated):
take one (4:28)
take two (2:36)
take three (1:29)
take four (4:18)
take five (6:19)
remastered reels: take #1 (5:34)
remastered reels: take #2 (5:44)
remastered reels: acapella take (4:47)
2-20-81 master reel:
take 1, false start and complete take with some talking: (6:23)
incomplete take (3:11)
complete take (5:00)
acapella, full vocals (5:08)
3-10-81 master reel:
false start (1:21)
complete take (5:26)
incomplete take (2:27)
scaled down (8:13)