Do you prefer Landslide with the backup vox or without?

David · #1 03-10-2006, 01:24 PM

So, which type of Landslide do you prefer?

A. With the backup vox on the chorus, as adopted from the Timespace Tour & used on the Gold Dust Tour?

B. Without the backup vox, as employed on every Fleetwood Mac tour & a couple of earlier solo tours?

To me, the backup voices have a pretty harmonic arrangement to sing, but the timbre of the two or three women sopranos gets a little screechy. I actually prefer the backups on that 1991 Venice performance in California when one of the guys--a bass--sang behind Stevie during the chorus.

trackaghost · #2 03-10-2006, 01:29 PM

Without back-up vocals. To me the beauty of the song is its simplicity, the emotion comes through much better that way. Dress it up to much and it loses something IMO

chiliD · #3 03-10-2006, 01:32 PM

I like it with a Techno-Dance beat...full orchestra and slightly sharp background vocals.

amber · #4 03-10-2006, 01:36 PM

I agree with you, David. The last time I heard them (Aus.?) I hated them for the reason you said. They were too much and got screechy. I don't want Stevie's quirky timbre to be totally overshadowed by clear pure anonymous sounding voices - although a little harmony sounds nice, to help blend the edges of Stevie's quirky timbre and beautify it a bit. But if I chose, I would definitely choose none.

jannieC · #5 03-10-2006, 01:38 PM

I haven't enjoyed Landslide live for many years, but if I had to choose, I would say without back-up vocals. It changes the whole meaning of the song for me.

Sahara · #6 03-10-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Without back-up vocals. To me the beauty of the song is its simplicity, the emotion comes through much better that way. Dress it up to much and it loses something IMO

Absolutely. The first time I heard it with backup vocals was on the Today Show last September. I was

. It loses so much.

Then again maybe the lack of Lindsey contributed to that reaction ...

Sorry

SortaSavageLike · #7 03-10-2006, 06:20 PM

The more stripped down, the better. The keyboard from the studio version is alright, but the live versions from the 70s sound a bit, umm, chintzy in places. Why would a song about isolation need background vocals? Hell, it's one of the few Fleetwood Mac songs that doesn't have a three-part (or two part) harmony of any kind!

Maybe I'm just frustrated with the Dixie Chicks butchery of it. Did it really need a slap-happy three-part harmony, a mandolin, a tinny drum beat, and gooey-gooey production? Christ, did they ever pile a huge load of unnecessary **** onto their cover!

Sahara · #8 03-10-2006, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SortaSavageLike

Maybe I'm just frustrated with the Dixie Chicks butchery of it. Did it really need a slap-happy three-part harmony, a mandolin, a tinny drum beat, and gooey-gooey production?

They did .... what?

JazmenFlowers · #9 03-10-2006, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sahara

They did .... what?

you've never heard that? ugh...I hated it. the only good thing about that cover is the exposure and money for Stevie, imo

my vote is for versions a la the Live album version

StreetAngel86 · #10 03-10-2006, 06:28 PM

probably one of my least fave songs
but it is totally listenable live WITHOUT backing vocals
ie just S&L on stage

danax6 · #11 03-10-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

you've never heard that? ugh...I hated it. the only good thing about that cover is the exposure and money for Stevie, imo

my vote is for versions a la the Live album version

I agree and I agree. The Dixie Chicks turned Landslide into a way too cheery and chipper song, it makes me want to scream everytime I hear it. And the Landslide version on the Live album is just gorgeous IMO. I don't understand why people have problems with that one, saying her vocals were off. She sounds damn sexy to me.

Oh, I prefer it without the backup vox also. Definitely.

JazmenFlowers · #12 03-10-2006, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danax6

the Landslide version on the Live album is just gorgeous IMO.

ITA. I love the way her voice cracks and it is dripping with emotion.

DavidMn · #13 03-11-2006, 03:42 PM

Just Stevie herself.

Serrart · #14 03-11-2006, 06:46 PM

Without the back up voices. I like them, but only with Stevie the song keeps a sharp semplicity that makes it timeless, IMO.

Romy

David · #15 03-11-2006, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danax6

And the Landslide version on the Live album is just gorgeous IMO. I don't understand why people have problems with that one, saying her vocals were off. She sounds damn sexy to me.

Yeah, she sounds cool. I don't know which night from London it was. It's a shame we don't have "Landslide" on the London audience tape (6.22.80) -- all we have is:

Say You Love Me
The Chain
Don't Stop
Dreams
Oh Well
Rhiannon
Oh Daddy
That's Enough for Me
I'm So Afraid
World Turning
Go Your Own Way
Sisters of the Moon
Songbird

My Rotterdam (6.13.80) & Cologne (6.04.80) tapes are put away. Can somebody post "Landslide" from either or each of those so we can compare another June "Landslide" with the one on the album?