The classic line-up of Fleetwood Mac, fronted by Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, broke in Australia when I was 16. Tusk, the third album recorded by the classic FM, was released almost exactly on my 20th birthday and of course I purchased a copy from the Brash’s outlet at Melbourne’s Northland shopping centre on the day of release. One of my favourite tracks on Tusk was “Storms”, written and sung by Stevie Nicks. However as I recall I didn’t quite think it was the best track on the album.
I “lost” my copy of Tusk, along with the rest of my vinyl record collection, during a house move in Sydney in the 1980s. Now, thanks to YouTube, I have renewed my acquaintance with “Storms” and indeed with much else recorded by Stevie and FM over the years.
Perhaps it’s a function of the difference between being 20 and being whatever age I am now (which can be deduced by anyone who knows when Fleetwood Mac broke in Australia), but I have now decided that “Storms” is the best song ever recorded by Fleetwood Mac and/or Stevie Nicks. Those who wish to venture an opinion on the matter are invited to listen to the song here.
No, the classic line-up was the one with Peter Green.
Oh well…
Heh.
‘Tusk’ is my favourite of the three really classic FM albums, and ‘Storms’ is probably the best song on it, although I also like ‘Sara’, ‘Sisters of the Moon’, ‘Angel’ and the Buckingham tracks are the necessary counterpoint to all those, culminating as they do in the brilliant silliness of the title track.
A close second to ‘Dreams’ IMHO, but my fave from Tusk.
Thanks Paul - gawd I loves me FM.
Indeed Shaun. “Albatross” was the best thing they ever did, closely followed by “Black Magic Woman”.
What is this tusk of which you speak?
Yeah, ‘Dreams’ is awesome, but Rumours is, unfortunately, overplayed - and I’ve never liked ‘Don’t Stop’ very much. I like the way the Stevie tracks are more like reiterations of some of the same themes/sounds/feelings across the three albums. You can trace little series’ of them. I could listen to the Mac all day - in fact I might do that.
‘Albatross’? ‘Black Magic Woman’? I’m feeling sleepy just thinking about them.
*Ducks*
No question about it in my mind. From the first hearing, and through hundreds of listens since then, I have never wavered in thinking ‘Storms’ the best song ever - and I’m not just talking about Fleetmac Mac songs. Just the perfect blend of everything.
You’re taking the piss, right Paul?
Reminds me of that plinking, whining, alt-country Canadian that Kim linked to last weekend and which I forgot to condemn.
It seems you’re in the belly of the ‘bad taste’ beast here, Tony. Plenty of plinking, whining and Stevie Nicks for me, thank you, and for which I make no apologies. I knew that there were alt-country enthusiasts around these parts, but it’s lovely to find some FM fans here too.
Less plinking, more piping, please.
Ugg.
More tanks, too.
Or the best live track, like, EVAH!
Tony @ 12 and 14: bloody grate stuff; @ 13, not so much.
Tony T,
Sorry - no. Morrisey and Marr for me. That said - the pipes do have something. I could never stand the asinine whining of FM.
Nah, the title track was way better than this. Who can resist jungle drums? Gosh, my feet are moving just from thinking about it.
I have a distinct preference for asinine whining over other forms of whining, but I do love The Smiths. Contrary to what we were all told during the 90s (until the end of that decade, when it was time to revive it all again), the 80s were, in fact, awesome.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Klaus,
Even the (normally) risible 70s had bright points.
Exhibit C.
I’m definitely with you there, Andrew, although I consider Joy Division to be both excellent and also quite overrated.
I’m with Shaun. Albatross for sure.
Albatross, Oh Well.
The Hellhounds play a fantastic cover of Oh Well down at the Esplanade in St Kilda (when they are there). Well worth the beer.
Thanks for the link Paul, very enjoyable tune.
‘Dreams’ for me though - for the harmonies mainly.
There’s a section of the Classic Albums Series episode on Rumours where the engineer drops the instruments out of the mix laeving only the voices. u-tube here
You need to go to about the 5:20 minute mark on this clip to get to the ‘acapella’ section, but to hear the three voices (and one overdubbed Stevie Nicks) together is worth it.
“Even the (normally) risible 70s had bright points.”
Come here and say that bucko. The risible bit, not the bright points.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=_zoi6O-cq9I
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=4vLewIZEsOw
FDB,
I think you said it all there.
I choose to interpret that as a concession of defeat.
When I was 16, the rotters wrote “sit on my face, stevie nicks” which you can hear here. A whole lotta fun.
If you are conceding defeat, I am happy it be read that way
If you are happy, I am sad.
And if you are left, I am right …
Well if this is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.
It seems we’ve exhausted the possibilities for contradicting ourselves, which leaves only one thing to solve it.
Danceoff!!!
Damn - I thought it was going to develop into a duet.
Just not this type …
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=M_0kKACp11Y
Thanks for that REYNOLDS!!!
Now I’ve had a dram of single malt to calm my jangled nerves, it’s time for some seventies magic everyone can enjoy…
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=cmUvVj2mxnY
Don’t worry folks, no Rickroll, no Van Damme’s penis, just good honest funk. Click away.
Speaking of Van Damme’s penis, or at least of nearby parts, an old friend of mine used to model in France, and wound up one night at a party where JCVD was trying to bribe girls with cocaine to come to his room and shave his nuts. Sucessfully in the end, although my friend is adamant she wasn’t involved.
True story. Maybe not the best idea to tell it, but that’s scotch for you.
Actually in this case it’s not, strictly speaking. While I’m rambling, I might as well share… Tasmanian single malt, Sullivan’s Cove. It’s not worth the money frankly, save for novelty value. Anyone out there in LP land tried any other Oz efforts?
Do drink Sullivan’s Cove I drink Hellyer’s Road…
Not a bad one - but not up to Laphroaig.
Hmmm - should proof it. You drink…
The 1970s
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=LauqYTSDJL4&feature=related
Sheesh Andrew - 46% vol!
No punches pulled there. What does it set you back?
There’s also Limeburners’ from Albany WA, but I haven’t tried it either.
Smooth and vanillery and not altogether unpeaty, FDB
Storms!? It’s like saying the best character in the Six Million Dollar Man is Oscar Goldman. It’s not Storms it’s fricking TUSK! Bap dappa dap dap
Hear hear Anthony! Not nearly enough love being shown for the incredible ‘Tusk’, which contains one of the greatest funkiest whiteboy basslines of all time and a ridiculously addictive rhythm guitar line…
But I’m still gonna go with ‘The Chain’ as the greatest FM tune, and colour me unoriginal, but ‘Rhiannon’ has to go at the top of my Stevie list.
Going back to my comment, the first Mac I heard was the Green/Spencer version. Hard to believe that they started off as a blues band and quite a good one. Loved Green’s guitar.
FDB,
Nothing - it was a present from a fellow Scotch lover, now resident near the distillery. Good freinds are worth a lot
Speaking of Stevie, here are two appearances he made on Sesame Street.
First off Superstition.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE
And secondly an ode to the show itself - BOTH performed live with a killer band, including one Lou Marini of The Blues Brothers Band on Sax.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q-GX2hOlNk
Hey Anthony - long time no read!
Thanks for the tasting notes - I think Limeburners will be moving nearer the top of my wishlist now.
Andrew - yes, a friend who understands the gift of scotch is a beautiful thing.
And Frank - I won’t follow your links because I’ve been down that rabbit hole recently already, and I’ve too much to do today!
This gets my vote.
.
You’re such a hippy Paul. C’arn explore the post-Rock world for five minutes. Four? Three? One?
If I recall correctly, FM were touring the US to (growing) huge audiences on the then sensational Rumours album - all packed into a stationwagon as the money was still a way off. From Mick Fleetwood’s autobiography, a good read if not done so, bringing the intimacy of the creative cycles sensitively home, and worth it just for the occasion to feel resolutely that some music can only be born once, and that you were on the planet at that time.
After the read, from being gymnastically involved in their creative and personal relationships, the re-union gig for this little black duck was a tour de force in same. Or, it was ten years ago.. perhaps it’s not now. But gee they lived their art.
FDB,
Frank’s links are much safer than mine. No JCVD to be seen anywhere.
Shaun @ 41: Peter Green used to be sensational, back in the day. He’s a mere shadow of his former self now - drugs and religion have done for him.
And Fleetwood Mac certainly were a kick-arse blues band, pre-Nicks.
FLEETWOOD MAC HAS RETAINED THEIR UNMATCHABLE TALENT WITH WHICH THEY STRUCK “PLATINUM” IN 1977′S RUMOUR’S. AT THAT TIME, IT BECAME THE #1 SELLING ALBUM IN MUSIC HISTORY (UNTIL 5 YEARS LATER). SINCE 1987′S “TANGO IN THE NIGHT” WE DID NOT SEE MAC AGAIN UNTIL 1997′S “DANCE”. DANCE SKY-ROCKETED BILLBOARD’S CHARTS. 6 YEARS LATER, F.MAC STRUCK THE UNITED STATES WITH AN ALBUM & TOUR TO FOLLOW…MAY 1,2003-APRIL 30, 2004’s “PEACEKEEPER” TOUR PLACED ANNUAL TICKET SALES SECOND, FALLING SHORT ONLY BEHIND “DAVE MATTHEWS BAND”. THE FOLLOWING DAY, MAY 1,2004 FLEETWOOD MAC BEGAN ANOTHER U.S. TOUR TITLED “SAY YOU WILL”. VENUE’S SOLD OUT, AMPHITHEATRES FILLED TO THE BACK LAWN. NOT TO DISCOUNT THE “GROUP”, BUT DID STEPHANIE LYNN NICKS NOT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH PLACING THIS BAND (ORIGIN 1960′S) ON THE MAP? F MAC’S FIRST, AND ONLY #1 BILLBOARD SINGLE, “DREAMS” WRITTEN BY MS NICKS…AND SPEAK OF STAYING POWER, “MS NICKS IS CURRENTLY ON TOUR , SOLELY SELLING OUT VENUES, RAIN OR SHINE. AT 60 YEARS OF AGE (MAY 26), , SHE PERFORMED TO HER FINEST AUGUST 2008. TAKING AMPHITHEATRE STAGE HOLDING AN UMBRELLA IN HER LEFT HAND AND A MICROPHONE IN HER RIGHT, WHILE DOING HER INFAMOUS TWIRLING AROUND IN HER TRADEMARK CAPE/GOWN/SHAWL, SHE DID EXACTLY WHAT THE TICKET STATED…”IT RAINED AND STEVIE SHINED”. NICKS REFLECTS HER KLONIPIN ADDICTION BETWEEN “87’s TANGO” AND 1994’s SOLO TOUR “STREET ANGEL” DID EFFECT HER WRITING TALENT & PERFORMANCES. WHEN THE CLOUD WENT AWAY, SHE REMAINED OUR SAME STEVIE. IF YOU COMMENT TO MY RESPONSE…PLEASE LET US KNOW WHO POSSIBLY ELSE FROM THE 70′S ERA, OTHER THAN ICON BARRY MANILOW, WRITES MUSIC, ENTERTAINS, CONTINUES ON IN HIGH DEMAND, PERFORMS WITH ENERGY/MOBILITY, AS 30 YEARS AGO. IF I TWIRLED AROUND 20X LIKE STEVIE, ABRUPTLY STOPPED, NOT ONLY COULD I NOT SING, BUT I WOULD FLAT FALL OVER. STEVIE NEVER MISSED A BEAT, MAYBE JUST ONE STEP AT RED ROCKS COLORADO WHEN SHE FELL OFF THAT SPEAKER. AS NICKS STATED, SHE DRANK AND SNORTED MINUTES BEFORE TAKING STAGE TAPING “LIVE @ RED ROCKS” BUT IS STILL AN EXCELLENT DVD THOUGH MUCH OF HER “ENTERTAINMENT WITH AMUSEMENT” SHE ADMITS WAS DUBBED WITH MANY SHOTS FROM HER MTV VIDEOS. AS WE WILL MISS “CHRISTINE LOVE MCVIE”, LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM HAS ANNOUNCED A FULL MAC BAND 2009 TOUR (BUT FAILED TO TELL THE OTHER MEMBERS IN THE GROUP). STEVIE FIRST, IN JUNE REFUSED TO BE A PART. AUGUST SHE WAS QUOTED “SHE WILL BE TOURING WITH J.McVIE, M.FLEETWOOD, L.BUCKINGHAM ONLY. CHRISTINE HAS BEEN INVITED BACK TO THE KEYBOARD FOR AN INCLUSIVE RITUAL CLOSING OF “SONGBIRD”. CHRISTINE HAS (AGAIN) DECLINED. MANY REFUSE TO NOT BE A PART OF THIS EVENT, AS 2009’s TOUR, POSSIBLY TITLED “FINAL ENCORE” WILL BE EXACTLY THAT.
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