Chill Factor Videos

  Take a look outside you guys.  It's rainy, windy and so muggy that when I breathe in air I'm thinking its soup. Disgusting.  Sure, its a gross day out, but its a perfect excuse to sit back and watch some epic Fleetwood Mac performances don't ya think? 

  And that's exactly what I'm going to do. If you guys read the post below, you would see that I have been watching Fleetwood Mac videos for a while now.  Weird? -maybe,  but its one of my favorite habits that I never see myself breaking.  There is something about watching a good rock and roll performance that gets me.   
  Whether its live or on video, Fleetwood Mac always seems to deliver and that is why I am going to give you all some links to the best live Fleetwood Mac performances out there.  These live performances give me chills every time I watch them.  So watch the videos below and I will even go as far as to let you know at which point I get chills. -The CHILL FACTOR if you will...

  There are tons out there, but I'll keep it simple and give you videos strictly from the 70's. In my opinion, this was when Fleetwood Mac was at its highest point commercially speaking as well as performance wise.

Now lay back, listen to the rain on your roof, and let the music take you away...

Cal Jam 1978 Ebony Eyes ok so its not technically Fleetwood Mac, but you have Mick and Stevie as well as former Fleetwood Mac front man Bob Welch.  Stevie has awesome vocals this whole performance but the CHILLS set in at mark 3:35 onward...and can we talk about her outfit??  So cool..love it!)




Rhiannon 1976: Rosebud Footage:  CHILLS at mark 5:15 onward. Her vocals are amazing in this performance.  Its all so simple but exciting at the same time.  One of my favorite live performances of all time.  The studio version of this song is so tame compared to the live version.  The live version (like this one) is pure raw talent.

  





Gold Dust Woman: 1977 in Japan.(CHILLS at mark 5:20 onward...)  Its a little trippy in parts, but the ending is just haunting. You can see the daggers that she is giving Buckingham in the first half of the song.  (mark 3:25 onward).  The song live is so different than the recording. Love it.





World Turning 1977 in Japan:  A great combination of vocals with Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie.  I love the bluesy (old Fleetwood Mac) feel that this performance has.  Mick Fleetwood's drum/bongo solo is pretty cool too.  I got CHILLS when they bring it home at mark 6:40 onward)  It all comes back alive at that point.   This song never disappoints.



Fleetwood Mac 1976: I'm so Afraid Rosebud Footage(CHILLS at 2:13 onward...Buckingham tears it up and its oh so good...)  Not only is the guitar amazing throughout the entire song, but Buckingham in incredible during the last few minutes of this performance.  I can feel his emotion not only through his voice but through his guitar.  -And let me tell you he must be feeling pain.  Did you know that he never used a guitar pick?  Incredible.

Sisters of the Moon 1980 Tusk Tour ( alright, I broke the 70's rule on this one, but it was so chill worthy that I couldn't NOT add it.  CHILLS at mark 4:06 onward... but seriously, if you want the true CHILL FACTOR, I advise you to watch the whole performance.  She has the audience in the palm of her hand.





  Now these are only A FEW videos that give me chills. I feel like I'm not even scratching the surface with these performances-and you deserve more!  Don't worry, you'll get your dose of chill worthy videos throughout the blog.

Hope you all got chills!  As always....I did.

JDSkills



About me...

Hey all...

  This might seem random, but for my class  we need to post a section about ourselves on our blog. I'm going to get back to more Fleetwood Mac writing after this post, but for now here are a few things about myself and what to expect when reading this blog...

I’m  Jillian for those of you who don’t already know me, and I’m a Public Relations Major at URI.  This is my first blog and I absolutely love it.  Blogging is something hot and new within my major and I am so happy about that.  I hope to do PR for bands in the future, so I figured why not start with the band that I know the most about.  I want to welcome you to my Enthusiast Blog on my favorite band Fleetwood Mac.    When I was first told that we needed to make a blog regarding something that we are enthusiastic about, my mind immediately geared towards this great classic rock band.

    I’m proud to say that the first concert that I have ever been to was a Fleetwood Mac concert in 2003.  I went with my older sister Katie.  Might seem late, but it was definitely worth the wait! I knew a lot about Fleetwood Mac before I actually got the chance to see them live in 2003.  I remember being eight years old,   riding in the car with my dad and he would play different classic rock bands like “Crosby Stills Nash and Young”,”Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band”, “Warren Zevon”,but the band that always seemed to get me singing was “Fleetwood Mac” (particularly their 1976 Rumours album).  Not only did I listen to great music, but I had my dad to my left telling me the history behind the band.  There were layers of stories that made up the history of the band which I was not previously aware of.  The songs were influenced by their own personal experiences.  And to think, a band that actually writes their own songs!  Shocking, since we don’t seem to have that in today’s music industry.  I was informed of the breakups, the drama the chaos  behind the scenes.  When I first learned of these facts, I only wanted to know more. 

Katie and I made our way to many concerts
(Including Bruce Springsteen)  See that girl
with her fist straight up in the air?  Yours truly...JDSkills.

  After this memorable car ride,( well maybe not right after, but over the following days) I started to listen to them more and more. As a little girl, I was fascinated by Stevie Nicks and her shawls and flowy dresses.  I wanted to look just like her in her 1983 Gypsy video. I would twirl around with a shawl over my shoulders pretending that I was the mystical Stevie Nicks.  My sister (she is a huge fan as well) would even go as far as to get real live footage from the 1970’s so we could watch the concerts together.  We were  raised listening to great music.  We were listening to real music. At the age of fourteen Fleetwood Mac was on tour and I knew that I was going to see them.  After attending my first Fleetwood Mac concert, I knew that it wouldn’t be my last.  I went to so many concerts (Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks solo and Lindsey Buckingham solo combined) that I can’t even count them on both of my hands.  Once I started, I couldn’t stop.  It may seem crazy to an outsider, but by reading this blog you will become an insider and understand why I am hooked on this band.  I want to take you backstage in a sense and give you your fill on the gossip and the stories behind the music.

    I am so excited to delve into the fabulous history that is Fleetwood Mac.   I will write to you of the band members and their songwriting styles/personas.  I will speculate on the breakups and the relationships that are still present within the band.   I won’t just be talking about the history though.  I will speak to you of what the band members are up to today as well.  They are all still alive and well and always seem to be recording!  Hopefully after reading this blog, you will want to know more about them.  Hopefully you will get that same feeling that I got what I heard my sister and dad talk about them.  If anything, that feeling of fascination is the one I want you to get from this blog.  If you do not become a fan of the band, I understand!  We all have different tastes!  I do however want you to gain at least an appreciation for this band, for they are a band with layers and layers of great music.  Welcome to my blog everyone, and enjoy my “Secondhand News”… (you will understand what I mean after you read my blog haha…)



Fleetwood Mac L-R: Lindsey Buckingham,Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie

JDSkills

Rumours Songs: Back from the Dead over Thirty Years Later

      Like mentioned in a previous post, the 1976 Rumours album was a lyrical diary of break-ups and heartache.  To think, we will get in the car, tune in to our favorite classic rock station and turn the dial up full blast when we hear a song like "Go Your Own Way."  We are flying down the highway with one hand out the window and one hand tapping to the rhythm on our steering wheel.  We (badly...) sing the song with smiles on our faces not even realizing the pain that those five people had to endure just to create this classic masterpiece.

    Well slow down your cars and get to your closest music store, because there are even more songs on the Rumours: Deluxe Edition CD.    If you aren't in your cars then get on your computer (or stay on the computer for that matter) and visit this site at amazon.com and get the CD for  around 25 dollars.  You might think this is pricey, but it is worth it.  It has all of the rough outtakes that we never got to listen to on the original album. Think that Rumours is just eleven songs?  You're dead wrong...try 18.



Stevie Nicks recording



    One of my favorite gems on this expansion CD is a song written by Stevie Nicks called Planets of the Universe.  The song resurfaced a good 25 years later when Nicks released a longer, less bitter version on her 2001 solo album titled Trouble in Shangri-La.  The reason Nicks decided to re-record this song is  because  while looking back on it, she realized that it was very bitter and pessimistic.  She didn't want to have her listeners feel hopeless after taking a listen to this song.  The song was originally titled No Light.  Seems dark don't you think?  As a listener, you must put yourself in this young woman's shoes.  She has just broken up with the love of her life and now must write and sing her feelings for the recording of her next album.  She isn't doing what most of us girls would do (  watch a funny movie, eat chocolate and then cry a little...) to get over a breakup.  She needs to sing and write this song not only for herself, but for the success of her bands next album.  How can a person write a song to gain success when they feel so beaten down?  And like stated in my first post, the recording of this album was not done in  a large studio.  It was done in a rather small studio.  Heart wrenching, awkward and uncomfortable to say the least...

    The video above is the song Planets of the Universe.  This is the piano demo version of the song and you can get this recording on the expansion CD.  Ill give you all a moment to play the clip above. Okay... Listen to it yet?? Ugh makes you want to break down and cry.  I can literally feel Nicks' pain on this song. The song is haunting with Nicks playing on piano.  The shakiness of the piano is in tune with the shakiness of her own voice.  You can hear the crack and quiver in her voice at mark 2:00 onward.  Turn your speakers up at the end.  You can hear her say "That is so intense..." Intense to say the least.    This song  sets the tone of what not only what she was going through in her own breakup with Lindsey Buckingham, but with what the other members of the band were going through as well.  This is just one extra bonus on the CD and it is my favorite.

Imagine singing this close to your ex.  Awkward.

              So I leave you with this.  Everyone who is reading.  BUY THIS EXPANSION CD!  It is so raw, real and human.  Even if you are a developing fan of this band, I encourage you to buy it.  I love listening to these rarities, because I feel like I am there with them. I feel as though I am there in the studio with the members of the band. Just taking Nicks' song as an example, I feel as though I am sitting next to her piano as she sings.  I am right there waiting for her to finish her song with a box of tissues and glass of wine in hand to help her get over that breakup that she had a few days earlier with Lindsey.  Getting the CD is the closest thing that there will ever be to the invention of the time machine.  After all, haven't you always wanted to go back in time? Pop this into your car's CD player and you will.

JDSkills

A Step into Stevie Nicks' Closet...

    Stevie Nicks is known for her mystical ways and enchanting songs.  Her hit song Rhiannon off of  the 1975 self titled Fleetwood Mac White Album album put her on the map as not only a pretty face, but a voice of a generation.  Her choice of style and mystical dancing gave people the false conception that she could even be a WITCH!  How ridiculous is that?  In this 2007 CBS interview from mark 2:00 onward, she speaks of how she had to wear every color opposite of black in order for people to not think she was a witch. Her unique and flowy clothing style (chiffon, chiffon, chiffon,) added to her stage presence.  She never showed too much skin and relied on her voice to make her sexy.  Many people compare her to Lady Gaga in the way that she is spacey and different.  I can agree with this fact, but I bet you wouldn't catch Nicks wearing next to nothing on stage in order to make a point.  This blog post is going to be a short one, but it is to look at the leading lady of Fleetwood Mac and look at her styles from the mid seventies to present day.  A step into her closet if you will...Enjoy!

Buckingham Nicks Album Cover:  This was the band that Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham started, before it was dropped in 1974. Nicks was so upset with this cover for the fact that she wasn't wearing clothing. Check out this quote from the Boston Globe in 1990.  It gives a background story on the dreaded photo shoot.

"Lindsey and I] were really poor when we took that picture [Buckingham Nicks album cover], and I went out and spent my last $111 on a really beautiful, very sexy blouse. And they agreed to do half the session in the blouse, and I thought 'Oh, I'll win. They'll love this blouse, and they're gonna love the way I look.' Well halfway through the session, one of the photographers came over and said, 'Okay, it's time to take off the blouse,' and I died. it was awful, you know...."

...Now do you think you would catch Gaga saying that?

White Album (Fleetwood Mac Album) 1975:  She's dressed! Yay!  This isn't my favorite look but it was definitely obvious that she was starting to form her style.  She was 27 at this time and just hit the road with Fleetwood Mac.  In my opinion, she hasn't hit the nail on the head but she definitely gave off that "cool chick" vibe.  The top hat helps too.







Rumours 1976  (The Rock Gypsy):  Now this is when she hits the nail on the head! This time era deserves a few photos because her style was just impeccable and are the definition of Stevie Nicks. This is when Fleetwood Mac was soaring and Nicks became known for that mystical, enchanting singer/songwriter. This was a time period in which Stevie Nicks and style became one in one.  Women wanted to be her and men wanted to be with her.  She gives off a cool rock star vibe while having the amazing ability to remain feminine. Here's what she had to say (from the same Boston Globe Interview) about her style choice at that time...



"Because I said, 'All right, that's it. We're gonna work this out so that I still have an image and a vibe, but instead of going in the direction that a lot of the women singers are going in now, I'll be very, very sexy under 18 pounds of chiffon and lace and velvet. And nobody will know what I really am. I will have a mystique. None of these other people will have a mystique, but I will.' And I have that mystique. That's one thing that I'm real proud of."



Needed to post this pic as a continuation of the Rumours topic.  This picture defines Rock and Roll Gypsy.

Stevie on the 1980 Tusk Tour



Stevie on the 1983 Mirage Tour



The 1980's Tusk/Mirage Album and Solo Bella Donna:  I'm going to wrap all of these time periods into one and give you a nutshell.  This was a time where Nicks was still part of Fleetwood Mac while embarking on a solo career in 1981.  Her first solo album was Bella Donna and she juggled both roles as a band member and a solo artist and still does to this day (We will talk more about her solo stuff later...)  She was a definite style icon throughout the 80's just as much as she was in the 70's.  The only thing that changed...maybe the hair.

Stevie performing on her 1981 Bella Donna Tour.  Bella Donna was her first solo album.

1987. The hair definitely changed huh? I warned you!

The 1990's -Time of Change:  During this time period, many things happened that we just don't have time to cover.  But in a nutshell, Lindsey Buckingham leaves Fleetwood mac in the late 1980's right before they are to hit the road on the Tango in the Night Tour.(This causes once again drama in the band to say the least...)  During the 90's many of the band members go their separate ways but then unite in an MTV taping of The Dance which was the bands first tour together since the original five broke up in the late 80's.  The band takes another break after the tour and Stevie does some solo shows in the early millennium.  The band reunites in 2003 to create their first studio album since 1987.  This album is called Say You Will.  The band goes on tour and then will take a break once again to regroup for another tour in 2009.-Fleetwood Mac Unleashed. Again this is a broad view on the changes, but it is to give you a background in why we skipped so many years in Stevie's styles.  Phew that was long!  Don't worry, you guys will get the inside scoop on what happened (or was speculated to happen) during those years! Until now...back to the style pics!



Stevie on the Dance Tour in 1997.  Still beautifully rocking the chiffon



...And Present Day!  As you can see from this picture, Stevie Nicks is still rocking it out at the age of 62 and still rockin' that top hat and chiffon.  She is a timeless singer/songwriter whose shoes (in her case platforms) will never be filled by anyone else.  Hope you enjoyed a Step into Stevie closet and got a taste of what the Queen of Rock and Roll would wear. 

 So I am now in the mood to watch a great Stevie performance that showcases not only her talented vocals and stage presence, but her incredible and natural eye for style. Lets check out this awesome interview  (with Bob Welch, Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks) and then an amazing performance at the Cal Jam 1978 Festival.  If you want to skip the interview and get to the live performance just go to mark 2:20. 

Man what I would give to wear that out fit...Only Stevie could pull that look off.   

Enjoy it guys!
JDSkills

Never Break the Chain...

  As I write to you now, I am listening to one of the best albums of all time. If you haven't already guessed, it is Fleetwood Mac's 1976 album called Rumours.  The name for this album perfectly describes the turmoil of this band.  When this album was made, every single member of the band was going through a break-up.  You had guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and lead woman Stevie Nicks breaking up.  At the same time, piano player/songwriter Christine McVie and bass player John Mcvie were going through a divorce.  Drummer Mick Fleetwood was getting a divorce from his wife Jenny Boyd. (Yes, Patty Boyd's sister and sister in law of Beatle George Harrison).  It's bad enough going through a divorce-it probably made it ten times worse to know that you were divorcing George Harrison's sister in law.  Ok I'm getting off topic...
  So within one paragraph I briefly explain to you the background behind this dynamic, heartache-fueled album.  Actually wait, now I'm going to describe to you the background.  Listen to the album and it is like reading the diary of each of the band member. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham have a long history that started even before they joined Fleetwood Mac.  If you check out this link from VH1 you will see that they had a relationship and started recording together when they were young and struggling musicians.  They had an album, Buckingham Nicks, that was successful in only a few states within the country-particularly Birmingham Alabama.  The album dropped in 1974 and  Buckingham Nicks were struggling just to keep food on the table.  The skies opened when drummer Mick Fleetwood went into their studio to meet with Lindsey and Stevie's producer Kieth Olsen.  Mick was looking for a guitar player and Lindsey seemed like a good guy for the job.  Lindsey and Stevie were a package deal, and in order for them to have Lindsey in the band, they needed to take Stevie too.  Taking both of these musicians would be one of the best decisions that the drummer had ever made for his band.

  So the band makes a first album self titled "Fleetwood Mac-White Album" in 1975 selling around 300,000 and 350,000 albums.  It was obvious to anyone that these five people had a strength in performing and writing music, but their strength would be tested when the couples were set out to record their next album.  Like stated before, the couples within the band were breaking up during this recording, only to stir up emotions to create dynamic songwriting.   The band recorded in Sausalito California in a small recording  studio.  Imagine going through a breakup while having to see the person day to day  If you look at this link from the same VH1 interview at around mark 4:20, you will see that the only way in which this band could communicate their troubles and passion to each other was through the music.  Lets take a look at some lyrics from songs in this album.  You have Stevie Nicks writing a song called Dreams in which she says to Buckingham...

         "Now here you go again

          You say you want your freedom

          Who am I to bring you down?

          It's only right that you should play it the way you feel it
          But listen carefully to the sound of your loneliness."

Lindsey Buckingham shows his feeling on the breakup in a different light when you look at the lyrics of Go Your Own Way...
                                                                              "Tell me why, everything turned around?

Lindsey Buckingham on guitar

                   Packing up, shaking up is all you want to do.
                   If I could, baby I'd give you my world
                   Open up, everything is waiting for you."


   Just compare these two songs and you will see two people going through the turmoils of a breakup and expressing their feeling through their music.  Stevie sings in a lighter approach when she tells him that she understands that he wants to be on his own, but he will miss her when he is lonely at night.  Look at Buckingham's song (a hit might I add...)and you will see that he is just plain angry with the breakup.  I mean come on!  Packing up and shacking up is all Stevie wanted to do?  (I would love to here Nick's reactions on that lyric)  Now lets put them both in a tight studio and see what happens!  A soap opera to say the least...

  Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks wrote songs of each other within the album, but lets look at Christine McVie whose hit song You Make Loving Fun is actually written about another man...other than her ex-husband John Mcvie. Rumor has it (no pun intended) that this song was written about lighting director Curry Grant.  It could be speculation, but with this band you never know. Lets put ourselves in the mind of bass player John Mcvie.  Imagine doing the bass parts of a song written by your ex-wife.  Not only do you have to work with your ex-wife, but you must contribute to a song that is obviously written about another man other than yourself...and the title is You Make Loving Fun  Ouch... to say the least...

Christine McVie and John McVie when they were happy

        "Sweet wonderful you

        You make me happy with the things you do

        Oh, can it be so

        This feeling follows me wherever I go."

Later in the song she sings...
                       
     "Don't break the spell
      It would be different and you know it will
      You make loving fun
       I don't have to tell you, but you're the only one."

Again....ouch.  Sorry John :(

  I need to take a break now, but come back here in a few days you will get your Fleetwood Mac fill.  Lets take a step into Stevie Nick's closet next time.-Wouldn't that be fun!?  Ok it might not be her real closet, but with all her fabulous flowy clothes we can at least imagine can't we? 

Thanks guys!
JDSkills