Lindsey Buckingham: Live Performances!

                                                                                     
  So to continue with Lindsey Buckingham's solo work, I decided to give you some performances to take a look at.  I wanted to give you readers a taste of what it is like to see him live...



 Bleed to Love Her This is not off his Under the Skin album.  It was recorded for Fleetwood Mac on the Say You Will album in 2003.  One of my favorite songs by Buckingham. Such a pretty song.

"Somebody's got to see this through
All the world is laughing at you
Somebody's got to sacrifice
If this whole thing is going to turn out right..."

Down on Rodeo.  This song is so beautiful live.  If  one word could describe this song, it would be smooth.  The guitar work and vocals are all so fluid and it simply makes me want to swoon!  Yup, thats right. This song is so good live that I actually swoon in the audience. No shame and no joke.


Trouble.  Buckingham brings a song back from the dead in the best way possible by keeping it simple with just vocals and great guitar work. 

                                              "I should run on the double...

...I think  I'm in  trouble."

According to Buckingham's homepage, he is releasing a new solo album early next year.  You know what that means?  That's right.  An incredible solo tour. Ill be there with bells on and hope you will too!

JDSkills

Lindsey Buckingham has Magic Fingers

    I have been in such a Lindsey Buckingham funk lately and I love it.  Oh yes, when I say funk, don't take it as a bad thing.  For the past week I have been listening to a lot of Lindsey Buckingham tunes-both with Fleetwood Mac as well as solo records. I happened to stumble across these amazing videos off youtube which show Lindsey Buckingham himself giving an exclusive guitar instructional video for Guitar World . Simply amazing...
Take a look!


   Lindsey Buckingham has never used a guitar pick during his live performances. I have seen Buckingham play up close and personal during his solo concerts as well as Fleetwood Mac shows.   No lie when I tell you that  I can literally see the streaks of blood flying from his fingertips-Ouch!
    In this video clip, Buckingham describes his early influences for his finger picking guitar style. He also analyzes his guitar picking style on Stevie Nicks'  song Landslide. Originally, it was only played with the G cord and then evolved to more complex electric cords over time. The Smashing Pumpkins did a cover of the song and I believe that they too only used G cord in their recording of the song. If you are reading this and play guitar, I would love some imput as to what cords are used.  I am a little bit of a foreigner when it comes to guitar cords-but that's why I watch these videos right?
    Anyways, another interesting thing to point out, is that the last bit of the guitar introduction is a bit longer during live performances in order  to give the song "lift" as Buckingham says. Although the lyrics to this song are beautiful and always will be,  I truly believe that the guitar is the backbone to this song.

As I watch this next video, I am left with my mouth hanging wide open. I'm hypnotized by Buckingham's guitar work in the song Big Love...

...Seriously...AGAIN PLEASE!  This video only reinforces my point that Lindsey Buckingham has magic fingers.


Again you ask?  Here is a look at a live performance of Big Love...


After being an avid fan of Fleetwood Mac and watching video after video and listening to various recordings of Buckingham's work both solo and with Fleetwood Mac, I am only more compelled to say that Lindsey Buckingham's guitar work is vastly underrated.  I have had the pleasure to see him on his two most recent solo tours, Under the Skin as well as Gift of Screws, and both of his CD's do not do him justice as to the great musician that he is.  Although both CD's are great-and I recommend you take a listen- seeing him live is simply out of this world.  I am taken to another planet every time I get the chance to see him perform.  He has the amazing ability to make that connection with his audience which makes you feel like you are the only person in the room.  Sometimes I literally have to  to look around to actually remember that there are other people in the small venue.  Make eye contact with the man and   you become putty in the hands of an artist.  He molds you and then you become involved in his artistic creation.   His guitar playing and words ooze sensuality and passion and that is a quality is lacking in many musicians today.  He has a distinct sound that I have yet to see matched and that is what makes a guitarist truly great.   When you hear the cords of his guitar ring in your ears, you know that it is the work of a great guitarist.  It is the guitar work of Lindsey Buckingham.

Man, I wish I had a guitar right now.  Sad to say, I have never had the chance to actually play a guitar.  How sad right?  I have always wanted to learn how to play a guitar-that's why I watch these videos right  Something to add to my Christmas list ....Maybeeee?  "Mom, Dad, I would like a Gibson guitar for Christmas.   Please and thank you..."


Well, I guess I'll leave now and let you lucky ducks who have guitars take some pointers from Buckingham. Have fun and until next time...

JDSkills

Demos to Die for...

The ladies of Fleetwood Mac: Stevie Nicks (L) and Christine McVie (R)



    Well, JDSkills has done it again.  I have found some more amazing demos that I am seriously obsessed with and you my fellow Macters, will be able to get a quick listen.  I found some really great demos that are written and sung by the ladies of Fleetwood Mac, Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks.  These next couple of demos have never seen the light of day ...until now. 

    Here is one that makes me want to bust a move.  This song is written by Christine McVie and was supposed to be on the epic Rumours album in 1977. After listening, I can hardly say I'm surprised.  The song is full of drama and anger towards Christine's ex husband and fellow band mate-bass player John Mcvie.
Look at these lyrics...

"Even though you've stopped the sun from shining
Well I've tried my best, but it may not be enough...

 What can you say to accuse me
When you know I'm not to blame?"

    Now I'm guessing that these lyrics are directed at John for two reasons.
 1.)  It was written in 1977 and who else would she be talking about? 
 2.)  These lyrics seem to make sense for John Mcvie who at the time was pretty much a raging drunk. Well, maybe not RAGING- I think that's a bit harsh.  He just got drunk from time to time and Chris McVie simply grew tired of it. She tried, but there is only so much that a lady can do with a husband who has a drinking problem.  Poor Chris...

    And might I add, Stevie is also doing vocals with Chris on this song and together, they both sound awesome!  Stevie can certainly relate to these lyrics.  She herself was going through her own messy breakup with guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.  I like to think of this song as a mutual  shout out towards both of their previous lovers in the band.  The song perfectly fits the aura of the album at the time and I think it would have been phenomenal on the Rumours album. 

Despite the sad lyrics, it is a rockin' song so go ahead and take a listen!

Believe Me Christine McVie

  This next song, is probably one of the most beautiful songs that Stevie Nicks has ever written.  This song was written in the 1970's,- it is hard to figure the exact date, but from the tone of her voice, I am guessing it would somewhere around 1976. 

    The name of this song is China Doll and was written about Lindsey Buckingham (or it has been speculated to be written about him.)  It is song about the vulnerability of a relationship.  She, or the relationship itself, is the China Doll in this song, for at any moment she could break.  Nicks and Buckingham went through their many ups and downs throughout the years and this song perfectly describes the relationship limbo that Nicks was in at the time. Stevie Nicks has written hundreds of beautiful songs, but If I had to choose, this would be her most vulnerable and honest song yet.  It is one of those songs that I don't think even belongs on an album.   This song is almost too private to be shared with the world...

...But I am sharing it with you.  Take a listen...

China Doll Stevie Nicks

  So those are only two songs that I will share, but there are TONS more that I will post later on.  Thank god for youtube.com or we would have never even known that these demos even existed!  In my opinion, raw songs like these are the next best thing to going back in time.  I am transported back to a time when songs were based off real emotion. It is refreshing to be able to listen to good music...

Real Music.

I'm on a demo high and need to check out more...maybe I'll post them later!  Till next time...

JDSkills

Cool Rolling Stone Photoshoot from 1981

Stevie Nicks on the 1981 "Rolling Stone" cover

      In 1981, Nicks was riding high with her first successful solo album entitled Bella Donna.  This album was released on July 27th, 1981 and sold over four million copies in the country. Four singles off her album, Stop Draggin' my Heart Around(ft. Tom Petty), Edge of Seventeen, Leather and Lace (ft. Don Henley) and "After the Glitter Fades" made it in the Top 40 on Billboard Hot 100.  Not too shabby for your first solo album right?

    Right now you're probably thinking "It can't get any better..."  Well, it did.  Rolling Stone Magazine made Nicks their cover girl in 1981 and crowned her as "Queen of Rock and Roll".  I went on youtube.com a few days back and found rare footage of Nicks' Rolling Stone photo shoot.  You can actually hear legend photographer Annie Leibovitz giving Nicks' direction in these clips.  And hey, its only appropriate that they play Rolling Stone's Beast of Burden on a Rolling Stone Magazine photo shoot right?  Check it out...


"Pretty, Pretty, Such a pretty, pretty, pretty girl.  Come on babyyyy.."  Ah I love that song!  :)

I love how shes trying to pose with Max the bird.  Props to her!  That bird looked a little out of control...

    Sometimes, when an artist embarks on a solo career, they can lose who they are as an artist.  Stevie Nicks had a brilliant way (and still does for that matter) of maintaining a strong career for both bands.  I believe this is because she is aware that she needs to be somewhat different in both situations.  If you happen to catch a Fleetwood Mac Tour (I hope to dear god its soon...) take a look at how she is able to be a focal point but able to work with her bandmates as well. She is aware that when she is on tour with Fleetwood Mac, she is one in five people.   She is more inhibited in a sense.  I'm not saying that she stands there like a stone. Sure, she still rocks the platforms, chiffon and twirls, but she definitely tones it down out of respect for her fellow bandmates.  She is not only singing her own songs, but the songs of her other bandmates as well.  Catch her on her solo tour and you will see how her stage presence is much different.  She is less inhibited for she is her own boss in a sense.  It is HER band so she can make her own descisions such as a change up of a set list, or maybe hitting a high note at the end of a song.  With Fleetwood Mac, she doesn't have that luxury.
    Whether on tour with Fleetwood Mac or on her own, Nicks is simply enchanting.  She has an impressive ability to manage her performance in a way that makes everyone happy.  She never was cocky with the fact that she was a successful solo artist, and never intended to rub it in Fleetwood Mac's face. What good would that do? That is class at its finest! 
Nicks is a perfect example of how to stay loyal to your band, while also maintaining a successful solo career.  Fergie,Gwen Stefani...take notes! 
 
My sister is home from Los Angeles for the holidays and now we need to BASH it.  Want to know what a BASH is?  Keep reading over the next few days and you'll find out...

JDSkills

Stevie goes Solo

  I know I seem to always steer towards talking about Stevie Nicks, but it is only because she is just so gosh darn interesting! I just can't seem to help it!  Anyway, after completing the Tusk Tour, she was left with somewhat a confused feeling.  She had three great albums under her belt with Fleetwood Mac.  However, there were only so many songs that she could have on each Fleetwood Mac record.  You have to think, she wasn't the only songwriter in the band.  You had Christine McVie as well as Lindsey Buckingham writing songs for each album.  This might give you a better idea as to how limited Stevie's songs were for each album...

All of Nicks' songs will be in BOLD

Fleetwood Mac White Album (1975)
1.Monday Morning
2. Warm Ways
3. Rhiannon
4. Over my Head
5. Crystal (collaboration of both Nicks and Buckingham from Buckingham Nicks Record)
6. Say You Love Me
7. Landslide
8. World Turning
9 Sugar Daddy
10. I'm So Afraid
                                                                   (Total: 2 1/2)
Rumours Album (1977)
1. Second Hand News
2. Dreams
3 Never Going Back Again
4. Don't Stop
5. Go Your Own Way
6. Songbird
7 The Chain
8. You Make Loving Fun
9. I Don't Wanna Know
10. Oh Daddy
11. Gold Dust Woman
                                                  (Total: 3..thats a bit better...)
Tusk Album (1979)                                                                      
1. Over and Over
2. The Ledge
3. Think About Me
4. Save Me a Place
5 Sara
6.What Makes You Think You're the One?
7. Storms
8 That's All for Everyone
9. Not that Funny
10 Sister of the Moon
11. Angel
12. That's Enough for Me
13. Brown Eyes
14. Never Make Me Cry
15. I Know I'm Not Wrong
16. Honey Hi
17. Beautiful Child
18 Walk a Thin Line
19. Tusk
20. Never Forget
                                                                      (Total: 5...out of 20)

  Wow, even writing this myself just now, I never realized how limited Stevie Nicks' songs were on each album.  Think about it this way.  With all three albums combined together, there were a total of 41 songs.  Stevie Nicks got credit for writing 10 1/2 songs. 10 1/2 out of 40!  For the record, (pun) that isn't a lot for a successful songwriter. Stevie Nicks was (and still is to this day) a prolific songwriter meaning that she writes songs constantly.  Being able to only allow lets say, three songs on each album was simply not enough.  She needed another outlet for her songs and that is the reason as to why she started a solo career after the making of the Tusk album.

Here is a video that clearly explains Nicks' thought process as to why she started a solo career... (PS.  Try not to get distracted by the narrator's accent. It makes me laugh a little every time... )


So there you have it.  A brief reasoning as to why Stevie Nick's "left" Fleetwood Mac in 1981.  I put the word left in quotes because she never actually really left.  She would go back and forth between her solo work and her work with Fleetwood Mac.  She was constantly balanced between the two commitments and still does to this day.  She will record and album when Fleetwood Mac is in their "downtime" and then tour with that album within the same time period.  Once Fleetwood Mac decides to make another album, she is always there to rehearse and tour with the band.  Obviously, this process has worked because she has been successful with her solo work and Fleetwood Mac for over twenty years now.

  I wonder what the band members thought when she walked in the door informing them of her new idea to go solo.  Want to know what I heard?  I heard that when she finished making her Bella Donna album in 1981, she left a signed album for Lindsey Buckingham to have.  I think she left it somewhere outside the studio or his house.  Anyways, he never picked it up.  Can we blame him?  I mean if you put yourself in Lindsey's shoes then you could see as to why he was frustrated.  Think about it.  He was asked to join Fleetwood Mac in late 1974.  They never asked Stevie if she wanted to join.  They only needed a guitar player and they asked for him only.  Fleetwood Mac already had a female lead and that was Christine Mcvie.  It was Lindsey who suggested that they take his girlfriend into the band.  They become a huge success with Fleetwood Mac and Nicks' seems to be getting a bit more attention than Buckingham.  There were always ego struggles between the two band mates/lovers and it must have been hard simply as a man, to know that your ex girlfriend is getting all the attention on stage, and you are partially to blame.  His ego must have been shot.  He was ( and still is) an incredible guitar player who in my opinion didn't get enough recognition.  Stevie was the focal point, for she understandable had that amazing stage presence and voice.  She wore amazing clothing that screamed "Look at me!", and it must have driven Buckingham bananas!  To wrap it up, if this speculation is true that Buckingham somewhat snubbed Stevie and her new album...I can't really blame him.  Whether she meant the signed album to be a nice gesture or simply a big "In your face Buckingham!", I would have been peeved if I were in his boots.

Till next time...
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