Get your Fleetwood Mac Fill with JDSkills! A blog on the classic band that is Fleetwood Mac. Here is where I dish out all my feelings on the band. After years of being a fan of their music, I'm going to want to talk about everything-so bear with me.
Whenever the song Gypsy comes on the radio, I am taken back to being five years old and watching VH1's Pop-Up Video on my living room floor. I would be sitting in my mom's pink silk robe, once again trying to dance and be like Stevie Nicks in her 1982 video. Whether I am driving on my way to school or work, I automatically forget the stress and feel warm inside when I hear the first cords of the song blare out of the speakers. Stevie Nicks' song Gypsy which comes off Fleetwood Mac's 1982 Mirage album, seems to be one of those songs that can never get old. Watch the video and it is as if you are taking glimpse into Stevie Nicks' world. In this world, you are forever young.
Stevie Nicks' says that this song is about going back to the person that she was before she joined Fleetwood Mac. If you go to this site, you will come across many different quotes by Nicks' regarding the song. This song is relateable to almost anyone and that is what makes a song great. Everyone can think back and remember a simpler time. A time when not every choice that you made came with a consequence. A time when we all were wide-eyed with excitement and wonder. This songs makes you realize that not everything has to be so complicated. Deep down, we are all children living in one crazy world and the journey is what makes it all worth living for. We need to look at every experience with that same wide-eyed mentality that we had when we were five. The lyrics that shape the meaning of this song are "Lighting strikes, maybe once, maybe twice." Life can be chaotic like a rainstorm, but when we see that flash of lightning rip across the sky, we realize that there is still light even during the most complicated times. Lightning can also represent chances that were missed and chances that we can gain within our lives. We don't know what the future will bring. We can't plan everything. So why not look at the world like we did when we were five and embrace whatever is thrown our way.
Gypsy: 1982 Mirage album
"I still see your bright eyes... ...your bright eyes."
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...
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 andLace (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...
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.
I'm about to drop a BOMB on you. Steve Nicks and drummer Mick Fleetwood had an affair back on the last leg of the 'Rumours Tour". That's right, even these two got at it! I know, I was just as shocked as you when I first found out. When I look at these two I just don't "see" them together. I always thought the couples were Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham and Christine and John McVie. Those were the couples in the band and that was IT! Seriously, sometimes you take a step back and look at all the relationships within the band and think "Man, that is a band of incest right there". Well, it was bound to happen right? I mean you put rock stars on the road for over a year and its almost a guarantee that a new love affair/fling/experience is going to arise as a result.
When I first was informed of the love affair, I couldn't believe my ears. However, I had to be blind to not know that the affair was already well out in the open. There are plenty of texts and interviews out there of Stevie and Mick being fully open about their affair, but like most of you reading, I too was once a Fleetwood Mac Rookie. I didn't know the inside scoop on the relationship drama. In other words, I didn't know half of what comprises the band Fleetwood Mac.
So me, being the little snoop that I am, wanted to find evidence that these two got their "Mac" on. (haha pun intended!) I scouted out through my folder of vintage tour footage and found some awesome videos from The Rumours Tour. I fast forwarded to the last leg of the tour which was in 1977-1978. These videos are probably my favorites because you actually get a glimpse as to what touring with the band was actually like. The footage was done by some unknown film-maker who was simply just a friend of Mick Fleetwood himself. He tagged along on the tour simply filming as everyone went about their business. The footage is much like that of a home video. Very real, very raw, and a GOLDMINE to snoops like me looking for an affair in the works! Now, I obviously wasn't scouting out for intimate things-that's just a little freaky- but I wanted to catch hints and inklings of this shocking affair. Low and behold, I found a few clips with Stevie and Mick acting a little more "close" than usual.
Catch it at mark 1:18. TUSH GRAB!
Mick creeps in on Stevie doing her makeup at 22 seconds and Stevie could very well just be goofing around and giving Micks make-up a touch up....or we can think of it the "snoop/fun" way and think she is coming up with any excuse just to get her hands on him! She also seems to be very giggly and smiley when he comes into the picture...
Seriously, I only have two videos that I could find on YouTube.com that come from that footage which is torture for me since I know that there is much more out there! If I can figure out how to upload the footage that I have, then I sure will! There are little glances, looks, talks that happen that seem to verify that this love affair was indeed happening. I love it when I find little mischievous tid bits like that! It makes being a Mac fan all the more fun! It may not all be accurate, but that's the fun in speculating! Lets speculate for a few more minutes. Now knowing that there was a fling between Nicks and Fleetwood puts a whole new meaning to these following pictures. What do you think?
This comes from the 1977 cover of "Rolling Stone Magazine" The picture illustrates the different relationships within the band.
So its sweet isn't it? Two people who don't seem to fit the "mold" of a perfect couple suddenly do. They had a lively passionate romance, however there was a down-side. The sad part about this love game was the fact that he was married at the time to London-based model Jenny Boyd and had two little girls. I guess that's the sad risk of having a rock star as your husband. He is gone for months at a time and even when he isn't on tour, he is in the studio recording for his next album. I am in no way excusing Mick of his actions, but at the same time I need to ask Jenny "What did you expect?" Marrying a famous rock star has its consequences and unfortunately, the risk outweighed the marriage this time around.
There you have it Macsters. Mick Fleetwood. Stevie Nicks. Love Affair. I think the short romance was a bit "out there" but as a result, we the listeners received great music! This song that I will leave you with was written by Stevie Nicks and it was about Mick Fleetwood. The song was called Sara. "Why the name Sara?" you may ask. Well lets add a bit more drama to the already chaotic mix shall we? Sara Recor was a model and one of Stevie Nicks' closest friends. Recor and Fleetwood started a relationship whilst he was still being involved with Nicks. Recor claims otherwise and said that she and Mick started their relationship after he and Nicks called it quits. Regardless, the two fell in love and eventually married in the late seventies. You may think that Nicks would have been livid with the fact that Sara and Mick started something together, but the truth is that Nicks was more upset with Fleetwood than Recor. In fact, Sara Recor was actually in the room with Nicks when she wrote the song! Wow...Stevie sure was an understanding friend.
I'll let you all escape the drama by simply listening to the beautiful song Sara which is off of the 1979 album Tusk...
JDSkills
"All I ever wanted, was to know that you were dreaming..." -SN
Do you ever wonder what goes into the making of a song? I sure do. Whenever I am listening to the finished album cut of a song, I always wonder..."What does the demo sound like?" I always seem to like the rough cuts more than the clean ones. To me, they sound more authentic and raw. I like to hear what could have been in the song. You can hear vocals and instruments that never made the finished product and in all actuality, those extra bits made the song that much better. When I listen to demos, I make sure to listen to them the whole way through. Especially with a band like Fleetwood Mac, you always seem to hear tid-bits of interesting lyrics that give a better explanation to the song. Like I stated before, when listening to a Fleetwood Mac song, particularly from the Rumours era, it is like reading their diary. Within these demos are extra "pieces of the puzzle" that allow the listeners to experience what they were feeling at that very moment. Its like being a fly on the wall so to speak...(the one time when I would love to be an insect).
Lots of times in demo, you will get longer tracks for they simply did not have room to fit them on an album. A classic example of this would be when Stevie Nicks was denied to have her beautiful song, Silver Springs on the 1976 Rumours album. The song was recorded and then at the last second, she was told it would not make the album for it was too long. The song was replaced with a shorter upbeat song of Nicks' called I Don't Want to Know.-an awesome diddy might I add...
Thankfully, Silver Springs was finally released 25 years later on the Rumours expansion CD, but until then very few were exposed to album version of the song.
Alright so I'm a demo girl but who knows, you guys might like the finished product of a song better than the demo! We all have our differences...
You guys listen to these next few vids and you make the call. Demo or Album? ( Stevie Nicks has many demos, so I just focused on her songs. When I find more from Christine and Lindsey I will be sure to post them!)
Silver Springs Demo 1976 Rumours
Silver Springs1976- Sold now on: Rumours Expansion CD ( The recording that was cut at the last minute. This was the final cut)
Gypsy Demo 1983
Gypsy on 1983 Mirage Album
So those are a few comparisons of a demo versus and album track...
Now here are some songs that resurfaced a good twenty-plus years after they were first recorded. The first song is a song of Nicks' If you Ever Did Believe The song was written for the Rumours album and once again...a beautiful song that never made the cut. It resurfaced when Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crowe re-recorded this song in order for it to be in the 1998 film Practical Magic starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. Take a listen...
1976" Rumours-to be" Version (Demo-take)If You Ever Did Believe
1998 Music Video to Film Practical Magic Re-recorded If You Ever Did Believe
...And remember that other song that was supposed to be on Rumours? I wrote about it to you earlier, but it is the song Planets of the Universe. Its a haunting song that never made the album but it finally found its was out to the public when Stevie Nicks re-recorded it for her 2003 Trouble in Shagri-La Album. Check out the differences in these two versions...
1976 "Rumours to be" Version Planets of the Universe
2003 Trouble in Shangri-La Album: Stevie Nicks solo
And might I add that all four versions (both new and old) are in my currently Ipod-and I hope they will be in yours too!
I hope the next time you listen to an album version of a song, you will think of the process that went into making that recording what it is today. Who knows, maybe there are more songs out there that we have yet to hear. All we need to do is wait twenty plus years...
Stevie Nicks is known for her mystical ways and enchanting songs. Her hit song Rhiannon off of the 1975 self titled Fleetwood MacWhite 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 TheDance 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.
