Tango in the Night POLL (Fleetwood Mac)

this is hard. i'm definitely not voting for "welcome to the room... sara"

― creme1, Friday, 20 July 2007 01:13 (5 years ago) Permalink

Great idea for a poll...

This is such a strange album: of its time yet so determined NOT to be, thanks to Buckingham. It's not as consistent as Mirage, but Tango contains little El Lay studio-pop residue. Quite top-heavy too: are any of the album tracks as strong as the singles? Nicks' tracks, "Seven Wonders" excepted (mostly cuz of the synth-chime hook) are her worst ever. "Caroline" and the title track aren't anything more than catchphrases and excuses for Lindsay to shred.

Anyway, my vote is for "Little Lies," a fully deserved huge hit that manages to sound contemporary and deeply weird.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 July 2007 01:33 (5 years ago) Permalink

It's also an oddity in that, for the first time since Rumours, no one singing/songwriting member had an edge on any of the others, and all the singles (I think, at least) far surpass any that came from Mirage.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 20 July 2007 01:37 (5 years ago) Permalink

(note: I actually like all the Nicks tracks on this album)

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 20 July 2007 01:39 (5 years ago) Permalink

"caroline" is amazing tribal-pop, how can you deny those drums! sounds like lindsay had been listening to japan. also, christine's fake eastern chanting is gorgeous.

― creme1, Friday, 20 July 2007 01:40 (5 years ago) Permalink

It's also an oddity in that, for the first time since Rumours, no one singing/songwriting member had an edge on any of the others, and all tihe singles (I think, at least) far surpass any that came from Mirage.

Post-Rumours, I've always thought they were equal!

Duds on Tusk: "Honey Hi" (McVie), "Angel" (Nicks), "I Know I'm Not Wrong" (Buckingham)

Duds on Mirage: "Straight Back" (Nicks), "Wish You Were Here" (McVie), "Empire State" (Buckingham).

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 July 2007 01:47 (5 years ago) Permalink

I must say, "Welcome to the Room...Sara" (love the ellipsis) is a masterful arrangement saving a dull song. Luurve Christine's harmonies in the last third ("For Sc-a-a-r-l-e-e-e-t-t...") and Fleetwood's drums.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 July 2007 01:49 (5 years ago) Permalink

I wasn't talking about equality in duds, Alfred. Equality in peaks!

Buckingham kind of owned Tusk and Mirage, and Tango was the return of everyone having not only stellar singles, but also pretty good deeper cuts too.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 20 July 2007 01:57 (5 years ago) Permalink

oops! I keep forgetting to hit the BBcode button.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 20 July 2007 01:57 (5 years ago) Permalink

Alfred I can't believe you list the excellent "Empire State" rather than "Oh Diane" as Buckingham's dud on Mirage!

As for Tango in the Night, I've been very partial to "Isn't It Midnight" recently. After that I'd probably plump for "Caroline".

Couldn't vote for "Big Love" only because the live acoustic version is so much better.

"Seven Wonders" is Stevie's weakest big single and the album tracks are her weakest album tracks.

― Tim F, Friday, 20 July 2007 04:14 (5 years ago) Permalink

For feel, I love "Mystified" best--not the album's strongest song, but what a gorgeous sound. Between that, "Little Lies" and "Everywhere." (I guess on this particular album I like McVie's stuff the best.)

― sw00ds, Friday, 20 July 2007 12:38 (5 years ago) Permalink

As for Tango in the Night, I've been very partial to "Isn't It Midnight" recently

I used to be, but there's a tension between Buckingham's raunchy valedictory solo and the programmed percussion and chimes that's never quite resolved.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 July 2007 12:45 (5 years ago) Permalink

tim mostly otm, but i like 'everywhere' best

― electricsound, Friday, 20 July 2007 12:45 (5 years ago) Permalink

Yes "Everywhere" is brilliant. I was very annoyed when someone made a swirly house-pop cover version, only because I felt they'd stolen my idea and not done as good a job with it as I would have done.

I should note that I find it odd when people say this album is more idiosyncratic than Mirage. I guess the production has that whole pristine rainforest feel to it, but Buckingham's songs are so much more straightforward than on Mirage, and he's even got that smooth 80s vocalist vibe going on. Surely the whole point of the album is that it unambiguously goes for the pop jugular?

Can't say I'm too partial to "Family Man", which feels like such a pointless wisp of a song, although the guitar bits are excellent.

"there's a tension between Buckingham's raunchy valedictory solo and the programmed percussion and chimes that's never quite resolved."

Ha ha this sounds like an argument for the song's greatness. But i think I particularly love the new wave sheen to Christine's vocals.

― Tim F, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:51 (5 years ago) Permalink

This was my first FM record. Took me more than a decade to get the others (read: classics). I honestly can't remember much from the album even though I did play it on repeat for weeks. Hmm.

― stevienixed, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:54 (5 years ago) Permalink

Al-FRED. How could you possibly say I know I'm not wrong is a dud? The chorus alone is so elegant, the way it deflects the melody just a bit to the side instead of forcing a hook. And it works! Its the perfect new-wavey Beach Boys pastiche. Explain yourself please! (not too well though, I'd like to continue liking it!)

― I know, right?, Friday, 20 July 2007 20:12 (5 years ago) Permalink

I suppose I can't, but of many fascinating Buckingham songs it's not my favorite. The introduction, for instance, reminds me too much of my beloved "Not That funny."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 July 2007 20:20 (5 years ago) Permalink

Also: when on earth are we getting remastered versions of this and Mirage? Anyone heard any of Tango's b-sides??

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 July 2007 20:21 (5 years ago) Permalink

But they're sister songs, Not that funny has almost the same music and chorus and don't they both contain the "here comes the night time" bridge?

― I know, right?, Friday, 20 July 2007 20:31 (5 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, I've never heard Mirage. Would kill to. But i've never even seen it for sale. I'm gonna have to amazon the thing soon.

― I know, right?, Friday, 20 July 2007 20:32 (5 years ago) Permalink

"Little Lies". Do it for me. Honestly.

― t**t, Friday, 20 July 2007 21:38 (5 years ago) Permalink

the b-side to "7 wonders" is a pretty cool instrumental, "book of miracles" i think it's called. sounds like christine wrote it. it's nice.

― creme1, Friday, 20 July 2007 22:00 (5 years ago) Permalink

"Little Lies" is the best thing Fleetwood Mac did ever do. Thus, my pick is easy even though "Tango In The Night" had lots of strong tracks.

― Geir Hongro, Friday, 20 July 2007 22:18 (5 years ago) Permalink

the b-side to "7 wonders" is a pretty cool instrumental, "book of miracles" i think it's called. sounds like christine wrote it. it's nice

Oooh!

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 July 2007 22:37 (5 years ago) Permalink

At the moment I'm leaning towards Everywhere, it might be McVie's best ever, after Over & Over of course.

― I know, right?, Friday, 20 July 2007 22:51 (5 years ago) Permalink

Lots of Lindsey being very Lindsey on the production as well.

― I know, right?, Friday, 20 July 2007 22:51 (5 years ago) Permalink

About this album gets the same HDCD treatment their three late 70s albums got. It's better than all of them.

― Geir Hongro, Saturday, 21 July 2007 00:35 (5 years ago) Permalink

lolz

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 21 July 2007 23:06 (5 years ago) Permalink

This may sound even better.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 21 July 2007 23:09 (5 years ago) Permalink

little lies

― stephen, Sunday, 22 July 2007 00:26 (5 years ago) Permalink

LULZ I'd forgotten how lame Lindsey's replacements were. xxp

― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 22 July 2007 01:26 (5 years ago) Permalink

Ha ha ha that Kids Inc. one is especially great since that's FERGIE.

― Phil D., Sunday, 22 July 2007 02:25 (5 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

― ILX System, Sunday, 22 July 2007 23:01 (5 years ago) Permalink

LULZ I'd forgotten how lame Lindsey's replacements were. xxp

Lindsey once said, "At least it took TWO guitarists to replace me, heh heh."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 22 July 2007 23:15 (5 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

― ILX System, Monday, 23 July 2007 23:01 (5 years ago) Permalink

C.McVie pwns all.

― Steve Shasta, Monday, 23 July 2007 23:03 (5 years ago) Permalink

The only surprise is how well "Welcome to the Room...Sara" did.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 23 July 2007 23:14 (5 years ago) Permalink

Correct winner :)

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 00:05 (5 years ago) Permalink

"Seven Wonders" got NO VOTES?!

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 00:15 (5 years ago) Permalink

Oh shit I forgot to actually vote for "Isn't It Midnight".

― Tim F, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 00:42 (5 years ago) Permalink

Seriously, seven people think "Welcome to the Room... Sara" is the best song on this album? Surely these people have not actually heard it and are just assuming any Stevie song with the name "Sara" in it must be good?

It is awful.

― Tim F, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 00:43 (5 years ago) Permalink

Shame to see "Family Man" getting no love.

― Bodrick III, Saturday, 19 April 2008 17:57 (5 years ago) Permalink

just picked this up for £1 + i love it even more than i remembered but wtf at 7 votes for welcome to the room sara!?!!

― just sayin, Saturday, 5 September 2009 14:02 (3 years ago) Permalink

2. "Seven Wonders" (Stewart, Nicks) – 3:38 0

This is one of the fuckedest things in the history of ILM polls.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 5 September 2009 14:06 (3 years ago) Permalink

otm

― just sayin, Saturday, 5 September 2009 14:11 (3 years ago) Permalink

wtf at 7 votes for welcome to the room sara!?!!

The seven core members of ilm's Stevie stans, innit.

― DavidM, Saturday, 5 September 2009 14:36 (3 years ago) Permalink

Yeah but what's weird is that it's the worst of her three songs on there. Voting for it seems terribly perverse.

― Tim F, Saturday, 5 September 2009 15:09 (3 years ago) Permalink

exactly!! it cant just be abt stevie nicks fans

― just sayin, Saturday, 5 September 2009 15:55 (3 years ago) Permalink

It's NOT worse than "When Will I See You"!

WASSA MADDA BABY....BABY...BAY-BEE....BABY!

― My life is butthurt so badly (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 5 September 2009 17:09 (3 years ago) Permalink

i also picked this up recently and was surprised at how amazing it still sounds. "caroline" in particular deserves more love

― psychgawsple, Sunday, 6 September 2009 04:40 (3 years ago) Permalink

i think this could be stevie nicks' worst contributions to any record she's been involved with imo

i wonder how many of the people who voted for "welcome.." are mixing it up with "sara" from tusk

― surfin on my face (electricsound), Sunday, 6 September 2009 05:07 (3 years ago) Permalink

" "caroline" in particular deserves more love"

this is spot on.

My issue with "Welcome To The Room... Sara" is that it sounds like a parody song, like something from that French & Saunders send up of Fleetwood Mac. It actively undermines all of Stevie's signature tricks. "When Will I See You" is merely weak.

Nicks' songs are amazingly strong on Say You Will, but then I've not heard the stuff she's done between the two albums.

― Tim F, Sunday, 6 September 2009 10:18 (3 years ago) Permalink

Like Bella Donna, Trouble in Shangri-La, etc? If you like Nicks, you'll love the albums, but outside maybe one or two tracks (Nomad, maybe?) nothing really knock-out there.

― Mordy, Sunday, 6 September 2009 10:24 (3 years ago) Permalink

I know Bella Donna, The Wild Heart and Rock Little, just none after that.

But then I rarely listen to those ones much. What's interesting about Nicks is that she really does work so well as a group player, even though her songwriting style would never suggest it. The half of Say You Will she contributes is possibly as much Nicks as I'd really want in one sitting.

― Tim F, Sunday, 6 September 2009 10:29 (3 years ago) Permalink

CAROLINE

― wilter, Thursday, 3 June 2010 10:22 (3 years ago) Permalink

all the "ooh ah"s in "big love" are still bizarre

― kamerad, Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:31 (3 years ago) Permalink

Seven Wonders is pretty good, deserved a vote imo.

― _▂▅▇█▓▒░◕‿‿◕░▒▓█▇▅▂_ (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:33 (3 years ago) Permalink

Yes "Everywhere" is brilliant. I was very annoyed when someone made a swirly house-pop cover version

Tiiiiiiim, who did this?

― mdskltr (blueski), Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:34 (3 years ago) Permalink

think i've heard it

basically they looped bits of it so it's longer and added some helpful echoes

― truff sqwad (history mayne), Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:38 (3 years ago) Permalink

theres def a balearic disco edit that jaxon posted on the noize board FM thread iirc.

― _▂▅▇█▓▒░◕‿‿◕░▒▓█▇▅▂_ (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:39 (3 years ago) Permalink

You've all heard this, I hope.

― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:41 (3 years ago) Permalink

There is no way the Little Lies voters have heard the whole thing.

― Davek (davek_00), Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:41 (3 years ago) Permalink

jeez al i didnt know you thought honey hi was a dud

― max, Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:42 (3 years ago) Permalink

feel like i dont even know you and i cant trust your opinion anymore

― max, Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:42 (3 years ago) Permalink

you talkin' to me?

― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:43 (3 years ago) Permalink

???

― Vision Creation Mansun (NickB), Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:51 (3 years ago) Permalink

Duds on Tusk: "Honey Hi" (McVie), "Angel" (Nicks), "I Know I'm Not Wrong" (Buckingham)

Duds on Mirage: "Straight Back" (Nicks), "Wish You Were Here" (McVie), "Empire State" (Buckingham).

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:47 PM (2 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

― max, Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:52 (3 years ago) Permalink

Oh yeah, I'll still stand by that.

― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:54 (3 years ago) Permalink

h8 you

― max, Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:55 (3 years ago) Permalink

HONEY HOOO-NEY HI

― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:56 (3 years ago) Permalink

No sacred cows stand in the way of McChallops.

― _▂▅▇█▓▒░◕‿‿◕░▒▓█▇▅▂_ (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 3 June 2010 16:00 (3 years ago) Permalink

stfu and listen to the "Seven Wonders" 12", heathens.

― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 3 June 2010 16:00 (3 years ago) Permalink

how did seven wonders get 0 votes and mystified get only 1??

― Future_Perfect (LOLK), Thursday, 3 June 2010 16:03 (3 years ago) Permalink

The correct question: how did "Welcome to the Room....Sara" get seven votes?

― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 3 June 2010 16:05 (3 years ago) Permalink

Late to thread but I gotta agree with Tim above about "Oh Diane" being more of a dud than "Empire State" - I get what he's trying to do with it but it's still one of my least favourite Mac songs ever, whereas I really quite like "Empire State" even while realizing it's not top-drawer. But y'know, it's all taste.

Probably a good thing that I never voted on this because I realized that I've only ever heard the singles here. I really should get me a copy of the full album - I think I've given up on Rhino actually bringing out Mirage and Tango in their reissue series, what with the long gap since the first batch.

― Sean Carruthers, Thursday, 3 June 2010 16:07 (3 years ago) Permalink

TITN is their best seller post-Rumours too.

― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 3 June 2010 16:09 (3 years ago) Permalink

The correct question: how did "Welcome to the Room....Sara" get seven votes?

yeah that song is such a chore

― Future_Perfect (LOLK), Thursday, 3 June 2010 16:27 (3 years ago) Permalink

A+ 4Eva: "Caroline", "Everywhere", "Isn't It Midnight"
A: "Seven Wonders", "Big Love", "Tango In The Night", "You & I"
A-: "Little Lies", "Mystified"
B: "Family Man"
...
D-: "When I See You Again"
...
F: "Welcome to the Room... Sara"

― Tim F, Tuesday, 8 June 2010 12:21 (3 years ago) Permalink

"isn't it midnight" is the only one i can't remember how it goes

all the arthur baker club mixes that came with the 12" singles are solid gold

― fuckd and bombd (r1o natsume), Tuesday, 8 June 2010 12:31 (3 years ago) Permalink

"family man" is the underrated gem on this album. such a simple song packed with so many little details. and lindsay's flamenco guitar solos are immense

― fuckd and bombd (r1o natsume), Tuesday, 8 June 2010 12:34 (3 years ago) Permalink

the cover art for this album is just so perfect

― just sayin, Friday, 11 February 2011 09:10 (2 years ago) Permalink

you know EXACTLY what its going to sound like

― just sayin, Friday, 11 February 2011 09:10 (2 years ago) Permalink

just sayin.

― ouroboros shoal (diamonddave85), Friday, 11 February 2011 16:54 (2 years ago) Permalink

― Rich Lolwry (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 12 February 2011 19:56 (2 years ago) Permalink

Just got around to listening to some "Tango" demos, and man, is Stevie's "Joan Of Arc" weird/spooky. Destroyer could /should cover this.

Here's the demo:

And here's the "finished" version:

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 19 April 2011 18:02 (2 years ago) Permalink

Love this

― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 28 July 2011 02:31 (1 year ago) Permalink

"mystified" is the sleeper on this album

― missingNO, Friday, 5 August 2011 13:02 (1 year ago) Permalink

I cannot believe nobody voted for Seven Wonders or Isn't It Midnight! The super-urgent guitar outra on the latter is a one-way ticket to Lindsey heaven.

― Clarke B., Friday, 5 August 2011 14:15 (1 year ago) Permalink

^^^^^^ Absolutely. Under the circumstances everyone who voted for "Welcome to the room... Sara" should be shot and killed. I don't care if they were joke votes.

― Tim F, Friday, 5 August 2011 23:30 (1 year ago) Permalink

FRONT LINE BABEEEE

― livin in my own private Biden hole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 6 August 2011 01:45 (1 year ago) Permalink

is there a version of that everywhere demo longer than 1:17?

― caek, Saturday, 6 August 2011 01:46 (1 year ago) Permalink

such crazy results, 'welcome to the room... sara' is a pretty bad song almost made good by producer-lindsey's insistence that it be good, but why vote for it when you could have 'seven wonders', an okay song almost made amazing by producer-lindsey's insistence? also, poor 'family man'. i heard it dropped in the middle of a nu-disco set a while back and it was somehow perfect.

― Perfect Chicken Forever (Merdeyeux), Saturday, 20 October 2012 00:34 (7 months ago) Permalink

"Seven Wonders" is classic Lindsey playing Capn Save a Stevie.

― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 20 October 2012 12:16 (7 months ago) Permalink

Finally got round to actually checking this out properly. Other than the big hits, I love the title track the best.

― pssstttt, Hey you (dog latin), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 16:18 (2 months ago) Permalink