Customer Reviews

The Dance

5 star:		(133)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

It seems like every ten years Fleetwood Mac somehow finds their way into the spotlight. In 1977, they had the spotlight with the landmark album "Rumours". After the two follow-up albums to "Rumours" didn't quite measure up to the 1977 classic, Fleetwood Mac would take a five year hiatus. After that hiatus, the band would reunite for what was considered a moderately successful 'comeback' album called "Tango in the Night". It was following "Tango in the Night" that major changes would be in-store for the band. Right after the release of "Tango", guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham - a major creative force would depart from the group. Eventually Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie - the other 2/3 of the creative force in terms of songwriting and vocals would depart. By 1995, Fleetwood Mac with founders Mick Fleetwood and John McVie would still try to go on - this time they would bring in the likes of veteran rocker Dave Mason, but it was clear things were not the same. As 1997 approached, things started to swing upwards again. As told on this CD, Lindsey Buckingham asked Mick Fleetwood to play drums on an album we was working on. Eventually "one thing led to another" and the 5 core members (Buckingham, Nicks, Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie) were all back in the studio. This would eventually lead to some touring - thus in 1997, the live album "The Dance" was released. With live albums, they are often hit or miss, but this on this one - Mac hits on out of the park. Not only do they put out an album that was the best of 1997, they put out one of the greatest live albums - ever.

There are two components to why "The Dance" was so special. These two components have been Mac staples throughout their careers. The first is that the 5 members captured raw emotion on "The Dance". Fleetwood Mac has always shown they are most successful when emotions are running high. This was clearly the case during the making of "Rumours" when the band was dealing with the breakups of both the marriage of the McVies and long-term relationship between Stevie and Lindsey. Much of that emotion led its way into the music and thus "Rumours" catapulted to landmark status. Now some 20 years later, the 5 members are older and wiser. What is evident is that despite all of the trials and tribulations these members went through over the last 20 years, there was still a lot of passion and care between them all. On the performance of "The Dance" they give in Los Angeles, this is very evident. The second component is that Fleetwood Mac was never afraid to deviate from the parameters of the formula of Rock music - in other words, they like to experiment. On "The Dance", the band shows they like to experiment in a few different ways. It's also worth noting that this is all captured on a single night - as opposed to a "best of" of live songs from multiple nights of the tour. This helps make "The Dance" special.

Looking at the first component. If you get the corresponding video to "The Dance" you will see these emotions run high on stage. However, you don't need this video to feel these emotions surface. The vocalists - Christine, Stevie, and Lindsey connect with the audience immediately through speaking to them - especially Lindsey who truly shows he is glad to be back in the group. There is a lot of dynamics between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. During "Landslide", Lindsey plays guitar as Stevie goes into an emotional song dedicated to her father. However, its evident as Lindsey's guitar meshes with Stevie's vocals that a lot of old emotions are beginning to surface - even some tears begin to surface. At the end of the song, Stevie gives what has become a trademark "Thank you Lindsey" and Lindsey responds back "Thank you Stevie". Emotions run higher during "Silver Springs". This was a song that was left off the "Rumours" album, but always was a Stevie favorite. Stevie was always upset that this song never made it to be released. On "The Dance", this was the first single released. This is one of the great live performances ever - especially toward the end of the song when Stevie and Lindsey go into an emotional duet. Emotions are at a complete high because this was a song written by Stevie about Lindsey. At the end Stevie has her say when she remarks how "Silver Springs was a great old song". The McVies never quite wore their hearts on their sleeves like Stevie and Lindsey, but you will see a humorous side when Christine gets John to sing vocals on "Say You Love Me".

As for the experimentation - Mac uses a Banjo and has John on vocals (first time) for "Say You Love Me". The best is when they introduce the USC Marching Band for "Tusk" and "Don't Stop" - this comes off like a charm. It's really good stuff.

There are also four new songs done live. These songs are not token additions - they are terrific. "Temporary One" (Christine vocals) and "Sweet Girl" (Stevie vocals) are the two best ones. The two Lindsey songs are also very good as well ("My Little Demon" and "Bleed to Love Her"). These songs are also packed with a lot of emotion and are terrific additions to the collection..

The 17 songs of "The Dance" will truly keep you happy. There is a good cross-section of the music of the albums made by these 5 core members and should keep old and new fans happy. The liner notes don't have any lyrics (including the new songs) and they don't mention where and when the performance was recorded. However, this is still an excellent album - easily best of 1997 and one to have in your collection.

"The Dance," Fleetwood Mac's ninth and perhaps best album, is a must-have live recording of some of their greatest, most timeless hits mixed in with a few new gems from the group's three gifted, profific songwriters; Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, and Christine McVie. The Mac sound better than ever as they dust off old favorites such as "Say You Love Me" and "The Chain" with renewed vitality. Stevie Nicks' rendition of the lost classic "Silver Springs" is the album's standout track; Nicks sounds just as powerful as ever as she wraps her sexy, velety voice around this grammy- nominated single. Other masterfully remixed tracks include a moving new version of "Rhiannon," as well as an amazing take on "Big Love." The USC Trojan Marching Band joins the gang for rocking renditions of "Tusk," and "Don't Stop." This album helped me rediscover Fleetwood Mac (and fall in love with Stevie Nicks)-- It's one of those great CDs you will listen to over and over again, and appreciate it more every time.

This live album showcases the incredible musicianship of Fleetwood Mac. John McVee is one of the most overlooked and under-rated bass players in rock. He is truly gifted, listen to his driving, pulsing back beat throughout most of the songs. Mick's drumming is also inspired. Buckingham is usually given most of the credit as the quintessential musician in the band, but this is shafting McVee and Fleetwood, who are awesome in their own rights. Moreover, the vocals here are fresh, vibrant and impassioned on all the songs. This album proves conclusively what a professional and polished unit Fleetwood Mac has always been.

What is remarkable is that these live versions are equal to, and in some cases, superior to the familiar and classic studio versions. Don't Stop and You Make Loving Fun on this album are better than the Rumours versions (honest!)

The pinnacle here is Stevie Nick's haunting and beautiful Silver Springs. She finally resurrects this little-known ode to Lindsey. The arrangement here is as stirring and lovely as anything this band ever recorded. This is a powerhouse band sounding (literally) better than ever. A joyful listening experience.

In 1997, that most excellent of rock bands, Fleetwood Mac got together for a 30th anniversary reunion. This is the product of that reunion. This excellent live concert recording is an excellent purchase - the sound quality is great, and there are many wonderful renditions of their older songs which became favorites, such as Silver Springs. And there are some new ones, including Bleed to Love Her.

This is a great CD, and a great addition to my musical library. I think that my favorite songs on this album are Bleed to Love Her, Say You Love Me and Silver Springs. I love this album and highly recommend it to all fans of great music!

Live albums aren't easy to pull off, but this recording of Fleetwood Mac's 1997 reunion concert comes out a winner. THE DANCE marks the first time the most popular lineup of the band had performed together in 10 years and the program (along with the following tour) proved to be a moving and lucrative investment. The song set includes the typical mix of familiar songs along with a few new ones. Like most live albums, there is an air of predictability that hangs over the proceedings, although this never becomes a major problem. No matter how contrived the reasoning behind the band's reunion, the audio version of THE DANCE retains all of the cathartic emotion and sheer excitement of that evening's performance.

The band sounds great, and all three of the vocalists are in good form. It is true that Stevie Nicks has lost a noticeable amount of her vocal range. This is especially jarring on "Dreams," where Nicks' inability to reach the higher notes lessens the impact of number. However, Nicks' intensity as a performer carries her through, and her now-lowered actually benefits several of that evening's selections.

The same is true of Lindsey Buckingham, who does not seem to be able to reach the very top of his range with the ease that he once did. In many ways, he doesn't even sound like the same man when comparing that evening's performance of "Go Your Own Way" to the 1977 studio version. But Buckingham's voice has only increased in sheer power, and I have never heard him sing with such raw and unhinged passion before. Throughout the entire show, he sounds alive, wired, and very sexy.

No matter how you choose to look at it, there is no doubt that Christine McVie looks and sounds better than ever. Never having been much of a clothes horse in the past, Christine looks absolutely stunning in a tailored suit and an extremely flattering bob, and she sounds terrific. On the night of this particular concert, she delivered knockout renditions of "Everywhere," "You Make Lovin' Fun," and "Say That You Love Me" - all three of which remain bright highlights on this recording. Even with her unassuming and humble nature, Christine managed to steal much of the show without even conspiring to.

Without mincing any worlds, all else that needs to be said of the band's performance is that the skills of rock's greatest rhythm section, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, have only improved with time. The biggest surprise of all, however, is Lindsey Buckingham's continued prowess on the guitar. Always one of the criminally underrated guitarist, Buckingham emerges on THE DANCE as an absolute genius on the strings. I honestly do not believe there was ever another guitarist with such raw talent as Buckingham since Jimi Hendrix, and that is the highest compliment possible for anyone who plays the instrument.

The band sounds particularly fantastic on the four newly-written songs, all of which are worthy enough to stand next to the classics. Lindsey Buckingham's "Bleed To Love Her," a moving love song with a unique bent and a nearly acoustic arrangement, is the best of the new material (even though it borrows the bridge from Buckingham's own 1992 composition "You Do or You Don't"). Buckingham's neurotic ditty "My Little Demon" is also a cute addition to the set, and is one of his most straightforward compositions. Buckingham also introduces both numbers before performing them, and his stage comments reveal him to be a likeably warm and soft-spoken man.

I was generally disappointed with the banal quality of Christine McVie's original material on 1995's TIME, however, she is back in top form with the bouncy "Temporary One" - her newly-penned contribution to THE DANCE. Very much in the style of her most endearing Mac compositions, "Temporary One" features the most memorable refrain McVie has written since 1987's incomparable "Little Lies." The remaining newly-written song, Stevie Nicks' stark "Sweet Girl, is a tense and wrenching number that far outshines most of the material that she contributed to 1990's BEHIND THE MASK and her 1994 solo recording STREET ANGEL. The song memorably makes the swift transition from spirited verses to a moody chorus, with a killer lyrical hook ("I used to dance across the stages of the world"). It easily ranks among her finest songs of the nineties.

Most of the Mac's signature numbers are faithfully performed, with arrangements that are very similar to their studio counterparts - yet there are a few surprises. The major departures come with a new ballad-like opening for "Rhiannon," an epic guitar solo to close "I'm So Afraid," and the addition of a marching band to "Don't Stop." All of these deviations are interesting, especially Lindsey's amazing acoustic rendition of "Big Love," which is surprisingly superior to the heavily-produced 1987 studio version. Some of the evening's other standout moments include Stevie's wrenching rendition of "Landslide," the thundering opening performance of "The Chain," and a vibrant version of Christine's "Say That You Love Me" (with John singing for the first time on back up).

The highlight among highlights, however, is the addition of the Nicks-penned, former B-side "Silver Springs" (which failed to make the cut on RUMOURS) to the set list, with Nicks giving the song such a passionate performance that one may wonder why it was ever scrapped in the first place. Justifiably, the song has since finally become widely recognized as one the Mac's signature songs, and even snagged the group a 1998 Grammy award nomination. The belated gratification must have been sweet for Nicks, who admitted to having previously been frustrated over the song's inexplicable exclusion from that colossal 1977 album. The heavy radio air-play of "Sliver Springs," the high-rated cable airing of the filmed concert, and all the publicity surrounding the group's reunion combined sent THE DANCE all the way to the #1 position on the Hot 200 and has sold a whopping five million copies in the US alone. For at least a few months, it felt like 1977 all over again, and it was great while it lasted.

The Mac is back with a vengeance...there's no doubt about that. As the owner of just about every album in existence by this timeless group of individuals, I feel obliged to make it known that the tracks presented here are remastered classics taken to new heights. The group sounds better than ever, and each member contributes greatly to produce a triumph of sound and emotion. Lindsey and Stevie are, for me, particular standouts...they have both aged like fine wine and there is a definite chemistry still evident between them, especially during Stevie's golden rendition of "Silver Springs." (Watch the video!) It is a crying shame that "Gold Dust Woman" does not appear on the album...it is without a doubt the single best rendition I have heard--I still get goosebumps. "The Chain," too, puts all other versions of this song to shame...and Lindsey's solos, including "Big Love" and "Go Insane," are breathtaking. Stevie Nicks remains a goddess...she glows onstage more than ever and radiates an ever-intensifying maturity and grace. These are true artists...we can only hope and pray that they return to the studio soon. They're magic!!

: When the original band broke up with departure of Lindsey in 1987 and Stevie in 1993 it was clear that the band's days were numbered with two key factors in their successes gone. The last Mac Album, 1995's "Time" crashed and burned with no one noticing so when the band announced plans for a reunion concert special (Marking the 20th anniversary of their groundbreaking album "Rumours") and plans for a live album / tour to follow it was speculated that a full fledged reunion was in store. That hasn't exactly happened. (Christine has chosen not to participate in a new album) This live album begins with a great version of their hit "The Chain" which still sounds good even after 20 years. Then it is one to hits ranging from "Dreams", "Everywhere" (A vast improvement on the original version) Big Love (Another improvement over the original) and "Say You Love Me". Along the way the band treats us to some great new material ranging form Lindsey's Rock and Roll sounding "My Little Demon" and a great new song from Stevie called "Sweet Girl". The Usc Marching band who recorded "Tusk" the title track from the 1979 album returns to assist in performing that song as well as a rousing new version of "Don't Stop" which ironically was used as Bill Clintons Campaign Song. The standout on the album is the crowd pleasing hit that never made it on the classic "Rumours" album, a love song called "Silver Springs", which brought the house down at the taping and is still my all time favourite Mac Track. A great album that proves their 70's success was very richly deserved.

"The Dance" by Fleetwood Mac is probably the greatest thing to happen to the history of music. After many years of not performing together, this legendary band has rejoined to create a masterpiece of old hits and new songs. However, every song on this album, including the already popular hits such as "The Chain" and "Rhiannon" are different, but still great. The songs still resonate the original sounds and feel, but have grown musically as has the band. In addition to the already mentioned favorites, other songs such as "Dreams", "Don't Stop", and "Go Your Own Way" help pave the path of this great album. Yet this is also full of new songs such as "Bleed to Love Her" by Buckingham and "Sweet Girl" by Nicks. Other great songs which were not as popular with the album's release but have spawned radio success such as "Landslide" and "Silver Springs" are also included. There is NOT a bad song on this album! The original fervor of this stellar band is back! Their live performance is fresh and strong, illustrating their musical maturity and experience.

"The Dance" was something that most people thought they would never see. Like The Eagles "Hell Freezes Over", the 70's multiplatinum version of Fleetwood Mac was a band that most people thought would never happen again. But, like The Eagles this version of the band was brought back together for a television concert and the result was the DVD and album called "The Dance". For me this is the album that really made me into a Fleetwood Mac fan. Back in the band's hey day I never really gave them much thought. Of course they were all over the radio and I liked some of their tunes ok, but I just thought of them as a top 40 singles band and never purchased or even listened to a whole album. Then in the mid 90's a friend of mine let me borrow Lindsey Buckingham's solo album "From The Cradle" and I was blown away. I had never realized what a unique talent Buckingham had and was captured by both his creative songwriting ability and instrumental prowess. Not too long after that the Fleetwood Mac reunion came along and I realized that I had never really given these guys a chance. Not only is Buckingham great on this album, but I came to appreciate Stevie Nicks and her vocal and writing contributions as well. Hell, the whole band impressed me. The album consists of plenty of Mac classics as well as four new tunes. Studio versions of some of these would show up later on the bands "Say You Will" reunion album. The new songs are all good with Buckingham's "Bleed To Love Her" and "My Little Demon" very much in his slightly off kilter style. Nick's "Sweet Girl" seems to be a look back at her younger self, and even my least favorite Mac songwriter Christine McVie scores a knockout with "Temporary One". Of the classic Mac tunes they are all delivered with energy and verve. The album opens with a great rendition of one of the band's signature tunes "The Chain". Lindsey Buckingham shines and crunches out killer guitar solos during "I'm So Afraid" and his solo acoustic rendition of "Big Love" is done very different from the studio original yet works like a charm. Nicks may not quite have the range that she once had, but still shines on "Dreams", "Rhiannon", (with it's effective slow introduction), and the truly gorgeous "Landslide". The biggest highlight for Nicks however is her impassioned delivery of "Silver Spring" her ode to Lindsey Buckingham. Maybe it's all just theater, but she spits out the lyrics of this song as if many years of frustration are welled up inside her. I remember seeing the DVD of this concert and the sight of Nicks and Buckingham singing the venomous lines to each other was truly moving. Yea, I know they have done this song many times over the years, but this time, it came across, as if she was really letting him have it. If she was just acting she really did an effective job. Christine McVie is also very good on this disc. My least favorite Mac, her voice has arguably held up the best of the three and she does a very nice job of "Everywhere", "You Make Lovin Fun", and "Say You Love Me". As an encore Fleetwood Mac bring on the USC marching band for rousing renditions of their experimental hit "Tusk", and the grand finale of "Don't Stop". To be honest I even surprise myself at the amount of praise I heap on this disc, especially considering I never was really into this band before. But....this is an outstanding live collection and a must for Fleetwood Mac fans or anyone who might what to explore these guys further.

"The Dance" is a live album recorded during their '97 comeback tour. 17 songs that are just vintage Fleetwood Mac. This album sounds so good that it sounds as if it were recorded in the studio. All of the familiar Mac hits are here, including: "The Chain", "Dreams", "Landslide", "Go Your Own Way", and "You Make Loving Fun" are just some of the songs you'll hear. Also "Tusk" and "Don't Stop" which feature the USC marching band backing the group in a fantastic mixture of rock and a brass section which gives it a unique sound. The 1987 hit "Big Love" is played by Lindsey Buckingham by himself in a dazzling array of singing and guitar playing. There are also some great new songs on here that are instant classics. "Temporary One", "I'm So Afraid", and "Sweet Girl" are my favs of the new songs. And the song "Silver Springs" which is a Stevie Nicks classic is on here. This album was Grammy-nominated for a reason: VINTAGE FLEETWOOD MAC. Stevie Nicks is in top form with her sexy, husky vocals. This band has incredible chemistry, so it is no wonder why they've been around for over 25 years. This is great, timeless classic rock that will live on for another 25 years and beyond. So if you don't have it, then get off your Futon and get it!