Behind the Mask turns 34

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by Mr Scarrott

My usual two pennyworth on this subject.

A third of a century has not dimmed the sense of despondency I felt when I first listened to it. I first became a fan when Tango came out, and whilst that was a flawed gem, it captivated my interest and I explored the band's history.

And then this. Someone on Rolling Stone in his review had the nerve to say "what's really funny, though, is that the addition of Rick Vito and Billy Burnette is the best thing to ever happen to Fleetwood Mac." I suppose in the sense that they didn't suffer from schizophrenia, join a cult, or sleep with Mick's wife or descend into a spiral of drink and drugs that might be true. Stevie was terrible on this album, Christine was sub-par and occasionally embarassingly so and seemed to know it.

I didn't know whether to laugh or just stare at the wall to see if doing that was more fulfilling. Out of the Cradle a couple of years later was a cathartic moment and a hint at what could have been...

I remember thinking: the arrangements are awful. Some of the songs had beautiful bones. Without all of the bloat and gloss, maybe three or four of the songs would have been very nice. But once Lindsey had left in 87, I lost a lot of interest.

Always loved Love Shines and Heart of Stone, though.

Funny you should mention Out of the Cradle, which I loved. I ended up getting it the same day I bought Time. Naturally, LB's album is a classic, but Time is misunderstood, underrated, and on the whole much better than Mask. "Sooner or Later" alone was worth the admission. And if you skip the Dave Mason tunes, and the last one...

[Mr Scarrott]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I remember thinking: the arrangements are awful. Some of the songs had beautiful bones. Without all of the bloat and gloss, maybe three or four of the songs would have been very nice. But once Lindsey had left in 87, I lost a lot of interest.

Always loved Love Shines and Heart of Stone, though.

Funny you should mention Out of the Cradle, which I loved. I ended up getting it the same day I bought Time. Naturally, LB's album is a classic, but Time is misunderstood, underrated, and on the whole much better than Mask
. "Sooner or Later" alone was worth the admission. And if you skip the Dave Mason tunes, and the last one...

I'm pretty much with you on this. I don't think Greg Ladanyi did the band any favours with his production and it's noticeable that he wasn't brought back for the later two Chris songs you mentioned. The title track is the best of an otherwise poor set: it has an element of mystery to it that reminds me of HAHTF or MTM. Christine once said the 90s Mac albums were terrible, but as you point out, Time was a better body of work. Yes, BTM wen straight to no 1 in the UK but that was due to a post- Tango/GH momentum. It dropped down the charts soon enough and the singles were duds.

[bwboy]

As Long As You Follow, No Questions Asked, Save Me, Behind the Mask, In the Back of My Mind, Do You Know, When It Comes to Love, Love is Dangerous, Freedom, Skies the Limit, all of these are some of my favorite FM songs. Plus the outtakes Intuition and Game of Love, two incredible songs that I still don’t understand how they didn’t make it on the record. And Love Shines and Heart of Stone showed that Christine, Mick, John, and Billy could have made more great music together, especially when teamed with the right producer.

I don’t think Christine had anything to be embarrassed about on this album or of this era- she shined during this time, more than fulfilling what she started on Tango with Little Lies, Everywhere, and Isn’t It Midnight.

[SteveMacD]

Stevie was terrible, Rick’s guitar tone did nothing for me, and Billy was too tame even though he arguably had the “edgiest” song on the album.

It was corporate schlock at its most corporate. Not bad, not satisfying, just there.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

It was corporate schlock at its most corporate. Not bad, not satisfying, just there.

Perfectly phrased. At least a terrible album is memorable. This is mostly beige wallpaper and mauve carpeting in the dermatologist’s office.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by bwboy

As Long As You Follow, No Questions Asked, Save Me, Behind the Mask, In the Back of My Mind, Do You Know, When It Comes to Love, Love is Dangerous, Freedom, Skies the Limit, all of these are some of my favorite FM songs. Plus the outtakes Intuition and Game of Love, two incredible songs that I still don’t understand how they didn’t make it on the record. And Love Shines and Heart of Stone showed that Christine, Mick, John, and Billy could have made more great music together, especially when teamed with the right producer.

I don’t think Christine had anything to be embarrassed about on this album or of this era- she shined during this time, more than fulfilling what she started on Tango with Little Lies, Everywhere, and Isn’t It Midnight.

I agree. Chris yet again brought some great songs. Her voice meshed with Billy really good on their duet.
The album is a mixed bag for me but I tend to appreciate it more than Tango. If you call BTM corporate rock then you must call Tango corporate synth pop. I'll take the corporate rock category any day.
Stevie's songs are sad and bad. Freedom is ok. But Second Time and Affairs Of The Heart are some of the worst songs she ever recorded.
I dont care for Billy's singing and I cant stand Hard Feelings but he's got the best song on the album - go figure that one out.
I really like the title track and its nice to get a dark Chris song but I can never explain why I dont like the song more. I cant put my finger on it but the song does not grab you like a Chris track should. The tempo or the beat or something.
I just like hearing the classic Mac again. None on the songs on Tango sound like Fleetwood Mac if you strip all vocals. BTM has many classic Mac elements and Chris plays so much on the album. Besides the OWTS tour with Chris, the 1990 tour is my favorite. The band was on fire and poured their energy into every song. It was the last of their arena rock before a more tame and neutered Dance would happen 7 years later. Stevie was just drugged out and danced. Chris and the guys took control of the show.


Winner circle:
Back of My Mind
Love Is Dangerous
When It Comes To Love
Save Me
Skies The Limit

Meh:
Behind The Mask
Freedom
Do You Know
Stand On The Rock
When The Sun Goes Down

Horrible:
Second Time
Affairs of the heart
Hard Feelings

[jbrownsjr]

Do I love this album, no. But, I do like it very much. Took me so long, but now I like Skies. I feel like the playing and performances on this album are solid, too.

I like this album better than Time and SYW... but, that's as far as I'll go.

{walks off singing..."one set of doors was the colour of honey... one set of doors was pink and greyyyyy. Well I wonder which set is mine said she....."

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Do I love this album, no. But, I do like it very much. Took me so long, but now I like Skies. I feel like the playing and performances on this album are solid, too.

I like this album better than Time and SYW... but, that's as far as I'll go.

{walks off singing..."one set of doors was the colour of honey... one set of doors was pink and greyyyyy. Well I wonder which set is mine said she....."

That's my least favorite song on the album. Its nails down the chalkboard. There are a few songs you can hear the klonopin in her voice and this is one of them. I also hate songs where the back up chorus answers back the singer. I also hate songs with cliches sung over and over. "Its better to have loved and lost then never to have loved before"
There are many reasons to hate this song besides the honey, pink and grey doors.
"I wonder which set of mine says she" OMG who talks like that. She does not even sing like that. YES, I would say that to Bob Dylan too.

[moon]

Personally, I think it has almost no comparison with TITN, not only for Lindsey's production, songs and stuff, but also for the style and the age it was released, more far away from the synth-pop you say...

I like it less than Time, I think Time is better -specially Chris' songs-, but I respect it a bit more than SYW. Well of course if we erase some songs!

Those last tries to make the band a commercial one, really failed, and are very weak songs...I mean, Skies The Limit and Save Me. I can't stand them! I like them, but please NO! Don't force the try to have another commercial success!!

Behind The Mask -the song- has a very special meaning for me after a very personal situation I live 2 years ago...The part of "There will never be a second chance for you...Oh, no...Not for you", fits perfectly. So it's one of the highest points for me.
Nicks songs are weird, but I can live with Affairs Of The Heart. It's like a song that kept itself waiting for a release after TITN or TOSOTM, sounds REALLY like an 1987 song!

Billy and Rick's efforts are not bad, specially Billy's, as he sings a lot and has a good work with Chris. Stand On The Rock and WTSGD are, well...I don't want to sound boring, but they don't sound like FM, not like the TITN's Fleetwood Mac. I'm talking about Fleetwood Mac the band, not the 1987 band only. Anyway, they sounded good.

One thing I must say, the beginning of ITBOMM is needlessly LONG!! I must skip it to hear what we really wanted to hear!!

And of course I must say this, since the situation warrants it. The Second Time sucks. It simply sucks. If When I See You Again was trash, this one definitely wins all the prizes.

[BrownEyedGirl26]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I agree. Chris yet again brought some great songs. Her voice meshed with Billy really good on their duet.
The album is a mixed bag for me but I tend to appreciate it more than Tango. If you call BTM corporate rock then you must call Tango corporate synth pop. I'll take the corporate rock category any day.
Stevie's songs are sad and bad. Freedom is ok. But Second Time and Affairs Of The Heart are some of the worst songs she ever recorded.
I dont care for Billy's singing and I cant stand Hard Feelings but he's got the best song on the album - go figure that one out.
I really like the title track and its nice to get a dark Chris song but I can never explain why I dont like the song more. I cant put my finger on it but the song does not grab you like a Chris track should. The tempo or the beat or something.
I just like hearing the classic Mac again. None on the songs on Tango sound like Fleetwood Mac if you strip all vocals. BTM has many classic Mac elements and Chris plays so much on the album. Besides the OWTS tour with Chris, the 1990 tour is my favorite. The band was on fire and poured their energy into every song. It was the last of their arena rock before a more tame and neutered Dance would happen 7 years later. Stevie was just drugged out and danced. Chris and the guys took control of the show.


Winner circle:
Back of My Mind
Love Is Dangerous
When It Comes To Love
Save Me
Skies The Limit

Meh:
Behind The Mask
Freedom
Do You Know
Stand On The Rock
When The Sun Goes Down

Horrible:
Second Time
Affairs of the heart
Hard Feelings

There is a great Japan TV live version, of 'Freedom' on YouTube called 'Soundgig'.