Friday, December 28, 2012

"Sisters of the Moon" by Fleetwood Mac

Song#:  0198
Date:  06/07/1980
Debut:  88
Peak:  86
Weeks:  3
Genre:  Pop, Rock



Pop Bits:  The Mac's experimental 1979 "Tusk" album was still lingering on the album chart in 1980 after a lackluster appearance. Considered a failure at the time, especially when compared to "Rumours," fans and critics have come to embrace the epic album and have elevated it from cult status to a full-fledged classic. This fourth single - from an album with very little single-worthy songs - was issued and barely made a dent in the chart. The group would go on a brief hiatus during which time various members would go on to release solo albums with Stevie Nicks having the greatest success.

ReduxReview:  This is a pretty intense Nicks song for a single. I can see why it was not a chart success. Although some of the Nicks-penned Mac hits had their own dark feel, I don't think any of them were as grey as this one. Plus, there is no real hook to it - just a meandering melody. And Buckingham's screeching guitar solo doesn't help. It makes for a quality album cut, but for a radio single it seems a little too bleak and distant.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  There is a famous video of the 1982 Mirage tour where the group performs this song and turns it into an 8+ minute epic. At the end of her vocal performance, Stevie Nicks starts singing in an indecipherable manner. Because of that, the video performance became known as the "speaking in tongues" version of the song. Fans consider this one of her most intense and best performances.

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3 comments:

  1. Weird. This is one of the songs on Tusk that really made me dig it a lot. I had no idea that this song charted (and I'm surprised that they released this as a single). I disagree with you about Lindsey's guitar wankery. It totally makes this song.

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    1. I think it is because he uses that same guitar wankery on many Fleetwood songs that I grow tired of it. But yeah, if I heard this for this first time back in the day I can see how it intensifies the song.

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