Pollers Only Love You When They're Polling: The FLEETWOOD MAC Tracks Poll, ILM Artist Poll #22 [Deadline: Friday, July 20th]

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120608024220-fleetwood-mac-01-horizontal-gallery.jpg

It's a big one! Because of the multitude of songwriters, diversity of eras, sheer volume of singles, and depth/extent of previous coverage on ILX, this poll will be fairly straightforward and streamlined:

Ballot part one (mandatory): Rank your top 20 Fleetwood Mac tracks. Neither solo work nor tracks from the Buckingham/Nicks LP are eligible; only tracks by the entity called "Fleetwood Mac" may be included. Live and studio versions will be treated as one, but feel free to specify if you're so inclined.

Ballot part two (optional): Rank your top 5 Fleetwood Mac studio albums.

Deadline: Friday, July 20th

Send ballots to: clarkeboehling at gmail dot com

Fleetwood Mac Discography

Appetizers from the archives (several of many):

Fleetwood Mac: Classic or Dud
Favourite Member Of Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac - best album (a poll)
50 great things about Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk"

That best album poll tells serious lies re Future Games.

oh man

Haha, seriously. I don't know if I'll even make the deadline myself.

Trying to decide whether/how much to dive into pre-Buckingham/Nicks period, given that I can easily make a 20-song ballot just with the later stuff.

Sent!

Trying to decide whether/how much to dive into pre-Buckingham/Nicks period

Dive!!!

xp I think I could make 20 tracks just from Fleetwood Mac to Tusk.

I'm telling you: Future Games is as good as anything they've ever done.

(x-post)

Ismael, my hat is tipped... Let's see if we can get >100 ballots!

So many questions looming, and nothing feels predictable... How will the pre-Buckingham/Nicks-era material fare? How will the amazing singles from the two '80s records place in comparison to their more canonized predecessors? I'm planning to do a pretty long rollout as well so we can really dig in and (hopefully) encounter some surprises and some deeper cuts...

That best album poll tells serious lies re Future Games.

Also, WTF both self-titled albums combined receiving only one vote?!?

Yeah, destroy that poll.

Can't do Youtube at work but hopefully you can find "Show Me a Smile" and "Woman of 1000 Years" on there.

That best album poll bodes poorly for this one. Almost all of their albums are as good as anything they've ever done, is what I've finally come around to.

s/t '75 ---> Tusk best albums IMO due to being consistantly excellent, but great tracks are spread out all over the place

That best album poll bodes poorly for this one. Almost all of their albums are as good as anything they've ever done, is what I've finally come around to.

― dlp9001, Monday, July 9, 2012 10:14 AM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I feel you on that, Dan... Although that poll *was* conducted five years ago. For those considering whether or not to dive into the pre-Buckingham/Nicks era, I don't want to attempt to sway too strongly, but I will say this: you could spend an entire day on each of the pre-B/N-era records and still have a day left to contemplate and rank. One of the striking things about their discography is how much ground it covers without itself being too unwieldy or undigestible with regard to quantity...

Post-Peter Green, pre-Buckingham/Nicks era remains underrated

I decided that trying to be comprehensive here would lead me to madness, and so just voted for my very favourites 'cos they deserve it and I'd probably have ended up there anyway.

Totally adore Future Games, such a hazy mysterious folk-rock classic IMO.

Things I was saddest to cut - Oh Well and I Know I'm Not Wrong

I am def voting for Oh Well

I will also be spending some serious qt with Kiln House/Future Games/Bare Trees

I should have mentioned this in the opening post, but scoring will be in standard ILM Artist Poll format: #1:40pts, 2:36, 3:33, 4:30, 5:28, 6:26, 7:25, 8:24, 9:23, 10:22, 11:21, 12:20, 13:19, 14:18, 15:17, 16:16, 17:15, 18:14, 19:13, 20:12.

Also, if I receive ballots of fewer than 20 tracks, they will be weighted at the bottom end of the scale rather than at the top (e.g., a five-track ballot will tally as follows: #1:16pts, 2:15, 3:14, 4:13, 5:12). I encourage you to submit full ballots and thus earn that 40-point broadsword!

you people should vote for the single mix of "Think About Me."

xpost Hey! Change the rules why don't you?

So, when a particular song gets:

Barbarpapa 16 pts, 1 vote, 1 number 1

Hmm......

I posted a short ballot, should I take some random songs and fill up to the requirement?

I didn't envision getting short ballots, so I had to think on the fly. ;-) I guess I feel that the Mac are well known enough on this board (not to mention fairly culturally ubiquitous enough) for anyone dedicated enough to post a ballot to be able to come up with 20 songs fairly easily. So yeah, full ballots are strongly encouraged; and as a participant it's up to you whether your other choices are selected randomly, sweated and anguished over, or derived according to the kabbalah...

Man. I could probably come up with 20 Peter Green era tracks alone.

cwkiii's championing of Future Games is understandable... I've spent a decent amount of time with it over the past year or so, and the production is straight-up luscious, and suits the music perfectly.

man og "Black Magic Woman" is kind of amazing. First time I heard it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eANGHVQS9Q

I think this is the only kind of obscure track that might make my top 20. I still think Jack White would have done well to cover it at some point...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Yw1SZTtAs

here's hoping say you will is well represented. this, for example, is mesmerising:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwKGE5fPe5M

Some of the stuff that made it to Say You Will was floating around for years on an unfinished Lindsey album bootleg. "Red Rover" is, in particular, a favorite of mine.

It really is xp

Nicks' "Goodbye Baby" might be her best envoi, which is saying something.

Anyone have a good source with all their songs?

20 tracks is too few. I can easily think of that number before the Nicks/Buckingham era and another 50 later.

guess I should use the chance to get acquainted with the 1970-1975 era

Even if I wanted to choose one track per album 20 isn't enough.

Tusk=20 songs=instant ballot.

I find this one hypnotic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdik8L_Wxx4&feature=related

Also, for anyone who has never heard OG Mac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CT7mzrJunc&feature=related

Or, gosh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc2Ds0A0T_g&feature=related

Honestly, the Neil Young poll exhausted me. I think I'll just watch this one.

I couldn't find a good comprehensive source of all their songs, unfortunately. 20 is very few songs, yes, but I wanted it to be tough! I want people to feel like they need to make hard decisions and not be able to include *all* their favorite canonized stuff plus *all* their favorite obscurities... As I mentioned upthread, I'm going to do a nice long rollout deep into the stats. I'm blasting Future Games while warming up the grill right now, and... THIS IS GOING TO BE FRACKING IMPOSSIBLE!

I thought you said "Future Days" there and wondered why you were blasting Can album..

Sent!

― Ismael Klata, Monday, July 9, 2012 9:09 AM (9 hours ago)

Dude, you are an inspiration. Was it Zeppelin or Bowie where you had a ballot done before the ink was dry on the thread title?

generally agree that solo records don't belong in band polls but really wanted to vote for a couple of lindsey tracks

Been listening to post-Tusk records this evening and not finding anything that might make my ballot. Any recommendations?

Will definitely check out the 70-75 records before voting. Bummer I have to do it via Youtube and not Spotify.

The two records from the '80s, Mirage and Tango In the Night, are chock full of good songs... Do you know "Everywhere"? "Little Lies"? "Hold Me"? "Big Love"?

"Hold Me" might sneak in.

haven't sat down but can't imagine i don't have 'hold me' top 3 at minimum

Would someone (WmC?) be so kind as to email me the spreadsheet template discussed on the general polling thread?

FYI, I won't be able to get a good clean start on this until tomorrow afternoon NYC time, so if anyone is thinking of submitting a ballot but wishing they had more time, go ahead and take through tonight.

.xls sent

I don't know if it qualifies as a deep cut, and the Rezillos' version kind of kills the original, but Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight probably deserves a shout out. Is this available on album anywhere?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0U-eef6OyQ

Also, any other bands as big as Fleetwood Mac to have *three* (at least) covers that almost nobody knows are by the original band? Black Magic Woman, Green Manalishi, and this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8hDw6mS2pI&feature=related

Maybe four if you count Sentimental Lady...

Is this available on album anywhere?

it's on a couple of immediate records comps..

What's the third cover, dlp9001--I can't see youtube embeds on my phone

^^The Rezillos doing "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonite"

The original can be found on most Immediate Records v/a singles comps.

psyched for this - i listen to the first three "rumors" line-up albums plenty but haven't really dug into the following two and never heard a note of the band pre-buckinghamnicks so this should hopefully be a lil educational

Voted!

The Christine McVie Show: 13
feat. special guests: 7

srsly I <33 Christine McVie.

how much do you love Christine McVie?

http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/5971025527/christine-mcvie-the-perfect-mix-live-mix

: )

got a non-megaupload (rip) link for that boot?

To honor this poll, Hot Chip covered "Everywhere" at its Pitchfork show last week.

Eep, I called "Welcome to the Room Sara" the steaming turd on Tango when I meant "When I See You Again"! Stevie just sounds awful, AWFUL on that one; I can't even make it through the entire thing. I think it's the worst Fleetwood Mac song ever recorded.

On a happier note, is there a version of "Brown Eyes" out there that doesn't fade out? Because that solo Lindsey launches into just when things are starting to churn up during the slow fade-out sounds like it's gonna be a monster... I always get so frustrated that they didn't leave in more of it.

I know! But I think it's actually Peter Green playing...

Oh wow, amazing! I didn't know that... Thanks for pointing it out!

Also, any other bands as big as Fleetwood Mac to have *three* (at least) covers that almost nobody knows are by the original band?

Hmm, Tommy James? Joan Jett, Billy Idol and Tiffany all had hits covering Tommy James in the '80s.

Any love for "Second Hand News" out there? It's sort of minor, but it's awesome.

I'd add R.E.M.'s cover of "Draggin' the Line," where I bet lots of people who bought the Austin Powers soundtrack for "Beautiful Stranger" are oblivious to T.J.'s original.

LOVE "Second Hand News"! I love the way the track skips into life... It's on my ballot--not high, but on there.

I'm trying to decide whether to start rolling out the results Monday late-afternoon NYC time (the earliest I can start it due to work), or Tuesday AM NYC time... Thoughts, anyone?

As the comment says, "with Christine on drums!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlzZlWQKlNY

Late Mon for albums and start tracks on early Tues...?

monday afternoon. re: major artist (if ppl know who tommy james is they definitely know he recorded 'crimson and clover', 'mony mony', and 'i think we're alone now') w/ 3 famous covers by other artists that ppl are unaware are covers i'm thinking maybe prince w/ 'i feel for you', 'nothing compares 2 u' (borderline a prince original) and maaaybe tlc's 'if i was yr girlfriend' or d'angelo's 'she's always in my hair' or mitch ryder's 'when you were mine' (at the time at least). also thinking maybe neil young - definitely know ppl who know st etienne's 'only love will break yr heart' w/ no knowledge of the neil and totally willing to bet there are ppl who know nicolette larson's 'lotta love' but have no inkling of the originator, not sure about the 3rd. guessing dylan and leonard cohen could qualify easily here also.

Monday Morning, surely?!

maybe van morrison also - shadows of knight version of 'gloria' was the bigger hit in the us right? brian mcknight had that huge hit w/ 'crazy love', and it seems like all the them samples and rips on odelay should count somehow.

Rod's cover of "Have I Told You Lately?" re:Van

Tempted to throw in Tom Waits: "Ol' 55" (Eagles), "Downtown Train" & "Tom Traubert's Blues" (Rod Stewart), 'Jersey Girl" (Bruce Springsteen).

Mellencamp/ndegeocello cover of "Wild Night" = v possible ppl aren't familiar with the og Morrison

I didn't know about "Lotta Love" being Neil until two weeks ago

Okay guys, POLLS ARE CLOSED! Number crunching will commence shortly, and the rollout will begin Monday afternoon...

LET'S DO THIS THING

Any love for "Second Hand News" out there? It's sort of minor, but it's awesome.

made my top fifteen

It only seems minor 'cos it's relatively short, has a less lush arrangement, and because it's on Rumours. No way that'd cross your mind for any other band.

Second Hand News isn't minor at all imo. I ranked it highly.

Minor in that as a song it couldn't be simpler, melodically. Buddy Holly chords, wordless doot-doot chorus, etc. But the lyrics are great.

made my top fifteen

― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, July 21, 2012 6:06 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ditto. funny way of putting it though : )

Also thumbs up to Josh in Chicago for the Buddy Holly reference. I haven't really compared them musicologically or anything, and I haven't read any histories or interviews with FM to confirm an influence or anything, but my impression has always been that they are often mining the same rock 'n' roll vein as Holly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4xp8bOzfm0

Well done, folks: I received a total of 42 ballots, comprising 119 total songs! Given point totals and such, I'm leaning heavily toward a three-day 60-song rollout. Would everyone be happy with that, or would we have patience for and interest in an 80-song rollout?

didn't get a ballot together (started late and am still processing the early stuff, which i knew almost nothing about), but i'm looking forward to the results.

down with either 60 or 80; whichever is easier for you Clarke

I favour shorter rollouts personally, to keep us guessing a bit as we reach the top five, but it's your call Clarke and I certainly wouldn't want to deny any Mac track its moment in the sun. (I usually reckon that starting where the ties peter out is a good rule-of-thumb but actually, longer might be better here because all the Green & Welch stuff will likely be in the lower numbers)

"second hand news" made my top 14. (Even tho it's my, um, 7th-highest ranking Rumors cut...)

i'm pleased i was too late for this, i'd have exploded trying to narrow it down between s/t and tusk alone.

bummed i didn't get to vote in this one, but i did listen to Fleetwood Mac all the way down to Big Sur and I'm looking forward to the results. based on that i would have gone heavy for buckingham/nicks mac. all's fair in love and war.

also i know i've said it before on this board but mick fleetwood is deeply underrated afaict.

Only after submitting my ballot did I discover Why from Mystery to Me. What a song. Would have made my ballot even more Christine-heavy than it already is. She's so good. I'm a big fan of And That's Saying a Lot from her Christine Perfect album as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mcN-9nKkyo

also i know i've said it before on this board but mick fleetwood is deeply underrated afaict.

― all yoga attacks are fire based (rogermexico.), Monday, July 23, 2012 12:46 AM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

So damn true.

ARE Y'ALL READY TO DO THIS THING?!

Songbird!