First off: Could they have picked a more distant, boring, pointless photo for this thing?
The frenetically blurry pic adorning the original Live back in December ‘80 said everything. This poorly framed glimpse taken from Loge 57 Row Z says absolutely nothing beyond ‘these are the five people in this band.’ The shot of them embracing inside the gatefold would have made a much better cover.
Second: Believe me, I’m as ready as you are to move past all these tour troves and instead hurtle happily into the next decade of Fleetwood Mac, emphasis Christine McVie.
So let’s roll the highlight reel:
* Ostensibly a companion to the official hodgepodge, this one nonetheless includes two tracks from beyond the initial scope (‘75-‘80), both recorded during the Mirage tour of ‘82. I’d gripe about inconsistency if they also weren’t two of the best bits here: a ripping ‘Second Hand News’ and a hard-charging ‘Hold Me’ (one of Christine’s finest) fired up with a stinging passion the immaculate studio version seals out.
* I love how she thanks ‘L.B.’ after Lindsey tells the Forum crowd the latter tune is one of his faves.
* ‘You Make Loving Fun’ is a stomping joy, and a marvelous reminder that Stevie Nicks is as superb a harmony vocalist as she is a lead star. (Chris shows off similarly in the first two tunes I mentioned.)
* ‘Think About Me’ is wobbly but ‘Brown Eyes’ is beguiling.
* I suspect no faster ‘Tusk’ exists. Sounds like they did all of the cocaine in the Chateau Marmont moments before barreling through it for 6.5 minutes. L.B.: ‘Real savage like.’
* It’s a testament to FM’s deeply impressive catalog that they could replicate their live set with entirely altered selections — even ye olde Peter Green pieces get swapped — and still boast an equal number of hits and high points.
* Stevie, clearly entering her prime, steals the show every time she commands a song.
* ‘Songbird’ is lovely as always but this time mostly proves how ‘fans’ could be noisy assholes at concerts a half-century ago just as much as they are now.