Rolling Stone: 17 Reasons This 'Rhiannon' Clip Is the Coolest Thing in the Universe (Fleetwood Mac)

[Omaha Steve]

I was looking for an update on Mick Fleetwood's illness as I reported early this AM in LBN: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014991514


http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/17-reasons-this-rhiannon-clip-is-the-coolest-thing-in-the-universe-20150114

Behold the absolute peak of Stevie-dom

By Rob Sheffield | January 14, 2015

If you want to make the case for Stevie Nicks as the most powerful American rock singer of the Seventies, here's your Exhibit A. Behold: This insane clip of Fleetwood Mac doing "Rhiannon" on The Midnight Special, 1976. It's the absolute peak of Stevie-dom. Here are 17 reasons why this performance proves Stevie is simply the coolest thing in the universe.

1. Stevie's opening words: "This is a song about an old Welsh witch." Translation: This "Rhiannon" is a totally different beast from the smooth studio version you've heard a million times. This version is the epic.

2. Stevie's hair. Oh, the hair. Beyond feathered. The feathers have feathers.

3. Keep in mind, the audience has no idea who Stevie Nicks is. She and Lindsey just joined Fleetwood Mac last year. These people have heard "Rhiannon" on the radio, but they don't know Stevie's name. They've never seen her rock. Rumours doesn't exist yet. They're probably thinking, "Foxy lady. I think she just said this song is about a sandwich?" They have no idea what they're in for.

FULL story at link.

http://www.rollingstone.com/assets/img/global-logo-rs.svg

[Warpy]

1. You're right, the studio version is flat in comparison

Some bands really need to be recorded live. I think this is one of them.

My response to them in the 70s was "meh." It would have been more enthusiastic if they'd put out a live album instead of the tame studio album.

[rhett o rick]

25. I agree. nm

[marym625]

2. ageless

Endless perfection. The woman rocks

Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks Stop Draggin´My Heart …:

[swilton]

3. I still have that

Flletwood Mac LP.

[elias7]

4. It seems like they've never seen live music before.

As a dead show goer and subsequent jam band frequenter, live music is what it's all about for me. Studio albums have their place for basic structure, crispness and clean sound, but live music is where you can experience the musicians as they experience the moment, communicate with each other and the audience, and really show their artistry.

I've seen other live versions of Rhiannon that are just as powerful, but different. But then again, watching George Szell conducting the Cleveland Orchestra was pretty cool too. I would say that live music played by musicians are ALL the coolest thing in the universe.

[marym625]

5. No one

Controlled their audience like the dead. No one.

[RufusTFirefly]

6. Although personally I preferred Stevie...

...I still think a pretty good case could be made for Ann Wilson

http://m.

[mimi85]

11. Not my favorite, but different strokes....

BTW, love your name. Wonder how many people get it. Geez, I'm getting old. Well, not old enough to see the Marx Bros first time around, lol.

[MrMickeysMom]

16. I'm enjoying my that one!

They pretty much ruled the day… still dO!

[belzabubba333]

22. love u annie

[lastlib]

7. she's good--without question, one of the greats--but...

...I could make a pretty good case for this lady:

Nobody had the range, and damn few had the vocal firepower of Annie Haslam!!

(Renaissance didn't have a lead guitar, but in this song, they used Annie's amazing voice to replicate one. The result sends chills down my spine!)

[hifiguy]

12. Second your comment.

Annie was astonishing. I met Jon Camp after a gig and the next time they were in town he invited me backstage and introduced me to everyone in the band. Annie is maybe 5'2" but her voice was huge. She was also trained as an operatic/classical singer.

[lastlib]

20. and she always performed *barefoot*!

I don't know why, she just did!

[MrMickeysMom]

17. I learn something every day...

I had never heard of this band!

[lastlib]

19. you are DEFINITELY missing out!

They wrote TONS of good music in the mid-70s! I'm rediscovering them myself lately. One night when I was in college pulling a late-nighter, a local radio station played their album "Turn of the Cards", and I was exposed to this gem:

It has HAUNTED me for years since! Hope you enjoy their music as much as I do!

(put on a coat before you watch this--it'll lower your body temp ten degrees!)

[Sienna86]

8. Thanks for the great mempries from my past.

Love Stevie Nicks and Ann Wilson.

[benld74]

9. The Midnight Special featured ALOT of great bands,,,,

the show ran from '73-'81, from 12AM-2AM. I can recall watching quite a few of them

[mimi85]

14. We own the following disc(s) - worth every penny!

http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Special-Bonus-additional-performances/dp/B00NFYCJNY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421628104&sr=8-1&keywords=midnight+special

[Fred Sanders]

10. Poetry. The article says some folk thought she said "this is about a sandwich".

The audience was stunned by the performance, do not see that any more.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. Tremendously great. I love Stevie, met her back in 78 when I was too young to be drinking what

I spilled all over what turned out to be the Goddess Stevie Nicks at a Warren Zevon show at the Roxy on Sunset......she's a great artist and a kind person.

[randr]

15. If I could go back in time

I would shoot whoever invented that cursed voice machine that ruins every song it is used on.

[The Jungle 1]

18. love it

I still have a thing for Celtic rock. Off Kilter, Mari Mac etc.
Rhianno, done by Nicks, however is in a class all its own.
She topped off many a good buzz.

[Snarkoleptic]

21. Powerful stuff, that!

I had to watch it twice as it's such a gripping and emotional performance.

[wilt the stilt]

23. you are all nuts

The best femaile rock singer with a band that at the time was probably the third biggest band after the Beatles and The Stones.

Truly changed the face of rock and great looking. Listen to the entire woodstock show a complete mindblower

[WhoIsNumberNone]

24. She's up for an award for Best Classic Rock Album of 2014

Unfortunately, it looks as though Turd Nugent's aggressive ballot-box stuffing campaign is going to win it for him:

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/album-of-the-year-2014/

[Hari Seldon]

26. Frank was way cooler

Here's Frank performing on the Mike Douglas show in 1976.

[mimi85]

31. Frank was awesome and influenced so many, but what

on earth does he have to do with the best female singers?

[PearliePoo2]

27. Best of them all? Easy...Linda Ronstadt

Long Long Time
The way she sings the last verse of this song leaves me gasping for air.

"Cause I've done everything I know
To try and make you mine
And I think I'm gonna love you
For a long, long time"

I Can't Let Go 0:00
Just One Look 2:57
Lies 6:05
It's So Easy 8:53
Hurts So Bad 11:29
Silver Threads 14:55
You're No Good 17:28
How Do I Make You 23:48
Heatwave 26:38

[Atman]

28. They're all awesome. And different.

I grew to despise Stevie Nicks and her stupid twirly witchy schtick. But the clip in the op is unquestionably superb.

Ronstadt was in a class by herself, but different kind of music. Alison Kraus today is equally amazing.

Ann Wilson was incredible, but once again a different style. She could belt out Led Zepellin along with ballads.

Grace Slick was okay. Excellent rocker, but her fame was more about personality and the band, I don't think her vocals were as strong. All that said, it's silly to say "she/he was the best!" music is such a personal, subjective thing. Remember, some people actually liked Yoko.

[PearliePoo2]

30. You are of course correct! It IS subjective and so personal.

"the best" is all opinion and you're right, there really doesn't have to BE "the best"!
I'm saddened almost to tears that Linda can not sing ever again. Parkinsons took her voice away.
The voice that gives me chills to my toes and closes my eyes in appreciation.
There are others of my favorites that come to mind too.
Janis, Joni and Joan. (hmmm...something about the letter "J" there?)

[greiner3]

29. She was my favorite (everything!) in my early 20s;

With that said, if a clone of Midnight Special came out today, it would survive and even outdraw SNL, which killed the above, because of TiVo; watch one and record the other.