Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac- Best “Rhiannon” wails 1975-1994
This is a 11 minute compilation of 12 snippets from 20 years of non-commercially released audio recordings of some of the greatest, yet underrated performances in rock n’ roll history.
These revolve around ONE song- Fleetwood Mac’s 1975 classic “Rhiannon”. The original studio version is a very mellow, easy listening recording.
However, live performances of “Rhiannon” showed audiences why Stevie Nicks was THE FRONTWOMAN of Fleetwood Mac whenever the band performed live in concert.
As Mick Fleetwood has remarked, Stevie was POSSESSED during the final few minutes of each “Rhiannon” performance during those wild early days. So much so, that audiences were convinced Stevie was a demon, a witch, an out-of-control, untameable force of nature fuelled by cocaine and passion. Stevie’s classic chiffon costumes, capes and shawls fuelled this image.
Stevie would normally wail “ALL THE SAME! ALL THE SAME! ALL THE SAME! RHIANNON!… WOULD YOU TAKE ME TO THE SKY! DREAM ON! TRY HARD! YOU CAN’T LEAVE HER! DREAM ON, SILLY DREAMER!” with unrestrained fury. Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar would also wail. The rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Christine McVie manage to keep up admirably as Stevie whips the crowd into a frenzy each night because of this ONE SONG.
By mid-1977, performances of this very song would tear Stevie’s voice to shreds. Stevie’s voice would never quite sound the same again. Occasionally since then, the “Rhiannon” of 1975 was resurrected.
Here are my favourite “Rhiannon” wails (apart from those already released like Rosebud):
1. New Orleans, December (?) 1975.
Stevie’s voice is still untainted by cocaine, cigarettes and overuse, and really does “ring like a bell through the night. Her emotion really comes through- vulnerability, anger and sorrow- and the final wail is goosebumps-inducing. The perfect “Rhiannon” performance. Throat-shredding, yet Stevie’s voice is indestructible.
2. Nashville, May 1977 (Soundboard)
Here, Stevie’s voice is a bit rougher, but still clear on the final wail.
3. Los Angeles, August 1977
This is easily one of my favourite performances of “Rhiannon” ever.
After the god-awful Madison Square Garden Performance and her vocal cords being torn beyond repair on the “Rumours” Tour, Stevie struggles to sustain her high notes on “ALL THE SAMMMMME”.
But then “TO THE SKYYYY, DREAM ON!” onwards, Stevie really brings it home.
An excruciating “OHHHH”, “DREAMER! DREAMER! DREAM ON” and final wail make this THE ANGRIEST VERSION OF “RHIANNON” I’VE EVER HEARD. You can hear Stevie’s voice breaking during that final wail.
The ending is surprisingly good this late on the “Rumours” tour. The final wail, whilst different, sounds wonderfully demented and demonic!
5. US Festival, September 1982
Stevie’s goatlike voice really came out around this era. Another angry version of “Rhiannon”, with Stevie wailing out-of-tune and out-of-control.
6. Madison Square Garden, August 1986
More deranged wailing and Stevie screeching beyond her range from the hot mess that was the “Rock a Little Tour”. And I love it.
7. Kansas City, September 1987
Before the Klonopin has taken over, a little bit of “Rock a Little” Stevie is left at the start of the “Shake the Cage” tour. Some wailing here and there. Stevie has a bit of help from the background singers though.
8. Manchester, August 1990 (Radio Broadcast)
This is a favourite for the wrong reasons. If you want to hear a parody of “Rhiannon” 1975, hear this.
The Klonopin has taken hold, turning Stevie’s voice into an emotionless, vibrato-less drone. The “all the same. All the same” is a hilariously awful build-up to one of the funniest performances of ‘Rhiannon” ever.
“ALL the same GAMES! All the same GAMES! ALL the same GAMES! ALL the same GAMES!”.
Stevie hits the high notes, but ends up sounding like a seagull.
9. Greek Theatre, LA, August 1991
Despite the Klonopin, Stevie’s appearance at the Greek Theatre somehow wakes something up in her. Stevie manages to go for ALL the high notes at the end, with a tiny bit more emotion than 98% of Klonopin-era performances.
10. Greek Theatre, LA, August 1994
Stevie’s first sober concert tour shows off rougher, yet passionate, fiery and forceful vocals. The vibrato is back. Stevie goes really close to ‘Rhiannon” of 1975 but stops short of screaming “ALL THE SAME! ALL THE SAME!” in order for the band to do their thing, until:
11. Houston, September 1994
“ALL THE SAME! ALL THE SAME! RHIANNON! ALL THE SAME! BABY ALL THE SAME! ALL THE SAME! WILL YOU TAKE ME WITH YOU TO THE SKY-YYYY! ALL THE SAME! ALL THE SAME! RHIANNON! ALLL THE SAA-AMMME! ALLL THE SAA-AMMME! ALLL THE SAA-AMMME!”
Sounds exactly like the Rosebud performance. More high wailing at the very end. The crowd goes OFF!
12. House of Blues, LA, September 1994 (UNEDITED radio broadcast)
Despite having bronchitis during this concert, Stevie still screams half of “ALL THE SAME! ALL THE SAME! RHIANNON!” and wails some more at the end. Don’t confuse this recording with the more commonly circulated, saccharine overdubbed version.
Stevie would never sing “Rhiannon” with so much emotion and so many high notes ever again.
“Rhiannon” 1975 Stevie was tamed and put to rest.
RIP “Rhiannon”: 1975-1994. Long live “Rhiannon”.
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