- It`s only 4 songs and not a full album and although these 4 songs are, I think, really great, and I love them - some people have said there isn't enough Stevie on the tracks.
- This was a digital download exclusive to iTunes for the first week only. Not everyone has access to iTunes, or wants to.
- Virtually no advertising except for a few really key on-line websites publishing about the release. The band mentioning it was coming out during interviews and on the current tour helps, but there was no real hard date set as to when the EP would actually be released - until it was released.
- The entire 4 song set could be streamed legitimately online at various websites as part of the promotion.
- No hard copy available to purchase.
Whether the band believes this is a successful week is anyones guess... It all depends on what they expected, or wanted to achieve. With this being the bands very first self-release, maybe things will be different when and if this happens again.
All I know, is I'm completely pleased with these 4 songs offered - and think they should continue to either put out a few more EP`s... Or work out a way to put an album together without it taking 2 years.
Onwards... and Upwards...
I think achieving the current #5 top albums spot on iTunes is quite an outstanding achievement for a self-released four-song EP with little promotion...
ReplyDelete"Extended Play" is currently #5 on iTunes Top Albums chart:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.apple.com/itunes/charts/albums/
Whatever happened to Stevie's song she recorded with Babyface Edmonds at the end of last year? For some reason, I thought it would've ended up on the Mac's EP. She said she was "happy" with it. Perhaps she's saving it for a solo project?
ReplyDeleteHuh? Stevie recorded a song with Babyface???? I hadn't heard that.....As for the chart position, I think it's pretty decent, given that this wasn't a full album, it hasn't received any radio play, and it was exclusive to iTunes, which automatically reduces the numbers dramatically. Frankly, I hope they continue with this approach to releasing music. There's no reason for them to sign with a label. Just get the music done—and done well—and get it out there. Nobody sells anymore anyway, so why be so concerned? Just look at the numbers in the top 10 of the chart. When a CD sells less than 40,000 copies yet lands in the top 5, you know times have changed.....
ReplyDeleteAnybody else thinking Warners really dropped the ball on both In your Dreams & Extended play?
ReplyDeleteI mean such lame promotion....
^^ Warners has/had nothing to do with this release, the band self-released it... They aren't signed to a label as a group... Only Stevie is to Reprise as a solo artist.
ReplyDeleteYou can listen to the whole album on youtube for free.
ReplyDeleteI really do hope that a hard copy is in the works, I'd like to see hard copies of the EP be issued. I love the new tracks and despite my being young, I'd still prefer a tangible copy over digital. Please Fleetwood Mac.
ReplyDeleteNow on Amazon "Extended Play" is currently #208 in Paid MP3 Albums, and #48 in MP3 Rock Album Downloads the first day out ... I would say that's really great for having self-released the album under "LMJS Productions LLC" (Lindsey, Mick, John, Stevie Productions) with no promotion to speak of...
ReplyDelete^^ I do believe there are plans to release the songs on CD eventually as well, perhaps by then they'll even be ready to add a few more new songs, offering up a complete album :)
#48 in Amazon MP3 Rock Album Downloads http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/dmusic/195441011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_dmusic_1_3_last#3
ReplyDeleteI am a LONG TIME Fleetwood Mac fan. I can not even get through a full song. The fact is they are not very good. Too much tired old Lindsey Buckingham sound. They will die on the vine.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the band would place these songs on a physical CD unless there's another EP later in the year, which is my prediction. We'll get another EP later in the year.
ReplyDeleteThe reason the EP is not selling any better is because the wrong song was released to radio and promoted by the band on tour, that being "Sad Angel". It is not being played at all on radio, and has flopped on the airplay charts on RADIO & RECORDS, the music industry airplay magazine and website. They should have released "Miss Fantasy", a much more radio friendly song. Big mistake once again, and this time it may not be Warner Bros. fault, but the band itself. This is really sad because now whatever they release as a second single to radio may not even get the chance the first one did. Getting airplay is not easy for classic artists and sometimes they only get one chance.
ReplyDeleteAnd Stevie did not record a song with Babyface. When she said she worked with him last year it was for the event she played at The Kennedy Center in Washington DC in September called "A Celebration Of Science". Stevie was the headliner at their gala event, which was hosted by Whoopi Goldberg and John O'Hurley. The other two musical performances before Stevie did her 4 songs were Melissa Manchester and Babyface, who each did 2 songs. They were supposed to end the event by all 3 singing the John Lennon song "Imagine", but the event went very long because some of the politicians who spoke went on longer than planned. Specifically, Nancy Pelosi and Eric Cantor both went on way too long. Stevie, Melissa and Babyface had rehearsed the song in LA prior to the event and then sang it that day in rehearsal and it was great. Stevie sang the first verse, Face the second and Melissa the third and they all sang the chorus's. But that evening it was cut because the show went so late. I was there for the rehearsal and show and was backstage when they decided to cut the ending.
To me only "Without You" is FM-ish and novel, the rest of the tunes are total Lindsey solo. They shoulda pushed WY as the single.
ReplyDeleteTo the person who claims that SAD ANGEL was the wrong song and that it's flopped - are you for real? SAD ANGEL is outstanding and has got the lion's share of the attention and positive reviews thus far. It's a great choice. The really important news is that the song's the second most added new song after the new MUMFORD AND SONS. That means it's getting airplay and has a chance to build some real traction. It's catchy as hell! Because EP is an exclusive iTunes release it should be judged within the context of iTunes, and with that in mind it's doing great - #1 Rock, #5 Albums. This for a release with virtually no promotion. This project has an aura of critical and commercial success that's been missing for far too long. Let's see what happens next.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand all the bitching. What were people expecting? It was only released on iTunes.
ReplyDeleteI'll see if I can listen to it online (soundcloud or youtube), but I really want a physical copy in my hands right now. Honestly, I prefer to listen to a musical work on my stereo/CD player as opposed to hearing online. I want lyrics, photos, etc. And, I hope this leads to a full length LP/CD in the near future.
ReplyDelete