The music of Fleetwood Mac (7 of 7)

Album: Behind the Mask (1990)

Behind The Mask - Fleetwood Mac







Album: Time (1995)

Sooner or Later - Fleetwood Mac




These Strange Times - Fleetwood Mac





Album: Say You Will (2003)

Thrown Down - Fleetwood Mac



Running Through the Garden - Fleetwood Mac

Say You Will - Fleetwood Mac



Some enjoyable tracks here and there, but it's a pity that the cigarettes have affected Stevie Nicks' voice of late, so her vocal is not as beautiful as it once was. Of the three albums above, Say You Will (2003) is probably the strongest of them, a return to form, benefited by the return of Lindsey Buckingham.
This concludes my look at the career of Fleetwood Mac. Any thoughts on Fleetwood Mac's output 1990-2003? Did I miss any tracks you love from these albums? Would you like to see new material from the band, or should Fleetwood Mac call it a day?

Next time, stop by, when I explore the albums of The National.

The music of Fleetwood Mac (6 of 7)

Album: Tango in the Night (1987)

Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac



Isn't It Midnight - Fleetwood Mac



Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac

Mystified - Fleetwood Mac

Family Man - Fleetwood Mac

Looking Out For Love - Fleetwood Mac

Seven Wonders - Fleetwood Mac


While this album overall may be too pop-friendly and lacking in depth for some listeners, there is no denying Little Lies is a classic from the 80s. With the release of Tango in the Night, Fleetwood Mac continued the approach of Mirage (1982), creating commercial easy-listening music with hit singles, the album became the groups biggest seller since Rumours (1977). Began life as a Lindsey Buckingham solo project, but by 1985 the production had morphed into Fleetwood Mac's next album. Contains plenty of inventively catchy tunes, with a sonic edge. This would, unfortunately, see Buckingham's departure from the pop/rock group, which would arguably influence the quality of the next records to come in the early to mid 90s.

Above are my selections. "Isn't It Midnight" is a personal favorite(especially the first half of the track). Readers, any thoughts on the music?

The music of Fleetwood Mac (5 of 7)

Album: Mirage (1982)

Gypsy - Fleetwood Mac


Can’t Go Back - Fleetwood Mac

Hold Me - Fleetwood Mac

Empire State - Fleetwood Mac

Love in Store - Fleetwood Mac

That's Alright - Fleetwood Mac


The 80s saw Fleetwood Mac venturing increasingly into radio-friendly soft rock. By this time Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham had each commenced a solo side-career, the former to multi-platinum #1 success with 1981's Bella Donna, the latter faring not as well with his first outing Law and Order (US Billboard #32). I haven't listened to the solo stuff yet. Gypsy was accompanied by a lengthy video, the highest-budget music video ever produced at the time.
Overall, the album doesn't hit me on an emotional, gut-level, as some of Fleetwood Mac's 70s work did, but Mirage (1982) has a number of pleasant enough tunes. I disagree with people ranking it among their worst.


Readers, have you listened to Mirage? Which are your favorites from this album?

The music of Fleetwood Mac (4 of 7)

Album: Tusk (1979)

Sara - Fleetwood Mac



Brown Eyes - Fleetwood Mac

Over & Over - Fleetwood Mac

Tusk - Fleetwood Mac

That's All for Everyone - Fleetwood Mac


How do you top the biggest selling album of the 70s? Well Fleetwood Mac didn't try to. Tusk (1979) was more experimental and didn't sell as well as Rumours (1977). Although it is probably one of their most underrated albums, which they spent a long period of time on, costing over a million dollars to record. It was the most expensive rock album made up to that point.
Fleetwood blames the album's relative failure on the RKO radio chain playing the album in its entirety prior to release, thus allowing mass home taping. In addition, Tusk was a double album, with a high list price.


Listeners, thoughts on the album? Which are your favorites from Tusk?

The music of Fleetwood Mac (3 of 7)

Album: Rumours (1977)

Stevie Nicks on the experience of making the album:

"Go back and think of your really serious passionate relationship of your life that completely falls apart. You don't see that person the next day. With us we spent 15 hours in the studio, and everybody is completely upset, and go home, and be back to work 10 hours later, in that room, in a tiny room"

Gold Dust Woman - Fleetwood Mac

Stevie Nicks:

"Gold Dust Woman is a little bit about drugs, it was about keep on going, it was about cocaine. Since I haven't done any cocaine since 1986 I can talk about it now"

Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac




Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
(I prefer the cover by The Corrs)

Stevie Nicks:

"Dreams was hopeful, it saw the break-up coming, but it was hopeful that we would be okay. Unlike Go Your Own Way which was not hopeful we would be okay. (...) I don't make up stories, they have to be real"

Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac

Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac

Songbird - Fleetwood Mac

You Make Lovin Fun - Fleetwood Mac

I Don't Want to Know - Fleetwood Mac




This album is unquestionably a highlight of the 1970s. At the time, Rumours was the biggest-selling pop album to date. The only problem is the songs may be too familiar through their repeated exposure on radio. Listeners, any thoughts on the music? Which are your favorites from Rumours?


Quotes:
Classic Albums: Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (1997)

The music of Fleetwood Mac (2 of 7)

Album: Fleetwood Mac (1975)

Landslide - Fleetwood Mac



Say You Love Me - Fleetwood Mac

Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac

Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac

Monday Morning - Fleetwood Mac

Warm Ways - Fleetwood Mac




The groups 10th album, and first number one album in America. It is often referred to as the White Album, in reference both to the album's artwork, and to The Beatles' own self-titled album. The first Fleetwood Mac LP to feature Lindsey Buckingham as guitarist and Stevie Nicks as vocalist, after Bob Welch departed the band in late 1974. The album was ranked No. 183 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Definitely one of my favorites by Fleetwood Mac. Listeners, any thoughts on this record?

The music of Fleetwood Mac (1 of 7)

Album: Albatross Need Your Love so Bad (single) (1969)

Albatross - Fleetwood Mac/Peter Green







Album: Then Play On (1969)

Coming Your Way - Fleetwood Mac







Album: Future Games (1971)

Show Me A Smile - Fleetwood Mac




Woman of A Thousand Years - Fleetwood Mac






Album: Bare Trees (1972)

Sentimental Lady - Fleetwood Mac/Bob Welch







Album: Penguin (1973)

Caught in the Rain - Fleetwood Mac







Album: Mystery to Me (1973)

Hypnotized - Fleetwood Mac





Listeners, any thoughts on the music of Fleetwood Mac? Have you listened to their albums? Which are your favorites by the group? The next six Sundays, expect Fleetwood Mac music posts, as I look at their career.