Rumours

Tusk, released October 12, 1979, was considered experimental, primarily due to Lindsey Buckingham's sparser songwriting arrangements and the influence of punk rock and new wave on his production techniques.  Bassist John McVie has commented that the album sounds like the work of three solo artists (Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie), whilst Mick Fleetwood later proclaimed that it is his favourite and the best Fleetwood Mac studio album created by the group.  Costing over one million dollars to record (a fact widely noted in the 1979 press), it was the most expensive rock album made up to that point. The album peaked at #4 in the US, spent over five months within the top 40, and was certified double platinum for shipping two million copies.  It peaked at #1 in the UK and achieved a Platinum award for shipments in excess of 300,000 copies.  Tusk gave the group two US top-ten hit singles, with the Buckingham-penned title track Tusk (US #8/UK #6), and the Stevie Nicks composition Sara (US #7/UK #37).  Further releases from the album, Think About Me and Sisters of the Moon were less successful; however, they both stood "the test of time" appearing in their 'single versions' on the 2002 compilation The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac. The band embarked on a huge 18-month tour to promote Tusk.  They travelled extensively across the world, including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.  In Germany they shared the bill with reggae superstar Bob Marley.  It was on this world tour that the band recorded music for the Fleetwood Mac Live album, which was released at the end of 1980.

Mirage, released June 18, 1982, was a return to the more radio-friendly soft rock.  Buckingham had been chided by critics, fellow bandmembers and music business managers for the lesser commercial success of Tusk.  Recorded at Château d'Hérouville in France, Mirage was an attempt to recapture the huge success of Rumours.  Its hits included Christine's Hold Me and Love In Store (each song being co-written by Robbie Patton and Jim Recor, respectively).  Stevie's Gypsy and Lindsey's Oh Diane and Can't Go Back. Tango in the Night, released April 13, 1987, was, for the time being, the last album recorded by the Rumours line-up of Fleetwood Mac.  Initially, as with various other Fleetwood Mac albums, the material started off as a Lindsey Buckingham solo album before becoming a group project.  The album went on to become their best-selling release since Rumours, especially in the UK where it hit no. 1 three times over the following year. Tango sold three million copies in the USA and contained four hits: Christine's Little Lies and Everywhere (the former being co-written with Christine's new husband Eddy Quintela).  Sandy Stewart and Stevie Nicks' Seven Wonders, and Lindsey Buckingham's Big Love.  Family Man, Isn't It Midnight, and the title track were also released as singles, with lesser success. A ten-week tour was scheduled to follow the albums release, however, Lindsey Buckingham backed out at the last minute.  He tried to explain to his bandmates that he felt his creativity was being stifled by his remaining in the band.  A group meeting at Christine McVie's house resulted in much rancour and recrimination, as well as an alleged (in Mick Fleetwood's autobiography) physical altercation between Lindsey and Stevie.  Buckingham left the band the following day.

Behind the Mask, released April 10, 1990, was the first album after the departure of guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.  He was replaced by Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, both guitar players, singers and songwriters.  Fleetwood Mac thus became a six-piece band with four singer/songwriters.  The album was not as successful as its predecessor, Tango in the Night, nor did it spawn any big hit singles although Save Me made the US Top 40, while Love Is Dangerous and Skies the Limit enjoyed some airplay.  Though it barely reached the US Top 20, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 and achieved platinum status there. Time, released October 10, 1995, features a unique line-up for the band with the addition of former Traffic guitarist Dave Mason and country vocalist Bekka Bramlett, daughter of Delaney and Bonnie, to the line-up.  Time is the first and only Fleetwood Mac album since 1974's Heroes Are Hard to Find not to feature any contribution from Stevie Nicks.  I get a kick out of the Christine McVie and Eddy Quintela composition, Hollywood (some other kind of town).  Shortly after the album's release, Christine McVie informed the band that the album was her last. Say You Will, released April 15, 2003, was the first Fleetwood Mac studio album to peak in the top 3 in the US since 1982's Mirage.  It was the first Fleetwood Mac album since Kiln House in 1970 that did not include tracks written by vocalist/keyboardist Christine McVie, who had left the group in 1998.  It also marks the first studio album in 16 years to feature Lindsey Buckingham back as a full member and sharing keyboard duties with Stevie Nicks on the album.  Say You Will has sold approximately 2 million copies worldwide and was the last studio album released by Fleetwood Mac.

Wanderin' Spirit
August, 2014
"Rumours"

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