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Fleetwood Mac (1975 album)

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Untitled
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauA−[2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Mojo[4]
MusicHound[5]
Rolling Stone[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]

Fleetwood Mac is the tenth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released in July 1975 by Reprise Records. It was the band's second eponymous album; the first was their 1968 debut album. Among Fleetwood Mac fans, the album is often referred to as the White Album.[8] This is the first Fleetwood Mac album to feature Lindsey Buckingham as guitarist and Stevie Nicks as vocalist, after Bob Welch departed the band in late 1974. The album was also the band's last to be released on the Reprise label until 1997's The Dance (the band's subsequent albums until then were released through Warner Bros. Records, Reprise's parent company).

The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 over a year after entering the chart, spent 37 weeks within the top 10, and more than fifteen months within the top 40. It was the second biggest album of 1976 (behind Frampton Comes Alive! by Peter Frampton) and the tenth biggest album of 1977. It launched three top twenty singles: "Over My Head", "Rhiannon" and "Say You Love Me", the last two falling just short of the top ten, both at No. 11. In 1986, it was certified 5x platinum by the RIAA representing shipments of five million units in the United States.[9]

"Warm Ways" was the first single lifted from the album in 1975 in the UK.[10] It was not released as a single in the United States, where Over My Head was released instead. Initially, the album generated limited interest in the UK, as the first three singles released by the new lineup failed to chart. "Say You Love Me" charted on the UK Singles Chart and it reached No. 40[11] Following the massive success of Rumours two years later, interest in the band re-ignited and Fleetwood Mac was re-released in 1978, along with the single "Rhiannon" which peaked just outside the Top 40 at No. 46.[10] The album eventually peaked at No. 23 on the UK Albums Chart[11] but was a prelude to a run of hugely successful albums for the band in Britain, including four multi-platinum number ones: Rumours, Tusk, Tango in the Night and Behind the Mask.[10]

A live version of "Landslide" was eventually released as a single in the US in 1998 after it became one of the most popular tracks from the live reunion album The Dance. It reached No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10]

Background

In 1974, Fleetwood Mac relocated from England to California to manage the band's affairs better.[12] In California, they recorded another album, Heroes Are Hard to Find, and set out on tour. Shortly after finishing up the tour, Bob Welch (guitarist, singer, and composer) announced that he was leaving what had become Fleetwood Mac's ninth lineup in eight years,[13] so that he could be part of the power trio Paris.[12] Now looking for both a new guitarist and a recording studio, Mick Fleetwood met with producer Keith Olsen at Sound City Studios to listen to some demos.[12][13] There, Olsen played Fleetwood an album he had recently engineered, called Buckingham Nicks.[12] Fleetwood particularly enjoyed the guitar solo on the song "Frozen Love",[13] and decided to hire both Olsen and the guitarist, Lindsey Buckingham.[12] However, Buckingham would not accept Fleetwood's offer unless he agreed to also hire Buckingham's musical and romantic partner, Stevie Nicks.[13] After an informal interview at a Mexican restaurant, Mick Fleetwood invited both Buckingham and Nicks to join the band.[13] Within three months, the band had recorded the album Fleetwood Mac.[13] Though the band's tenth lineup proved to be their most successful, it was not the most stable, as Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were close to breaking up when they joined the band.[13] This tension ultimately helped inspire the band's next album, Rumours.[12]

During the recording sessions, bassist John McVie noticed that Buckingham was particularly assertive when it came to teaching other members their individual parts, including the drums and the bass. McVie informed Buckingham that this wouldn't be tolerated in Fleetwood Mac. "The band you're in is Fleetwood Mac. I'm the Mac. And I play the bass".[14]

Many of the songs on Fleetwood Mac were written before Buckingham and Nicks joined the band. "Rhiannon", "I'm So Afraid", and "Monday Morning" were written and performed live by the duo and were initially slated to appear on a second Buckingham Nicks album. Crystal was recycled from the first Buckingham Nicks album, albeit with a different arrangement.[15]

Promotion and release

Fleetwood Mac was released in July 1975.[13] Though the band only experienced modest success immediately after the release, they were determined to promote their new album.[13] After touring doggedly for several months, the band started seeing the results of their hard work.[13] In an interview with Uncut, Stevie Nicks said of the album: "We just played everywhere and we sold that record. We kicked that album in the ass."[13] Fifteen months after the release of Fleetwood Mac, the album climbed to the top of the US charts.[13]

All singles from Fleetwood Mac are remixes (and occasional outright alternate takes, as in the case of "Over My Head"), noticeably different from the album versions, as included on the 2004 re-issue. A 'single mix' was also created for "Blue Letter" and this version was originally only available as the B-side to the "Warm Ways" single from 1975.[10]

This album helped launch them as musical superstars with an almost constant radio presence (which would be continued with their even more popular follow-up, Rumours). In 2003, the album was ranked No. 182 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".[16]

The album cover photo for Fleetwood Mac emulates all of the band's albums, in that all the band members have never fully appeared on the front cover of any of their studio albums, The Dance from 1997, being the only exception.[17] Drummer Mick Fleetwood and bass guitarist John McVie are the only band members that are shown on the cover.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Monday Morning"Lindsey BuckinghamBuckingham2:48
2."Warm Ways"Christine McVieC. McVie3:54
3."Blue Letter"Michael Curtis, Richard CurtisBuckingham2:41
4."Rhiannon"Stevie NicksNicks4:11
5."Over My Head"C. McVieC. McVie3:38
6."Crystal"NicksBuckingham5:14
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
7."Say You Love Me"C. McVieC. McVie4:11
8."Landslide"NicksNicks3:19
9."World Turning"C. McVie, BuckinghamC. McVie, Buckingham4:25
10."Sugar Daddy"C. McVieC. McVie4:10
11."I'm So Afraid"BuckinghamBuckingham4:22
2004 reissue

On 24 March 2004, Warner Bros. Records re-released the remastered album with the following tracks.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Jam #2" (previously unreleased)Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, C. McVie, John McVie5:41
13."Say You Love Me" (single version)C. McVie4:01
14."Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)" (single version)Nicks3:46
15."Over My Head" (single version)C. McVie3:09
16."Blue Letter" (Previously unreleased single version)M. Curtis, R. Curtis2:42

Additional information

  • Although it was written by Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham sang lead on the song "Crystal". It originally appeared (also sung by Buckingham) on the duo's 1973 Buckingham Nicks album.

Personnel

Fleetwood Mac

Additional personnel

Production

  • Producers: Fleetwood Mac & Keith Olsen
  • Engineer: Keith Olsen
  • 2nd Engineer: David Devore
  • Photograph: Herbert W. Worthington II

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[9] 5× Platinum 5,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac [Reprise, 1975]". Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "Fleetwood Mac". Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Fleetwood Mac CD". CD Universe/Muze. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  5. ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (2nd ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 434. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  6. ^ Gifford, Barry. Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac at the Wayback Machine (archived 18 January 2008). Rolling Stone, 21 January 1997.
  7. ^ Fleetwood Mac at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 November 2011). Rolling Stone.
  8. ^ Gleason, Holly (29 May 2014). "The 20 Best Fleetwood Mac Songs of All Time". Paste. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  9. ^ a b "American album certifications – Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac". Recording Industry Association of America.
  10. ^ a b c d e Strong 2003.
  11. ^ a b Roberts 2006, p. 205.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Serpick, Evan. "Fleetwood Mac Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Williamson, Nigel (29 January 2013). "Fleetwood Mac: 'Everybody was pretty weirded out' – the story of Rumours". Uncut. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  14. ^ Honingmann, David (9 January 2017). "The Life of a Song: Fleetwood Mac's the Chain". The Financial Times. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  15. ^ Fleetwood & Bozza 2014, pp. 164, 169.
  16. ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time > 182: Fleetwood Mac, 'Fleetwood Mac'". Rolling Stone. 1 November 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  17. ^ DeGroot, Joey. "7 Album Cover Photos Without the Entire Band: Fleetwood Mac, R.E.M., and more". Music Times. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  18. ^ a b c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  19. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4349a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  20. ^ "Charts.nz – Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  21. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  22. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Fleetwood Mac – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  24. ^ "Top 100 Albums of '76". RPM. Vol. 26, no. 14 & 15. 8 January 1977. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Albums". Billboard. Vol. 88, no. 52. 25 December 1976. ISSN 0006-2510.
  26. ^ "Pop Albums". Billboard. Vol. 89, no. 51. 24 December 1977. ISSN 0006-2510.
  27. ^ "British album certifications – Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Fleetwood Mac in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

Bibliography

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