This is the album that turned Fleetwood Mac into a household name. Originally formed as a blues band in 1967, Fleetwood Mac had taken a turn to more pop-oriented music with their 10th and self-titled album in 1975. This precursor to Rumors also saw the addition of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to the band after the departure of guitarist Bob Welch. The band toured and promoted that album heavily and their work paid off. But it would be this eleventh album, Rumors, which would solidify their fame. The title was suggested by John McVie because he saw that the band members were writing about each other through the music.
The band was all the walking wounded at the time. Drummer Mick Fleetwood was divorcing, bassist John McVie and keyboardist Christine McVie were separated, and vocalist/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks were breaking up. All this drama poured into their music.
While not every song was released as a single, virtually every song on the album is familiar based upon its rotation on FM radio. There is a timelessness about Fleetwood Mac, and we mention in this podcast how their popularity crossed generations.
We hope you enjoy this exploration of one of the most successful albums of the 70's.
Don't Stop
This song was written by Christine McVie and is sung by Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie. It was the third single released from the album. It is an optimistic look at things after Christine's separation from John McVie to whom she was married for 8 years. Christine McVie was a session keyboardist when Fleetwood Mac first formed, and married John shortly thereafter. Bill Clinton used this music as his theme song during his 1992 Presidential campaign, and persuaded the group to reform and perform this song at his inaugural ball.
Dreams
The second single from the album would be the highest charting song, going to number 1. Stevie Nicks wrote it, and handles lead vocals. It is about all the drama the members were going through - divorce, separation, and break-ups. The band was not all that impressed when they first heard it due to its simplicity in chord structure, but fortunately they decided to include it on the album after all.
Gold Dust Woman
Stevie Nicks also wrote and sang this track, which was not released as a single, but received attention at the B-side to “You Make Loving Fun.” Nicks has described it as about Los Angeles, a bad relationship, and, perhaps most fameously, as a metaphor for cocaine.
The Chain
Clearly the heaviest track on the album, it is the only track on the album for which all five band members received songwriting credit. This is another song in which the relationship struggles of the band are prominent. It was a literal combination of older material, and the intro was spliced in from an old Buckingham Nicks song using a razor blade to cut and splice the tapes. Stevie Nicks wrote most of the lyrics, and Buckingham sings lead.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from “Sanford and Son” by Quincy Jones
The comedy series starring Redd Foxx came to an end in February 1977.
STAFF PICKS:
“Undercover Angel” by Alan O'Day
Wayne brings us the best known song by singer-songwriter Alan O'Day, who had written songs previously for Helen Reddy and The Righteous Brothers. He also relays a tragedy in his life where he won a Charlie's Angels poster that was never delivered!
“The Things We Do For Love” by 10 cc
Brian's staff pick features great harmonies and a story about a guy walking in the rain to his girlfriend's house. "like walking in the rain and the snow when there's nowhere to go, and you're feelin' like a part of you is dying."
“The First Cut is The Deepest” by Rod Stewart
Rob's staff pick was originally written by Cat Stevens; but this rendition is one of the better known, as sung by “Rod the Mod” Stewart. The Scottish-born singer was known for a high sense of fashion...and football (the soccer type).
“So Into You” by the Atlanta Rhythm Section
Bruce features the first single released of ARS's album "A Rock and Roll Alternative." This was their biggest hit off the album, and would kick off several years of success for the band running through this and the next two albums.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
“Nights Are Forever Without You” by Bob James
This instrumental take on the hit from England Dan and Jon Ford Coley is off jazz pianist Bob James' fourth album, BJ4, which was released in this month.
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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.
