Fleetwood Mac began life as a British blues band in the late-1960s, but many personnel shifts later became one of the most influential pop/rock bands to hail from Southern California. The 1974 addition of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to the band's rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie added depth to the already masterful songwriting and singing of keyboardist Christine McVie. The "classic" lineup of the band released five landmark albums from 1975 to 1987. Of these recordings, Rumours is the seminal work; defined by the emotional turmoil and extreme excesses within the group.
MEMBERS:
Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar/Vocals)
Stevie Nicks (Vocals)
Christine McVie (Keyboards/Vocals)
John McVie (Bass)
Mick Fleetwood (Drums)
KEY ALBUMS:
Mystery to Me (1973)
Fleetwood Mac (1975)
Rumours (1977)
Tusk (1979)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
For the sake of this blog, it is not necessary to delve deeply into the rich history of the band up until the mid-1970s. Suffice it to say that the recording made before Mystery to Me are worth seeking out even for the casual listener. The best from the early period are Fleetwood Mac (1968) and Kiln House (1970). The former of these is defined by the guitar playing of virtuoso Peter Green and is thoroughly British blues. The latter (sporting intriguing cover art by Christine McVie before she became a full-time member) is essentially a tribute to 1950s rock and roll and even includes a tribute to Buddy Holly.
The middle period of the band is often ignored, but it is arguably the most important phase in their musical transformation. It is far too easy to see the years from 1971-1975 as a revolving door of guitarists and songwriters. The most important member during this period was clearly Bob Welch, a singer and guitarist who refined the band's sound toward California pop.While Christine contributed some stunning songs of her own during this period, she did not master the craft until Buckingham and Nicks pushed her to greater heights.
The Bob Welch period spanned five albums and all of them are at least interesting. Beginning with Future Games (1971) and Bare Trees (1972), the band began to shed it's blues roots. Danny Kirwan, a guitarist and singer who had played with the Mac since it first recorded "Albatross" in 1969 (and who played on Christine's Christine Perfect (1970) album), became a major presence in the band at this point. He contributed the majority of the songs to these two albums before being fired from the band for his alcoholism and erratic behavior.
To be continued...
The middle period of the band is often ignored, but it is arguably the most important phase in their musical transformation. It is far too easy to see the years from 1971-1975 as a revolving door of guitarists and songwriters. The most important member during this period was clearly Bob Welch, a singer and guitarist who refined the band's sound toward California pop.While Christine contributed some stunning songs of her own during this period, she did not master the craft until Buckingham and Nicks pushed her to greater heights.
The Bob Welch period spanned five albums and all of them are at least interesting. Beginning with Future Games (1971) and Bare Trees (1972), the band began to shed it's blues roots. Danny Kirwan, a guitarist and singer who had played with the Mac since it first recorded "Albatross" in 1969 (and who played on Christine's Christine Perfect (1970) album), became a major presence in the band at this point. He contributed the majority of the songs to these two albums before being fired from the band for his alcoholism and erratic behavior.
To be continued...
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