If get this right, there will be many cover versions by future bands. I shall try and link live versions if they exist from the tellybox or a film, the sound quality may not be the best, but there is nothing like watching a real talent live.
So, in a sort of chronological order, my twenty fifth legends are: Fleetwood Mac
Much has been written about this super-group. I think their story is well known about the marriages, the love affairs, the drugs, but most of all the music. Most of us will have or would have had the iconic “Rumours” album, in the same way you probably had Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” albums.
The line-up has changed over the years. I think it fair to say there were two Fleetwood Mac’s, the first with Peter Green, then after his departure, the second incarnation with the arrival of lead guitarist and new lead singer Lindsey Buckingham, and girlfriend, Stevie Nicks,
I think a true legendary group that is most suitable to bring in the new year.
Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band, formed in London in 1967. Fleetwood Mac were founded by guitarist Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Jeremy Spencer, before bassist John McVie joined the line-up for their self-titled debut album. Danny Kirwan joined as a third guitarist in 1968. Keyboardist and vocalist Christine Perfect, who contributed as a session musician from the second album, married McVie and joined in 1970.
Primarily a British blues band at first, Fleetwood Mac scored a UK number one with “Albatross“, and had other hits such as the singles “Oh Well” and “Man of the World“. All three guitarists left in succession during the early 1970s, to be replaced by guitarists Bob Welch and Bob Weston and vocalist Dave Walker. By 1974, Welch, Weston and Walker had all either departed or been dismissed, leaving the band without a male lead vocalist or guitarist. In late 1974, while Fleetwood was scouting studios in Los Angeles, he heard American folk-rock duo Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, and asked Buckingham to be their new lead guitarist, and Buckingham agreed on condition that Nicks could also join the band.
The addition of Buckingham and Nicks gave the band a more pop rock sound, and their 1975 self-titled album, Fleetwood Mac, reached No. 1 in the United States. Rumours (1977), Fleetwood Mac’s second album after the arrival of Buckingham and Nicks, produced four U.S. Top 10 singles and remained at number one on the American albums chart for 31 weeks. It also reached the top spot in countries around the world and won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978. Rumours has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums in history. Although each member of the band went through a breakup (John and Christine McVie, Buckingham and Nicks, and Fleetwood and his wife Jenny) while recording the album, they continued to write and record music together.
The band’s personnel remained stable through three more studio albums, but by the late 1980s began to disintegrate. After Buckingham and Nicks each left the band, they were replaced by several other guitarists and vocalists. A 1993 one-off performance for the first inauguration of Bill Clinton featured the line-up of Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Nicks, and Buckingham back together for the first time in six years. A full reunion occurred four years later, and the group released their fourth U.S. No. 1 album, The Dance (1997), a live compilation of their hits, also marking the 20th anniversary of Rumours. Christine McVie left the band in 1998, but continued to work with the band in a session capacity. Meanwhile, the group remained together as a four-piece, releasing their most recent studio album, Say You Will, in 2003. Christine McVie re-joined the band full-time in 2014. In 2018, Buckingham was fired from the band and was replaced by Mike Campbell, formerly of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Neil Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House.
Fleetwood Mac have sold more than 120 million records worldwide, making them one of the world’s best-selling bands. In 1979, the group were honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1998 the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2018, the band received the MusiCares Person of the Year award by The Recording Academy in recognition of their artistic achievement in the music industry and dedication to philanthropy.
A full discography is here: –Fleetwood Mac
Peter Green era:
Fleetwood Mac Peter Green – Black Magic Woman (Live Boston Tea Party) 1970
Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac – Need Your Love So Bad. This is live from 1968, first Fleetwood Mac song I remember and totally superb.
Fleetwood Mac Albatross. Absolute classic, live in 1969. I am pretty sure even the youngsters on here will know this one.
Fleetwood Mac – Oh Well Parts 1 & 2. From ToTP 1969 (Colourised). I still the sing the “Well don’t ask me what I think of you….” part, I just cannot help it!
Fleetwood Mac – Peter Green – The Green Manalishi. Live in Sweden from 1970
Lindsey Buckingham, and Stevie Nicks era:
Fleetwood Mac – Rhiannon (Official Music Video), I think this was 1976, though appeared on an album in 1975. Lyrics and lead singer Stevie Nicks, highest quality from the era I could find as this is a truly awesome tune.
Fleetwood Mac – Say You Love Me From “The Dance Tour” in 1997. Hard not to tap your feet with this one.
Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way (Official Music Video), the official video chosen as this has to be best quality. From 1977 when Lyndsey had hair!
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams – Live 1982 US Festival. A hit in 1977 of course from the “Rumours” album. This is not the best quality video, but I like how something goes wrong on the first verse, and Lyndsey has got rid of some of that hair.
Fleetwood Mac with Christine McVie – Don’t Stop, London O2 arena, 25th September 2013. I have chosen this video as it marked the triumphal return of Christine.
Fleetwood Mac – You Make Loving Fun – Live 1982
Fleetwood Mac 1979 Sara – Incredibly emotional song this.
Fleetwood Mac. Say you will. – Lovely tune, this is from 2003.
Along with the featured “Chains” track, another firm favourite of mine is:
Fleetwood Mac – Tusk (Official Music Video) from 1979.
Their back catalogue is very extensive, hopefully though, your favourites are in here and if not, you can post them here!
Singalong, enjoy and be happy!
Links to previous Legend articles:
Featured image: “Fleetwood Mac” by Steffane Lui is licensed under CC BY 2.0
© Phil the ex test manager 2021
