Fleetwood Mac – Rumours LP

Description

Rumoursis the kind of album that transcends its origins and reputation, entering the realm of legend — it’s an album that simply exists outside of criticism and outside of its time, even if it thoroughly captures its era. Prior to this LP,Fleetwood Macwere moderately successful, but here they turned into a full-fledged phenomenon, withRumoursbecoming the biggest-selling pop album to date. While its chart success was historic, much of the legend surrounding the record is born from the group’s internal turmoil. Unlike most bands,Fleetwood Macin the mid-’70s were professionally and romantically intertwined, with no less than two couples in the band, but as their professional career took off, the personal side unraveled. BassistJohn McVieand his keyboardist/singer wifeChristine McViefiled for divorce as guitarist/vocalistLindsey Buckinghamand vocalistStevie Nickssplit, withStevierunning to drummerMick Fleetwood, unbeknown to the rest of the band. These personal tensions fueled nearly every song onRumours, which makes listening to the album a nearly voyeuristic experience. You’re eavesdropping on the bandmates singing painful truths about each other, spreading nasty lies and rumors and wallowing in their grief, all in the presence of the person who caused the heartache. Everybody loves gawking at a good public breakup, but if that was all that it took to sell a record,RichardandLinda Thompson‘sShoot Out the Lightswould be multi-platinum. No, what madeRumoursan unparalleled blockbuster is the quality of the music. Once again masterminded by producer/songwriter/guitaristBuckingham,Rumoursis an exceptionally musical piece of work — he toughensChristine McVieand softensNicks, adding weird turns to accessibly melodic works, which gives the universal themes of the songs haunting resonance. It also cloaks the raw emotion of the lyrics in deceptively palatable arrangements that made a tune as wrecked and tortured as “Go Your Own Way” an anthemic hit. But that’s what makesRumourssuch an enduring achievement — it turns private pain into something universal. Some of these songs may be too familiar, whether through their repeated exposure on FM radio or their use in presidential campaigns, but in the context of the album, each tune, each phrase regains its raw, immediate emotional power — which is whyRumourstouched a nerve upon its 1977 release, and has since transcended its era to be one of the greatest, most compelling pop albums of all time. -All Music Guide