The Playlist: Fleetwood Mac

When you think rock bands of the 70s, a handful immediately come to mind.

Zepplin. The Eagles. Queen. Pink Floyd.

But perhaps none enjoyed as much success and suffered as much turmoil as Fleetwood Mac.

The namesake of drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, the band formed in the late 1960s. However, it wasn’t until 1975, after a girl named Stevie and a guy named Lindsey joined that the group came into its own.

1977’s “Rumours” remains one of the most acclaimed and best-selling albums of all-time, despite being recorded as relationships within the band (Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, John and Christine McVie) were breaking up.

Let’s face it; Fleetwood Mac dated each other like it was musical chairs. And I’m sure the cocaine didn’t help. …But at least the resentment, bitterness, love, hate, and recreational drug use made for good music.

Twenty years later, after subsequent success and a split, Mick, John, Christine, Stevie, and Lindsey returned for a reunion concert televised on MTV (released on CD as “The Dance”). The following year – in 1998 – they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

With three No. 1 albums and 16 Top 20 hits to their credit, Fleetwood Mac remains one of the pioneers in being able to survive the music industry despite your band having more drama than yesterday’s episode of “All My Children.”

With that said, here are my favorite songs from the Mac Attack. Be sure to check out my blog at shelbystar.com for music videos of each.


Dreams (1977)
Songwriter: Stevie Nicks
Album: Rumours
Peak position on the charts: No. 1
Bet you didn’t know: This was the band’s only No. 1 song.

Thunder only happens when it's raining
Players only love you when they're playing
Women they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean you'll know




From "The Dance" concert, shown on MTV in August 1997


Oh Daddy
Songwriter: Christine McVie
Album: Rumours
Peak position on the charts: Not released as a single
Bet you didn’t know: McVie wrote the song about Mick Fleetwood, who tried to keep the band together as tensions grew during the recording of “Rumours.”

Oh Daddy,
If I can make you see,
If there's been a fool around,
It's got to be me


Go Your Own Way (1976)
Songwriter: Lindsey Buckingham
Album: Rumours
Peak position on the charts: No. 3
Bet you didn’t know: Buckingham wrote the song about his relationship with Nicks.

Loving you
Isn’t the right thing to do
How can I ever change things
That I feel
If I could
Maybe I’d give you my world
How can I
When you won’t take it from me


The music video from 1977


From "The Dance"


Songbird
Songwriter: Christine McVie
Album: Rumours
Peak position on the charts: Not released as a single
Bet you didn’t know: McVie has said the balled helped keep the band together during the recording of “Rumours.”

And the songbirds are singing,
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before


About the recording of the song, as well as a performance


Rhiannon (1976)
Songwriter: Stevie Nicks
Album: Fleetwood Mac
Peak position on the charts: No. 11
Bet you didn’t know: Nicks wrote the song while recording with then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham as Buckingham-Nicks, before either joined Fleetwood Mac.

Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night
And wouldn't you love to love her
She takes to the sky like a bird in flight
And who will be her lover


Performance from 1976


And from 1982


Sara (1979)
Songwriter: Stevie Nicks
Album: Tusk
Peak position on the charts: No. 7
Bet you didn’t know: In 1986, Nicks checked herself into the Betty Ford Clinic to break her cocaine addiction. She signed in under the name “Sara.”

Wait a minute baby...
Stay with me a while
Said you'd give me light
But you never told me about the fire


From 1979


Gold Dust Woman
Songwriter: Stevie Nicks
Album: Rumours
Peak position on the charts: Not released as a single
Bet you didn’t know: Waylon Jennings, Sheryl Crow, and Hole are among those who have covered the song, the latter of which was featured in the film, “The Crow: City of Angels.”

Did she make you cry
Make you break down
Shatter your illusions of love
Is it over now -- do you know how
Pick up the pieces and go home


1977 performance in Japan


Hole's version, with clips from "The Crow" sequel


The Chain
Songwriter: Fleetwood Mac
Album: Rumours
Peak position on the charts: Not released as a single
Bet you didn’t know: Often used to open their concerts, the song has grown to represent the bond the bandmates share despite their past personal and professional conflicts.

And if
You don’t love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you saying
You would never break the chain


Performance in Boston, 1998


Gypsy (1982)
Songwriter: Stevie Nicks
Album: Mirage
Peak position on the charts: 15
Bet you didn’t know: Nicks originally intended to use the song for her solo debut album, “Bella Donna,” two years earlier.

And it all comes down to you
Well, you know that it does
And lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice
Oh, and it lights up the night
And you see your gypsy
You see your gypsy


Music video


Little Lies (1987)
Songwriter: Christine McVie
Album: Tango in the Night
Peak position on the charts: No. 4
Best you didn’t know: This is the band’s highest-charting song in the past 26 years.

Although I'm not making plans
I hope that you understand there's a reason why
Close your, close your, close your eyes
No more broken hearts
We're better off apart let's give it a try
Tell me, tell me, tell me lies


Music video


That’s what I got for this week. Keep an eye out for the next Playlist and be sure to send your comments and / or suggestions to me at grahamcawthon@shelbystar.com.