Best Ever Albums

Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:42:41 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/16/2026 13:42

Had the 70's listening group today and everyone, not surprisingly, thought that this was an absolute classic of an album.

The next album is one that i don't know at all

Bad Girls (1979) by Donna Summer

So looking forward to getting into this album

See separate thread for this one

Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 05:09:09 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/14/2026 10:09

Just some final thoughts before my group get together on Monday

First off, thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread. I've really enjoyed it and learned quite a lot about an album I thought I knew really well.

So, having commented on each track, here are my final thought on the album

So much has been written about this album it’s sometimes hard to know where to start. I’m not going to go into the drug use and relationship breakdowns which have all be documented to death. Not that easy to do as this obviously shaped the album but I’ll give it a good

I was, and will always be, a Peter Green FM obsessive but this is the album that turned me onto the Buckingham / Nicks incarnation of the band. Obviously, Peter was blues and this most definitely isn’t, it’s more pop rock / soft rock (pop) than anything else but it is one of the greatest pop albums of all time.

The album is a pop behemoth and, rather like Tango In The Night, is an album filled with pop classics and undeniable quality playing and performances by a band at its peak. Its four singles, "Go Your Own Way", "Dreams", "Don't Stop", and "You Make Loving Fun", all reached the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100, with "Dreams" reaching number one.

I also think that they never bettered the harmonies achieved on this album on so many great tracks. Despite their problems, the vocals between Buckingham and Nicks are great and, as always, the criminally underrated Christine McVie worked her magic on so many great tracks

Just to finish, I wanted to mention the production on this album which is spot on and the musical arrangements. Pretty much everything came together to create a killer of an album. It is without doubt one of the greatest pop albums of all time.

Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 07:34:25 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/12/2026 12:34

Gold Dust Woman

Another absolute classic from Fleetwood Mac.

Love the arrangement and production on this track. One of the rockier tracks on Rumours it’s got brilliant vocals from all three
I love the chaotic feel to the end of the song, which sort of sums up the band at the time.

A suitably great way to conclude a phenomenal album.

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Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:31:20 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/11/2026 12:31

Oh Daddy

Another Christine McVie track. Although not my favourite of hers on the album it’s still a really great track.

It’s a beautiful song and I really like the tempo of this track. It’s very melodic. Christine’s vocals are fantastic.

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Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 14:11:49 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/09/2026 19:11

Romanelli wrote:

Johnnyo wrote:

I Don’t Want To Know

What I hadn’t appreciated is that this was a replacement for Silver Springs (which apparently wouldn’t fit on the album) and that this is actually a Buckingham Nicks track.

Like everything on Rumours, it oozes quality. Certainly not the best track on the album but still pretty killer with great harmonies.

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"Silver Springs" wasn't left off because of space limitations. That's been said many times, but it's simply not true (despite what Ken Caillat said). It was left off because it was pointed directly at Buckingham, and it pulled no punches. It was also claimed that it was left off because it was slow...but that doesn't make sense, considering the album also contains the slow tempos of "Songbird", "Oh Daddy", and "Gold Dust Woman".

If you remove "I Don't Want To Know" and replace it with "Silver Springs", the album would run a total of 40:21. The previous Fleetwood Mac album (1975 self titled) was 42:12. The time difference between the two songs is just 1:36. There was plenty of room for "Silver Springs". Buckingham simply didn't want it there. "I Don't Want To Know" was the replacement because it was written by Nicks, as was "Silver Springs".

The band made the decision without Nicks. They went into the studio without her and recorded her song, "I Don't Want To Know", leaving room for her vocals. Then they told her they were going to use it to replace "Silver Springs". She agreed only because if she didn't, she would have had only two songs on the album.

Stevie Nicks left Fleetwood Mac in 1991 because of "Silver Springs". Mick Fleetwood refused to allow her to release it on her solo best of album (Timespace), even though it had never been on an album. She didn't come back until 1997.

The history of "Silver Springs" is deep and powerful. Moreso, I believe, than the rest of the album it was unfairly left off of.

Interesting. I’m finding out far more about this album than I knew before the listening group chose it, which for me is very much the point of being in the group,

Thanks for all of your contributions to this thread Rom. A week to go until the group meets and two tracks and a general overview from me before then. Really enjoying this thread

Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Romanelli — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 10:17:49 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 02/09/2026 15:17

Johnnyo wrote:

Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 09:37:05 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/09/2026 14:37

I Don’t Want To Know

What I hadn’t appreciated is that this was a replacement for Silver Springs (which apparently wouldn’t fit on the album) and that this is actually a Buckingham Nicks track.

Like everything on Rumours, it oozes quality. Certainly not the best track on the album but still pretty killer with great harmonies.

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Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Sun, 8 Feb 2026 05:41:27 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/08/2026 10:41

albummaster wrote:

Noticed it was this album's 49th anniversary earlier this week, so next year will be big birthday... (and make everyone feel very old). Such a great album and can't think of any filler.

Look out for a plethora of merchandising opportunities for the label.

Makes me feel very old also and you're right, no filler

Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

albummaster — Sat, 7 Feb 2026 12:13:15 GMT

Author: albummaster

Posted: 02/07/2026 17:13

Noticed it was this album's 49th anniversary earlier this week, so next year will be big birthday... (and make everyone feel very old). Such a great album and can't think of any filler.

Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Sat, 7 Feb 2026 04:15:49 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/07/2026 09:15

You Make Loving Fun

This was the fourth and final single from Rumours and is another composition by Christine. Literally, the hits just keep on coming on Rumours.

This track as a great beat to it. Lighter in tone than The Chain it’s a great track to follow that belter.

I saw it written that this track has "sparse instrumental background and the chorus comes on like an angelic choir." Totally agree on the angelic choir angle. The vocals here, not just Christines but the backing vocals from Lynsey and Stevie are superb

Classic Fleetwood Mac

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Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Fri, 6 Feb 2026 05:31:23 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/06/2026 10:31

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Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Fri, 6 Feb 2026 05:25:09 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/06/2026 10:25

The Chain

And so we come to the song which I think anchors the whole album and for me is pretty much a perfect track.

A track which, unusually for Fleetwood Mac, was written by the whole band. In fact, and I don’t know whether this is true, it might be the only track ever to be written by the whole band.

"The Chain" is a mosaic of previously rejected material, including compositions from Buckingham, Nicks, and McVie.

Why do I love this track? For one reason, it probably contains the best bass progression ever from John McVie. Apparently, whilst Christine and Lynsey were recording, In the middle of the take, John McVie played the bassline that was ultimately used in the final version of song. The ending section was the only part from the original recording that the band kept for The Chain, It also has a phenomenal guitar opener from Buckingham and don't get me started on those harmonies

Stevie Nicks had written the lyrics separately, which were originally part of an entirely different song that included the words "if you don't love me now, you will never love me again". Again, jumping into the mosaic of the final song. Very much a collaborative effort

Following on from the beautiful, simple, Songbird, this is a complex rocker of a track and a great way to start side two of the album.

So, what were a bunch of unfinished pieces became probably, Fleetwood Macs’ most iconic song. I love it to death and never tire of hearing it

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBYHwH1Vb-c[youtube]

Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Thu, 5 Feb 2026 04:50:20 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/05/2026 09:50

Songbird

It’s one of four songs written solely by Christine McVie on the album.

She frequently sang the song at the end of Fleetwood Mac concerts. Her former husband, John McVie, recalled that "When Christine played 'Songbird', grown men would weep. I did every night." I totally get that. It’s an achingly beautiful song

It doesn’t get much simpler than this song and it gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it. I adore this track

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Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Wed, 4 Feb 2026 04:21:49 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 02/04/2026 09:21

Go Your Own Way

Another stone-cold Buckingham / Nick era classic. They released this as their 1st single from the album, and you can see why from a purely commercial point of view. What a great track to advertise the new album

As with much of Rumours, Fleetwood and McVie are totally on it throughout this track.

The track has been likened to Street Fighting Man. I must admit I hadn’t thought of that but now someone has said it, you can’t unhear it. There is definitely a SFM vbe going on here

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Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 09:10:22 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 01/31/2026 14:10

Don’t Stop

From my perspective, one of the highlights of the album.

With Christines iconic piano intro and vocals and Lynsey’s great vocals and guitar solo, it’s a winner from the start. It works so well as a duel and their voices always worked so well together

What might go unrecognised but I think is worth noting is Mick Fleetwood and John McVie rhythm section on this track. It’s outstanding

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Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:36:45 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 01/30/2026 08:36

Never Going Back Again

Rather removed from the typical Fleetwood Mac sound with its simple chorus and acoustic guitar and vocals from Lynsey Buckingham. I read someone say that there is a Ry Cooder feel to the playing which you I guess you can hear if you try really hard but I’m not really getting that vibe myself

The simplicity of the song and the playing is rather beautiful. A somewhat overlooked track I think but one which stands up well alongside the fuller band sounding tracks very well.

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Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Romanelli — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:29:50 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 01/27/2026 16:29

Johnnyo wrote:

Dreams

One of Four singles from the album, this is quintessential Buckingham / Nicks Fleetwood Mac sound.

Stevie’s vocals on this track are phenomenal, as they are on most songs on this album TBH and the harmonising is great (I’m going to be saying that a lot as I write something on each track). I can’t put my finger on it but I find something quite hypnotic about the track.

Someone described this track as having “uncluttered instrumental backing”. I completely get that. I comparison to some other track son the album it feels quite simple but when you read about everything that went into recording it, it is far from that

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As simple a song as you could ever want. 2 chords. F & G all the way through.

The main reason why it's uncluttered (as is the rest of the album) is that Buckingham is the lone guitarist. And one of his better attributes is that he NEVER overplays.

Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:39:47 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 01/27/2026 14:39

Dreams

One of Four singles from the album, this is quintessential Buckingham / Nicks Fleetwood Mac sound.

Stevie’s vocals on this track are phenomenal, as they are on most songs on this album TBH and the harmonising is great (I’m going to be saying that a lot as I write something on each track). I can’t put my finger on it but I find something quite hypnotic about the track.

Someone described this track as having “uncluttered instrumental backing”. I completely get that. I comparison to some other track son the album it feels quite simple but when you read about everything that went into recording it, it is far from that

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Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Romanelli — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 12:00:49 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 01/25/2026 17:00

For me, the best Christine track is "World Turning" from the 1975 album.

It's based on the Peter Green song from the first Fleetwood Mac album from 1968, which was also self titled. That Green track was called "The World Keep On Turning". This was written by Christine and Buckingham together, and is one of the more upbeat songs done by the Buckingham/Nicks lineup. The song features both Christine and Lindsay on lead vocals. It's very hard to tell them apart.

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Also from that album, Christine contributed the very fine "Over My Head" and "Say You Love Me", showing that she wasn't all about the sleepy ballad. Also, "Warm Ways" sounded more like the Bob Welch years, which for me, at the end, were the band's weakest period. It was Christine who saved the last Welch album, Heroes Are Hard To Find, with the title track and the only other two songs on that record worth salvaging.

For me, she has always been a major strength in the band. A fine player, and excellent singer, and a very good songwriter. People point to the two slow songs on Rumours as proof that she was a weak link. I disagree. "Songbird" and "Oh Daddy" may not be upbeat and exciting hits like the Buckingham & Nicks tracks, but the really are excellent songs, and they serve to balance the album out...plus she also contributed "Don't Stop" and "You Make Loving Fun". I would much prefer to have the Christine tracks on Rumours than weaker material by Bob Welch, who had clearly run out of songs after "Hypnotized" four years earlier.

Re: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Johnnyo — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 03:10:12 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 01/24/2026 08:10

roberto71 wrote:

Johnnyo wrote:

roberto71 wrote:

Johnnyo wrote:

Second Hand News

Although not my favourite track on the album, there are better tracks to come, it certainly sets the mood for the rest of the album. Tremendous vocals and a great guitar section which inexplicably fades out at the end of the track. Annoying. I want more!

A little bit folky in parts and nothing wrong with that. In terms of the bass lin
e, I hadn’t appreciated, until reading it recently that Buckingham used his vocals to compliment the bass but once you hear it you can’t unhear it. It works well. He is basically scatting

Despite the subject matter, the song feels upbeat.

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Actually, this might be my favorite song on the album. Either this one or I Don't Want to Know. They're both really well written and musically I think they're the most exciting on the album. Of the hits from the album, Go Your Own Way is the one I like best. I always thought Christine was the weak link in the band and I only like one of her songs on the album. I like Tusk a lot better than this album, at least musically. It's a little bit under-written I always thought, but the music's better and the sound is great. Even when the songs aren't that great, the actual sound is always fantastic. I always wish they would have kept Bob Welch in the band, who left about two albums earlier, instead of Christine. He wrote my two favorite Fleetwood Mac songs actually, and Rumours could have used a third great songwriter. Can you imagine how great it would have been.?

Hi Roberto. Totally agree on one point and totally disagree on another.

Agreed about the point about the production on this album. It's pretty much perfect but not over done. The balance is just right

Can't agree with the point about Christine though. Apart from her stellar song writing (solo or in collaboration with others), As Long As You Follow, Behind The Mask, Heroes Are Hard To Find, Little Lies, You make Lovin Fun, Don't Stop - the list goes on and on, you wouldn't have the "Fleetwood Mac sound" without her incredible harmonising with Buckingham (or is it vice versa?). Those vocals on so many tracks are, for me, the quintessential FM sound. She brought that Blues element to FM that non of the other vocalists could. You also cannot overestimate the connection that Christine and Stevie had, as friends and collaborators.

I really like the Bob Welch era FM but cannot imagine Welch and Buckingham being in the same band. FM were dysfunctional anyway. Can't imagine what it would have been like with both of them trying to lead the band simultaneously. At least it would never have been boring

I didn't mention that I've always thought that Christine's tracks on Tusk are better than those on Rumours. In fact I think they're her best ever. I think the actual songs are better and like I said before about the album, they sound fantastic.

Agreed Roberto. I also love Christine for the fact that she was in Chicken Shack. He cover of I'd Rather Go Blind is, for me, the definitive version of an absolute classic.

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