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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
Last edited by Romanelli on 01/27/2026 16:31; edited 1 time in total
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
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
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. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
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.
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
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
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
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
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