Rumours (studio album) by Fleetwood Mac

"Go Your Own Way", "Dreams", "Don't Stop" and even "The Chain" would be enough to make any album great but this truly collective effort by the band (with Steve Nicks, Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham contributing at least 3 songs each and with everybody writing "The Chain" together) resulted in an album (almost) without flaws.

The only song I consistently skip is the cringy ballad "Oh Daddy" but then again, this album also has one of my favorite Fleetwood Mac songs, the stellar fingerpicked "Never Going Back Again" so that kinda balances things out.

One of the best pop albums whose vocal harmonies often echoed personal struggles about relationships. Can’t help myself but to sing along when I’m listening. I’ve always thought that Buckingham guitar playing put this album over the top.

Album of the year at the 1978 Grammys

Album Rating: 83.55
(919/11)

Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Rumours

04.02.1977

1.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Second Hand News 72
2.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Dreams 81
3.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Never Going Back Again 84
4.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Don't Stop 83
5.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Go Your Own Way 97
6.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Songbird 85
7.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - The Chain 100
8.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - You Make Loving Fun 80
9.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - I Don't Want To Know 70
10.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Oh Daddy 83
11.Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Gold Dust Woman 84

Ranked in order:

* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - The Chain 100
* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Go Your Own Way 97
* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Songbird 85
* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Gold Dust Woman 84
* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Never Going Back Again 84
* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Don't Stop 83
* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Oh Daddy 83
* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Dreams 81
* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - You Make Loving Fun 80
* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - Second Hand News 72
* Fleetwood Mac (Rumours - Feb 77) - I Don't Want To Know 70

I mean it's rumours it's great I just never revisit it at this point

It just gets better every time I hear it

The beautiful haunting tone is echoed throughout the entire album -- even as it provides a variety of all-time hits.

This is comfortably one of the best pop rock records ever made with the inner turmoil of the band creating a truly special release. Pretty much every track on here is infectious which is what has given the album the staying power that has kept it as large as it has been for almost 50 years now. Tracks 1-9 are just pure pop rock bliss with that run of songs flying by every time I listen to this album. On this run we go through classics such as Dreams, Go Your Own Way and The Chain which is just phenomenal. The song that captivates me the most however is Second Hand News. It bursts into our ears at the start of the record filling us with energy and excitement for what Fleetwood Mac have to offer us. This acts as a perfect opener and sucks the listener in straight away. Every song in this run from 1-9 is memorable and feels significant leading to a fulfilling listen for us. We then get Oh Daddy which in my opinion is a weak track and completely slows down the momentum they had gained. In my opinion, this song just lacks that character and personality all the other songs have and it doesn't have that same infectious nature that makes me love their style of music. We do get a reasonably strong finish with Gold Dust Woman but I do think it is tarnished by the track that preceded it. Overall, this is essential listening as it is packed full of quality as well as being one of the most enjoyable listens you will find in a record.

To me it's extremely inconsistent (and i wonder how can anyone like Go Your Own Way or Don't Stop, truly mediocre songs). The Chain in fact is the only real hit here, and Dreams - well, maybe depends on what kind of mood you're in.

Easily one of the best pop albums of the 70s if not one of the best of all time