The Chain (track)
by Fleetwood Mac
The Chain appears on the following album(s) by Fleetwood Mac:
- Rumours (track #7) (this album) (1977)
- The Dance (track #1) (1997)
- The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac (track #20) (compilation) (2002)
- 50 Years - Don't Stop (track #4) (compilation) (2018)
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Listen to The Chain on YouTube
The Chain ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
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Showing latest 5 ratings for this track. | Show all 651 ratings for this track.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Track ratings | Avg. track rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/26/2026 13:44 | kinginsomniac12 | 5,498 | 100/100 | |
| 01/18/2026 11:49 | wizardalien | 9,059 | 65/100 | |
| 01/13/2026 16:52 | philschmil | 427 | 88/100 | |
| 01/08/2026 04:11 | stareaterogni0n | 3,804 | 71/100 | |
| 12/09/2025 23:53 | AbsurdCheesecake | 1,614 | 90/100 |
Rating metrics:
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(*In practice, some tracks can have several thousand ratings)
This track is rated in the top 1% of all tracks on BestEverAlbums.com. This track has a Bayesian average rating of 92.0/100, a mean average of 91.3/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 92.3/100. The standard deviation for this track is 11.4.
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The Chain comments
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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
Great song among many on this album. Love the dueling voices.
7) The Chain (82,80%)
77-77-75 80-80-84 78-72-84 86 -90-92
(TOP10 sections of song: % 77-77- 80-80-84 78--84 86 -90-92)
..........55 230 mPTS (my points score)
StefanR10 07/10/2020 23:09 | #255395
I like very much the bass part. But the rest is musically in it right way.
VictorVale 12/16/2018 11:46 | #227255
O hino do álbum!
Brad1770 12/18/2017 22:51 | #203492
Opens side B on the LP & is the perfect track in the perfect spot
DeusExMackia 02/09/2017 21:13 | #185157
Emotional high point of an already emotional album. Bold and daring, it builds so well towards that absolutely phenomenal ending. Lyrically, the almost chant-like repetitiveness of the verses help to hammer home its twisted underlying message, perfectly contrasted with the duelling voices of the chorus. It's not just one of the best rock songs ever, but also one of the most dramatic.
slurpdurp 01/17/2017 19:58 | #183069
A masterpiece both lyrically and musically.
nitomano 06/09/2016 22:07 | #168328
muy buen solo
GandalfORiley345 06/14/2014 16:23 | #114448
Completely my favorite song from the album
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