Summary of DEEP DISCOG DIVE: Fleetwood Mac

00:00:00 - 00:40:00

Fleetwood Mac is a band that has undergone many lineup changes and experimented with different sounds over the years. They have been successful at times, and not so successful at others. Their most recent album, "Extended Play", was well-received and they are currently on tour.

• 00:00:00 Fleetwood Mac released their debut album in February 1968 and it was well-received. However, their follow-up album "Mr. Wonderful" was seen as a step down by many. Danny Kirwan, a new guitarist, was recruited and the band's sound shifted from brash to mellow.
• 00:05:00 Fleetwood Mac's 1969-1971 period is marked by the band experimenting with different styles, culminating in the success of "Then Play On" (1969). Bob Welch replaced Peter Green, and the band's sound shifted from blues-based to more psychedelic and rock-based. "Kiln House" (1971) is a successful album, and Christine Perfect makes her debut as a member of the band. Jeremy leaves the band and joins a religious cult, and Bob Welch plays a few shows as a temporary replacement.
• 00:10:00 Fleetwood Mac's "Bare Trees" album is a transitional release that features Bob Welch's intricate and tender songwriting, Christine McVie's great songs, and tension between Danny Kirwan and Bob Welch. "Penguin" is less successful, but still has some good songs. After "Penguin", Dave Walker is dismissed and personal problems start to show up again.
• 00:15:00 The Fleetwood Mac album "Mystery To Me" is a transitional record that features some good songs, but is overall subpar. The biggest hit on the album is Bob Welch's "Hypnotized", which is a catchy and emotive song. However, after the tour for "Mystery To Me", Bob Weston was fired and replaced by Clifford Davis, who sent in musicians from another band he managed and things quickly went south. After a few unsuccessful tours, the real band moved to California and recorded "Heroes Are Hard To Find". Despite being a transitional record, "Heroes" failed to make a major impact on the charts. Bob Welch left the band shortly after, and Lindsey Buckingham joined soon after.
• 00:20:00 "Rumours" was a successful album released by Fleetwood Mac in 1977, but it was not without its drama. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks' relationship was tumultuous, and Mick Fleetwood's bandmate slept with his wife.
• 00:25:00 "Tusk" is a 1977 album by Fleetwood Mac, released following the successful "Rumours" album. While mostly written by the band's main songwriters, Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham contributed several experimental tracks that departed from the band's usual sound. While it is not as successful as "Rumours", it is still a well-crafted, moderately popular album.
• 00:30:00 Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" album is a wild and adventurous effort that pushes the boundaries of what a Fleetwood Mac song could be. Lead single "Tusk" features a production led by a marching band, and showcases how Lindsey's gambles could pay off. The band released "Mirage" in 1982, which was more grounded than their previous albums. They went on to release "Big Love" and "Welcome to the Room...Sara" in 1987, which are massive soundscapes with synths and guitars flying everywhere. "Tango In The Night" is a near perfect middle ground between the tight pop of "Mirage" and the sprawl of "Tusk".
• 00:35:00 Fleetwood Mac's "Time" album is generally panned by music critics, who find the new songs and sound uninteresting compared to the band's earlier work. The album features one standout track - Christine McVie's "These Strange Times". After the album's release, the bandmembers reunite and tour, but ultimately the album fails to live up to the hype.
• 00:40:00 Fleetwood Mac released "Say You Will" in 2003, which was their first album without Christine McVie as a full member. The album was met with mixed reviews, but some songs, like "What's The World Coming To" and "Murrow Turning Over In His Grave", were praised for their lyrical content and catchy melodies. In October 2018, Lindsey Buckingham was fired from the band after he refused to sign off on their next tour. He attempted to sue the band, but was unsuccessful. In April 2018, Fleetwood Mac released an EP called "Extended Play". This project was well-received and the band is currently on their most recent tour, An Evening With Fleetwood Mac.