2 Reviews: Fleetwood Mac Rumours ★★★★★ (out of 5)

Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (Deluxe Edition)
Written by Steven Rosen
American Songwriter
February 21, 2013

Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)

To be a fan of tuneful, tastefully literate rock in the mid- to late- 1970s was to walk among giants. The better the albums were, the more sophisticated and polished the songs and arrangements, the better they sold and the bigger their cultural impact – Jackson Browne’s The Pretender, Steely Dan’s Aja, the Eagles’ Hotel California, Boz Scaggs’ Silk Degrees, Joni Mitchell’s Court And Spark, Paul Simon’s Still Crazy After All These Years.

Yet the biggest and most enduring of all those “sophisticated rock” albums came from the unlikeliest of sources – Fleetwood Mac...

"Nicks was at her vocal peak here. The huskiness, which she still could control, gave “Dreams,” “Gold Dust Woman” and “Silver Springs” a moody, bluesy sensuality that suited the subject matter and provided a touch of the mystic."

"Christine McVie was a tunesmith worthy of the Brill Building’s heyday – Goffin and McVie? – yet had also been touched by Joni Mitchell. She also had perfect pitch – the outtakes and live cuts show she could find the right key, the perfect melodiousness, for her vocals right from the get-go."

"Buckingham’s three solo songs are a cornucopia of influences – Buddy Holly and Everly Brothers on “Second Hand News,” Americana and Appalachian folk on “Never Going Back Again,” and folk-rock/garage-rock on “Go Your Own Way.” The latter continues to amaze for the way the opening acoustic strumming – it slams like punk – fights with Fleetwood’s drumming. When it comes together, its raw driving urgency and the desperation of Buckingham’s thin, stretched voice keep you riveted."

Check out the full review at American Songwriter

FLEETWOOD MAC RUMOURS ★★★★★
By Reviewer: Arielle Gelb

“…I’ve been getting out there with two ex-lovers and we’ve been playing songs which are so specific about each of us, you just wouldn’t know. We’re friends now but we can’t forget what happened between us.” This quote from rock Goddess Stevie Nicks, one of the lead vocalists in Fleetwood Mac, perfectly epitomizes the collective mindset of the band during the album creating process. The quote also demonstrates to the fan that song quality is the bands first and highest priority.

Full Review at Puluche

If you haven't checked out any of the demos or live tracks from the new re-release of Rumours... Here's your chance to stream some tracks plus listen to a Rumours Radio Special that originally aired across North America mid-January. Check it out at AirplayDirect

• Radio Special Promo Spot
• Rumours - Radio Special Seg 1 (20:56)
• Rumours - Radio Special Seg 2 (17:36)
• Rumours - Radio Special Seg 3 (20:10)
• Go Your Own Way (Live 1977)
• Dreams (Live 1977)
• Never Going Back Again (Instrumental)
• The Chain (Demo)
• Songbird (Demo)

Stevie Nicks in Eagles Documentary

Just watched the new Eagles documentary "History of the Eagles Part 1 and Part 2" that's running on Showtime.  First of all, it's long, about 3 hours in length for both parts.  Second of all, I thought it was really good. I'm not much of an Eagles fan, but it's remarkable how much of their music I know and like.  The vintage footage whether live or backstage was really cool to see. Check it out if you can. 

If you watch... During the credits Stevie gets a few words in on the band and it's influence on the music scene saying:

"I think they were a defining moment in the rock n roll world that I love. You couldn't really love the Eagles music and be an Eagles fan and actually know them and not aspire to greatness yourself"

SXSW 2013 Presents "In Your Dreams - Stevie Nicks," + Q&A with Dave and Stevie

Decadent rock star, ’70s survivor, gypsy songbird, white-winged dove—the inimitable Stevie Nicks has entranced millions of fans worldwide with her poetic lyrics, sultry singing and featherand-lace style. In 2010 Nicks embarked on the recording of a new solo album, In Your Dreams, produced by former Eurythmics mastermind Dave Stewart. With cameras in tow, documentarian Stewart and diva Nicks set up shop in her home studio and reveal their collaborative creative process. Shifting dynamically among video formats, painstaking recording sessions and revealing interviews, this magic-tinged musical journey is a loving and tuneful portrait of the eternally bewitching Gold Dust Woman.

The documentary was co-directed by the Stevie and Dave Stewart.

The 2013 SXSW Film Conference and Festival is set for March 8-16 in Austin, Texas.

In Your Dreams Screens on:

Thursday, March 14
2:00PM - 3:30PM
Paramount Theatre
713 Congress Ave

BUY TICKETS:
Single Tickets $13.00 - buy on-line.  All screenings are General Admission.  Seating is subject to capacity and will occur on a priority basis approximately 30 minutes before the screening starts.  Seating is not guaranteed.  Attendees are advised to arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the screening.  But the theater is quite large seating capacity for general admission is 1,100. So if you go general admission, you'll likely get a seat no problem.

More info at SXSW

Dave Stewart confirmed that both he and Stevie will be attending SXSW and hosting a Q&A after the screening.  Plus he posted this great shot!

3rd Week for Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' Album on Billboards Top 200

Fleetwood Mac hangs on for a 3rd week in the US on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart with the re-released 35th Anniversary addition of Rumours. This update is for Billboard Chart Date March 2, 2013.  The album drops 12% in sales and moves down to #78 this week from #64 last week.  For the sales week ending Sunday, February 17th the albums sold 7,509 units vs 8,496 last week in the US.  Total US sales in the last three weeks = 26,823 (which is approximately what it sold in the UK in it's first week).  Since November, 1991 in the US the album has sold 3,152,208.  The split between digital sales and physical sales is - physical = 3,117 and digital = 4,392.  To date Physical album sales for Rumours are 2,894,369 and digital album sales are 257,818.  

On the Top 200 Catalogue Albums Chart 4 titles chart with Rumours moving off the #1 spot down to #5.  Greatest Hits moves down to #105 from #81 last week but increases in sales selling 2,285 this week vs 2,036 last week.  The Very Best Of moves down to #108 this week vs #73 last week and also increases in sales selling 2,238 this week vs 2,170 last week.  total US sales for Greatest Hits since November, 1991 = 4,622,569.  Total US sales for The Very Best Of since it's release in 2002 = 1,545,464.  The 1975 Fleetwood Mac album moves up to #170 from #187 last week increasing in sales by 26% or 1,767 units vs 1,401 the previous week.  Total US sales since November, 1991 = 900,662.

Billboard Top 200 Albums - March 2, 2013
# 78 (64) Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

Top 200 Catalogue Albums Chart
#     5 (1)     Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
# 105 (81)   Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits
# 108 (73)   Fleetwood Mac - Very Best Of
# 170 (187) Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac

Live In Northern California? WIN Tix To Fleetwood Mac in Sacramento

Sleep Train Arena is giving you a chance to win 2 tickets to see Fleetwood Mac Live in Sacramento, CA - July 6, 2013.  Contest open to northern California residence... Contest ends July 4th, winner announced July 5th.  Go ahead and enter! HERE

You might run into "trackerdan".  He posted on the Sleep Train website that he worked at Sound City during the recording of the first Fleetwood Mac album with Stevie and Lindsey and said the following:

"I was working in studio B at Sound City while they were recording their first album Rumours. Richard Dashit, Lindsey and I would have some tremendous jams in the wee hours of the morning after working all night. Those were the days. Looking forward to seeing them again."

Video: Christine McVie Intro'd by Mick Fleetwood + "Get Like You Used To Be"

Here's a short clip of Mick Fleetwood introducing Christine McVie in Maui on Feb 13th + Christine singing the beginning of "Get Like You Used To Be" which she's probably not done live since I'm guessing the early 70's!  Thanks to Tom Clark for the video!  The full version of "Don't Stop" and "Get Like You Used To Be" at the bottom. 

Photo by: Matthew Thayer

A different perspective of Christine McVie performing with Mick Fleetwood's Blues Band Feb 13th.  Thanks to heilemaile for the three videos shot from behind... Just tremendous!

"Get Like You Used To Be" Christine McVie. First song played live this night.

"Rattle Snake Shake" Steven Tyler on lead vocals.