Fleetwood Mac

The elephant comes to the Mac

Rumours was arguably the point at which Fleetwood Mac was at the height of its popularity. Sales of future albums declined but the band still enjoyed critical success. This was particularly true of the follow-up album. Buckingham's response to the overwhelming popularity of Rumours was to avoid making a carbon-copy sequel. His expanded role as producer for the next album was influenced by the new wave style.

Related Topics:
Rumours - New wave

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The result - the quirky double album Tusk - was released in 1979. Spawning three hit singles: Lindsey Buckingham's "Tusk", which featured the USC marching band, Christine McVie's "Think About Me", and Stevie Nicks' seven minute opus "Sara" (cut to three-and-a-half minutes for the first CD version release, it has since been restored for CD reissue), Tusk remains one of Fleetwood Mac's most ambitious albums to date. The band embarked on a huge 18 month tour to support Tusk. They travelled extensively across the world including USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. During that time, the band recorded music for the (Live, 1980).

Related Topics:
Tusk - 1979 - USC - Australia - New Zealand - Japan - France - Belgium - Germany - Netherlands - Live - 1980

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The next album Mirage was a return to the conventional. Buckingham had been chided by critics, fellow bandmembers and music industry figures for the apparent lack of commercial success enjoyed by Tusk. Recorded at a chateau in France, Mirage was an attempt to recapture the pop success of its predecessor-but-one. Hits included: Christine McVie's and Jim Recor's "Love In Store", Christine McVie's "Hold Me", Stevie Nicks' "Gypsy", and Lindsey Buckingham's "Oh Diane" which entered Top 10 in the UK. A minor hit was also scored by Buckingham for his "Eyes Of The World". Unlike the Tusk Tour, the band only embarked on a short tour over 18 American cities. They also headlined the first US Festival for which they were paid $500,000.

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Following Mirage, the band went on hiatus which allowed members to pursue solo careers. Stevie Nicks released "Bella Donna", Lindsey Buckingham released "Law and Order" and Christine McVie released an eponymous album. All three met with relative success but it was Nicks who proved to be the most viable. During this time it was often rumoured that Fleetwood Mac had finally broken up. Buckingham, however, commented that he was unhappy to allow Mirage to stand as the group's last effort.

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The Rumours lineup of Fleetwood Mac would record one more album for the time being, Tango In The Night, in 1987. The album was hugely popular, especially in the UK where it hit no.1 three times over a year. The album proved that Fleetwood Mac still had selling power and the album spawned four hits: Christine McVie and Eddy Quintela's "Little Lies", Christine McVie's "Everywhere", Stevie Nicks' "Seven Wonders" and Lindsey Buckingham's "Big Love". The band intended to tour to support the album but Buckingham felt that he had fulfilled his commitments to the band, and wanted to leave. The split was not amicable but his relationship with the band would heal in later years.

Related Topics:
Tango In The Night - 1987

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