Top Ten reasons why “Rumours” was and still is awesome:
- Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood.
- The album almost seems timeless. 37 years later, the music still sounds fresh and relevant.
- The understated and underrated guitar work by Buckingham, especially his acoustic chops on Never Going Back Again, and the understated and even more underrated keyboard playing of Christine.
- 7 of the 11 songs are not just Fleetwood Mac staples; they are still fixtures on classic rock radio: Dreams, Go Your Own Way, Gold Dust Woman, Don’t Stop, Second Hand News, You Make Loving Fun and The Chain.
- Mick’s drumming, the backbone of the LP.
- What other album in the history of rock is an internal soap opera of the people who made it?
- The wonderful lead vocals and harmonies by Christine, Stevie and Lindsey.
- John McVie’s bass throughout but especially his mini solo in The Chain
- At more than 40 million copies sold, it’s the 6th biggest selling record in US history and it ranks 26th on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time List.
- The tenth reason is really the only one you need; Rumours is a perfect album, yes perfect.
p.s. I caught Fleetwood Mac in concert few years back. It was a really good show, but without Christie. Reunited with her old band mates after a 16 year absence, she has returned and the quintet is back on tour. Check here for tour dates.
365, Album of the Day 2014 