Friday, November 16, 2018

Fleetwood Mac: A Retrospective (1967-2013)

Fleetwood Mac

A Retrospective: 1967-2013

Overview:

Fleetwood Mac started in 1967 as a British blues band. Over eight years, members came and went with Mick Fleetwood and John McVie being the only constants. The American folk-duo of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the band in 1974, giving the band a poppier, classic rock feel. Over the next dozen years, the lineup of Fleetwood, McVie, Buckingham, Nicks, and Christine McVie brought the band to their greatest commercial heights.

The Players

  • Mick Fleetwood (drums: 1967-2022)
  • John McVie (bass: 1967-2022)
  • Peter Green (guitar: 1967-70)
  • Jeremy Spencer (guitar: 1967-71)
  • Danny Kirwan (guitar: 1968-72)
  • Christine McVie (keyboards/vocals: 1968, 70-98, 2014-22). Died in 2022.
  • Bob Welch (guitar: 1971-74)
  • Bob Weston (guitar: 1972-73)
  • Dave Walker (guitar: 1972-73)
  • Lindsey Buckingham (guitar/vocals: 1975-87, 1997-2018)
  • Stevie Nicks (vocals: 1975-91, 1997-2022)
  • Billy Burnette (guitar/vocals: 1987-93)
  • Rick Vito (guitar/vocals: 1987-91)
  • Bekka Bramlett (vocals: The Zoo: 1992; Fleetwood Mac: 1993-95)
  • Dave Mason (vocals/percussion: 1993-95)
  • Neil Finn (vocals/guitar: 2018-22)
  • Mike Campbell (guitar: 2018-22)

Links

Awards

Studio Albums

Compilations

Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted.

Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac

  1. My Heart Beat Like a Hammer PG
  2. Merry Go Round PG
  3. Long Grey Mare
  4. Hellhound on My Trail
  5. Shake Your Moneymaker (single, 1968) PG, 50
  6. Looking for Somebody PG
  7. No Place to Go
  8. My Baby’s Good to Me
  9. I Loved Another Woman PG
  10. Cold Black Night
  11. The World Keeps on Turning
  12. Got to Move

About the Album:

Fleetwood Mac started out as a British blues band with Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer as singers and guitarists alongside drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie. The album features originals as well as covers.

Mr. Wonderful (1968)

  1. Stop Messin’ Round PG, 25
  2. I’ve Lost My Baby
  3. Rollin’ Man PG
  4. Dust My Broom (I Believe My Time Ain’t Long) (single, 1967) 25
  5. Love That Burns 25
  6. Doctor Brown
  7. Need Your Love Tonight PG
  8. If You Be My Baby
  9. Evenin’ Boogie
  10. Lazy Poker Blues
  11. Coming Home
  12. Trying So Hard to Forget

About the Album:

Fleetwood Mac’s second album largely picked up where their debut left off, mixing originals alongside blues staples. The album again featured Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie. It also featured an important new addition – Christine Perfect (later McVie). She went on to appear on every subsequent Fleetwood Mac album.

Then Play On (1969)

  1. Coming Your Way
  2. Closing My Eyes
  3. Fighting for Madge
  4. When You Say
  5. Show-Biz Blues
  6. Underway
  7. One Sunny Day
  8. Although the Sun Is Shining
  9. Rattlesnake Shake (single, 1969) PG, 25, 50
  10. Without You
  11. Searching for Madge
  12. My Dream
  13. Like Crying
  14. Before the Beginning
  15. Oh Well Pt. 1 (1969, #2 UK, 54 CN, 19 AU) * PG, 25, 50
  16. Oh Well Pt. 2 * PG
  17. The Green Manalishi with the Two Prong Crown (1970, #10 UK) * PG, 25, 50
  18. World in Harmony *

* added to 2013 reissue

About the Album:

This was Peter Green’s last album with Fleetwood Mac and Danny Kirwan’s first album with the band.

Kiln House (1970)

  1. This Is the Rock
  2. Station Man 25, 50
  3. Blood on the Floor
  4. Hi Ho Silver
  5. Jewel Eyed Judy (single, 1971)
  6. Buddy’s Song
  7. Earl Gray
  8. One Together
  9. Tell Me All the Things You Do (single, 1970) 50
  10. Mission Bell
  11. Dragonfly (1971, #52 UK) * PG
  12. Purple Dancer *
  13. Jewel Eyed Judy (single version) *
  14. Station Man (single version) *

* bonus tracks added to 2020 reissue

About the Album:

This was original member Jeremy Spencer’s last album with the band. Original member Peter Green departed after the previous album.

The Best of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac

Released: November 11, 2002

Recorded: 1967-1971

Peak: 14 US, 3 UK, -- CN, 3 AU Click for codes to charts.

Sales (in millions): 0.1 UK

Genre: British blues rock

Rating:

3.663 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

(1) Albatross (2) Black Magic Woman (3) Need Your Love So Bad (4) My Heart Beat Like a Hammer (5) Rollin’ Man (6) The Green Manalishi with the Two Prong Cown (7) Man of the World (8) Something Inside of Me (9) Looking for Somebody (10) Oh Well (Parts 1 & 2) (11) Rattlesnake Shake (12) Merry Go Round (13) I Loved Another Woman (14) Need Your Love Tonight (15) Worried Dream (16) Dragonfly (17) Stop Messin’ Round (18) Shake Your Moneymaker (19) I’d Rather Go Blind (20) Albatross (Chris Coco featuring Peter Green)

Total Running Time: 64:19

About the Album:

While the Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham years (1975-1987) are the most celebrated of Fleetwood Mac’s long history, the group started as a British blues rock band helmed by Peter Green. This collection captures the highlights of those first few years.

Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

  • Black Magic Woman (1968, #37 UK) PG, 25, 50
  • Need Your Love So Bad (1968, #31 UK) PG, 25, 50
  • Albatross (1968, #1 UK, 45 CN, 11 AU) PG, 25, 50
  • Man of the World (1969, #2 UK, 100 AU) PG, 25, 50
  • Something Inside of Me (1968) PG
  • Worried Dream (1971) PG
  • I’d Rather Go Blind PG
  • Albatross (Chris Coco featuring Peter Green)

Also from This Era:

  • Watch Out (1969) 25
  • String-A-Long (1970) 25

Future Games (1971)

  1. Woman of 1000 Years
  2. Morning Rain
  3. What a Shame
  4. Future Games
  5. Sands of Time (single, 1971) 50
  6. Sometimes
  7. Lay It All Down 25
  8. Show Me a Smile

About the Album:

Original band member Jeremy Spencer left while the band was touring in support of their previous album, Kiln House. This album marked the debut of American guitarist Bob Welch as a band member. It marked a move away from the band’s original British blues-rock roots.

Bare Trees (1972)

  1. Child of Mine
  2. The Ghost
  3. Homeward Bound
  4. Sunny Side of Heaven
  5. Bare Trees
  6. Sentimental Lady (single, 1972) 25, 50
  7. Danny’s Chant
  8. Spare Me a Little of Your Love 50
  9. Dust
  10. Thoughts on a Grey Day
  11. Trinity (mono version) * 25
  12. Sentimental Lady (single version) *
  13. Homeward Bound (live) *
  • * added to 2020 reissue

    • About the Album:

    This was the last album to feature guitarist Danny Kirwan. He was fired during the album’s supporting tour.

    Penguin (1973)

    1. Remember Me (single, 1973)
    2. Bright Fire
    3. Dissatisfied
    4. I’m a Road Runner
    5. The Derelict
    6. Revelation
    7. Did You Ever Love Me (single, 1973) 25, 50
    8. Night Watch
    9. Caught in the Rain

    About the Album:

    This was the first Fleetwood Mac album to feature guitarist Bob Weston and only album to feature guitarist Dave Walker.

    Mystery to Me (1973)

    1. Emerald Eyes 50
    2. Believe Me
    3. Just Crazy Love
    4. Hypnotized 25, 50
    5. Forever
    6. Keep on Going
    7. The City
    8. Miles Away
    9. Somebody
    10. The Way I Feel
    11. For Your Love (single, 1973)
    12. Why 25

    About the Album:

    “For Your Love,” a top-10 hit for the Yardbirds a few years earlier, was the album’s lone single. “Hypnotized” was not a single, but became a radio favorite over the years.

    Heroes Are Hard to Find (1974)

    1. Heroes Are Hard to Find (September 1974) 25, 50
    2. Coming Home
    3. Angel
    4. Bermuda Triangle
    5. Come a Little Bit Closer (1974) 25
    6. She’s Changing Me
    7. Bad Loser
    8. Silver Heels
    9. Prove Your Love
    10. Born Enchanter
    11. Safe Harbour

    About the Album:

    This was Bob Welch’s last album with Fleetwood Mac. For the band’s next album in 1975, they brought on the Californian folk duo of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks and transformed their sound.

    Fleetwood Mac (1975)

    1. Monday Morning [2:48] 25, US, 50
    2. Warm Ways [3:54] 25
    3. Blue Letter [2:41]
    4. Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win) [4:11] 88, 25, US, 50
    5. Over My Head [4:11] 88, 25, US, 50
    6. Crystal [5:14] 25
    7. Say You Love Me [4:11] 88, 25, US, 50
    8. Landslide [3:19] 25, US, 50
    9. World Turning [4:25] US
    10. Sugar Daddy [4:10]
    11. I’m So Afraid [4:22] 25, US

    About the Album:

    After ten studio albums, Fleetwood Mac leapt into the arena of commercial stardom with a self-titled release. On the strength of three top-20 hits in the U.S., the album which introduced Lindsey Buckingham to Stevie Nicks, hit #1 and became a multi-platinum seller. The band had previously never reached higher than #34 on the Billboard album chart. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

    Rumours (1977)

    1. Second Hand News [2:56] 25, US, 50
    2. Dreams [4:14] 88, 25, US, 50
    3. Never Going Back Again [2:14] 25, US, 50
    4. Don’t Stop [3:13] 88, 25, US, 50
    5. Go Your Own Way [3:43] 88, 25, US, 50
    6. Songbird [3:20] 25, US
    7. The Chain [4:30] 25, US, 50
    8. You Make Loving Fun [3:31] 88, 25, US, 50
    9. I Don’t Want to Know [3:15]
    10. Oh Daddy [3:56]
    11. Gold Dust Woman [4:56] 25, US

    Also from This Era:

    • Silver Springs (1976) 25, US, 50

    About the Album:

    Expectations were high and so were the band members. They were also fighting so much as a band that the success they’d just found looked certain to derail. Instead, the broken relationships behind the scenes fueled their songs and the album became one of the most successful in history. Sporting four top-ten U.S. hits, it sold 40 million copies worldwide and spent 31 weeks atop the Billboard album chart in the U.S. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

    Tusk (1979)

    1. Over & Over [4:34]
    2. The Ledge [2:08]
    3. Think About Me [2:44] 25, US, 50
    4. Save Me a Place [2:42] 25
    5. Sara [6:22] 88, 25, US, 50
    6. What Makes You Think You’re the One [3:32] 25, US
    7. Storms [5:31] 25, US
    8. That’s All for Everyone [3:03] 25
    9. Not That Funny [3:11] 25
    10. Sisters of the Moon [4:42] 25, US
    11. Angel [4:54] 25
    12. That’s Enough for Me [1:50]
    13. Brown Eyes [4:27] 25
    14. Never Make Me Cry [2:18]
    15. I Know I’m Not Wrong [3:05]
    16. Honey Hi [2:41]
    17. Beautiful Child [5:21] 25
    18. Walk a Thin Line [3:46] 25
    19. Tusk [3:37] 88, 25, US, 50
    20. Never Forget [3:34]

    About the Album:

    Fleetwood Mac got ambitious the next time out, releasing a double album. It didn’t match the success of the previous outing – which would have been damn-near impossible – but it still gave the band two more top-ten hits in the U.S. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

    Mirage (1982)

    1. Love in Store [3:14] 25, US, 50
    2. Can’t Go Back [2:42]
    3. That’s Alright [3:09]
    4. Book of Love [3:21]
    5. Gypsy [4:24] 88, 25, US, 50
    6. Only Over You [4:08] 25
    7. Empire State [2:51]
    8. Straight Back [4:17]
    9. Hold Me [3:44] 88, US, 50
    10. Oh Diane [2:36] 25, 50
    11. Eyes of the World [3:44] 25
    12. Wish You Were Here [4:45]

    Also from This Era:

    • Goodbye Angel (1982) 25
    • Teen Beat (1982) 25

    About the Album:

    Since their last album, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham had each found solo success. Nicks had gone all the way to #1 on the U.S. album chart with Bella Donna, which had two top-ten hits, and Buckingam hit the top 10 with his song “Trouble.” Audiences were eager to hear the band as a whole again. Ironically, though, it was Christine McVie who had the highest-charting single from the album with “Hold Me.” Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

    Tango in the Night (1987)

    1. Big Love [3:37] 88, 25, US, 50
    2. Seven Wonders [3:38] US, 50
    3. Everywhere [3:48] 88, 25, US, 50
    4. Caroline [3:50]
    5. Tango in the Night [3:56]
    6. Mystified [3:08]
    7. Little Lies [3:40] 88, 25, US, 50
    8. Family Man [4:08] US
    9. Welcome to the Room…Sara [3:37]
    10. Isn’t It Midnight [4:06] 25
    11. When I See You Again [3:49]
    12. You and I, Part II [2:40]

    About the Album:

    After some more solo forays, which now included a solo album and top-10 hit from Christine McVie, the band came together again for what would be the last studio album with the classic lineup that brought the group its biggest taste of fame. Seven songs from Tango in the Night hit various charts with four of those reaching the top-20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

    Greatest Hits

    Fleetwood Mac

    Released: November 5, 1988

    Recorded: 1975-1988

    Peak: 14 US, 3 UK, -- CN, 3 AU Click for codes to charts.

    Sales (in millions): 8.0 US, 0.9 UK, 17.0 world (includes US and UK)

    Genre: classic rock

    Rating:

    4.599 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings)

    Awards:

    (Click on award to learn more).

    Tracks:

    (1) Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win) (2) Don’t Stop (3) Go Your Own Way (4) Hold Me (5) Everywhere (6) Gypsy (7) You Make Loving Fun (8) As Long As You Follow (9) Dreams (10) Say You Love Me (11) Tusk (12) Little Lies (13) Sara (14) Big Love (15) Over My Head (16) No Questions Asked

    Total Running Time: 64:19

    About the Album:

    “Greatest Hits is a fine overview of Fleetwood Mac’s hit-making years, containing the bulk of the group’s Top 40 hits of the late ‘70s and ‘80s,” AM which included top-10 hits “Go Your Own Way,” “Don’t Stop,” “You Make Loving Fun,” “Tusk,” “Sara,” “Hold Me,” “Big Love,” and “Little Lies” as well as their #1 hit “Dreams.” Minor hits like ‘Think About Me’ [and] ‘Love in Store’… are missing, making room for the new songs As Long as You Follow…and No Questions Asked, but overall, Greatest Hits is an excellent choice for casual listeners.” AM

    Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

    • As Long As You Follow (11/26/88, 43 US, 15 AR, 1 AC, 66 UK, 35 AU) 88, US, 50
    • No Questions Asked (12/4/88, 37 AR) 88, US

    Behind the Mask (1990)

    1. Skies the Limit US
    2. Love Is Dangerous 25
    3. In the Back of My Mind 25
    4. Do You Know
    5. Save Me 25, 50
    6. Affairs of the Heart 25
    7. When the Sun Goes Down
    8. Behind the Mask
    9. Stand on the Rock
    10. Hard Feelings
    11. Freedom
    12. When It Comes to Love

    About the Album:

    This was the first Fleetwood Mac album in the post-Lindsey Buckingham era. Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, both singer/songwriters and guitarists, were brought in as replacements. The album reached gold status and the top 20 in the U.S., but that was a far cry from the band’s highly successful commercial years in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The album was promoted with several singles but only “Save Me” reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.

    25 Years: The Chain

    Fleetwood Mac

    Released: November 23, 1992

    Recorded: 1967-1992

    Peak: -- US, 9 UK, -- CN, 2 AU Click for codes to charts.

    Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK, 0.27 world (includes US + UK)

    Genre: classic rock

    Rating:

    3.844 out of 5.00 (average of 15 ratings)

    Awards:

    (Click on award to learn more).

    Tracks, Disc 1:

    (1) Paper Doll (2) Love Shines (3) Stand Back (live) (4) Crystal (5) Isn’t It Midnight (6) Big Love (7) Everywhere (8) Affairs of the Heart (9) Heart of Stone (10) Sara (11) That’s All for Everyone (12) Over My Head (13) Little Lies (14) Eyes of the World (15) Oh Diane (16) In the Back of My Mind (17) Make Me a Mask

    Tracks, Disc 2:

    (1) Save Me (2) Goodbye Angel (3) Silver Springs (4) What Makes You Think You’re the One (5) Think About Me (6) Gypsy (alternate version) (7) You Make Loving Fun (8) Second Hand News (9) Love in Store (10) The Chain (11) Teen Beat (12) Dreams (13) Only Over You (14) I’m So Afraid (live) (15) Love Is Dangerous (16) Gold Dust Woman (17) Not That Funny (live)

    Tracks, Disc 3:

    (1) Warm Ways (2) Say You Love Me (3) Don’t Stop (4) Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win) (5) Walk a Thin Line (6) Storms (7) Go Your Own Way (8) Sisters of the Moon (9) Monday Morning (live) (10) Landslide (11) Hypnotized (12) Lay It All Down (13) Angel (14) Beautiful Child (15) Brown Eyes (16) Save Me a Place (17) Tusk (18) Never Going Back Again (19) Songbird

    Tracks, Disc 4:

    (1) Dust My Broom (I Believe My Time Ain’t Long) (2) Need Your Love So Bad (3) Rattlesnake Shake (4) Oh Well, Pt. 1 (5) Stop Messin’ Round (6) The Green Manalishi with the Two Prong Crown (7) Albatross (8) Man of the World (9) Love That Burns (10) Black Magic Woman (11) Watch Out (12) String-A-Long (13) Station Man (14) Did You Ever Love Me (15) Sentimental Lady (16) Come a Little Bit Closer (17) Heroes Are Hard to Find (18) Trinity (19) Why

    Total Running Time: 292:53

    About the Album:

    This box set covered Fleetwood Mac’s entire history, which makes for quite a journey. They started out as as British blues-based rock band, transforming into a pop/classic rock group in the mid-‘70s with the arrivals of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks from California.

    The collection would have benefited greatly from a straight chronological presentation. Instead, it goes with a somewhat loose reverse chronological order, probably to hook listeners with the more familiar Fleetwood Mac material first. That seems odd, though, since box sets are for serious fans and not casual listeners. The collection would also benefit from more focus on the earlier years.

    Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

    • Stand Back (live, 1988) 25
    • Paper Doll (1992) 25, US, 50
    • Love Shines (1992) 25, 50
    • Heart of Stone (1992) 25
    • Make Me a Mask (1992) 25

    The Very Best of (U.S. Version)

    Fleetwood Mac

    Released: September 30, 2002

    Recorded: 1975-1997

    Peak: 12 US, -- UK, -- CN, 11 AU Click for codes to charts.

    Sales (in millions): 1.0 US

    Genre: classic rock

    Rating:

    4.054 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

    Awards:

    (Click on award to learn more).

    Tracks, Disc 1:

    (1) Monday Morning (2) Dreams (3) You Make Loving Fun (4) Go Your Own Way (5) Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win) (6) Say You Love Me (7) I’m So Afraid (live) (8) Silver Springs (9) Over My Head (10) Never Going Back Again (11) Sara (12) Love in Store (13) Tusk (14) Landslide (15) Songbird (16) Big Love (live) (17) Storms

    Tracks, Disc 2:

    (1) The Chain (2) Don’t Stop (3) What Makes You Think You’re the One (4) Gypsy (5) Second Hand News (6) Little Lies (7) Think About Me (8) Go Insane (live) (9) Gold Dust Woman (10) Hold Me (11) Seven Wonders (12) World Turning (13) Everywhere (14) Sisters of the Moon (15) Family Man (16) As Long As You Follow (17) No Questions Asked (18) Skies the Limit (19) Paper Doll

    Total Running Time: 140:52

    About the Album:

    The U.S. version was two discs, but in the UK the collection was whittled down to one disc and featured a few songs from the pre-Buckingham/Nicks era.

    Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

    • Go Insane (live, 1997) US

    50 Years: Don’t Stop

    Fleetwood Mac

    Released: November 16, 2018

    Recorded: 1967-2013

    Peak: 65 US, 5 UK, 81 CN, 7 AU Click for codes to charts.

    Sales (in millions): 1.5 UK

    Genre: classic rock

    Rating:

    4.100 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings)

    Awards:

    (Click on award to learn more).

    Tracks, Disc 1:

    (1) Shake Your Moneymaker (2) Black Magic Woman (3) Need Your Love So Bad (4) Albatross (5) Man of the World (6) Oh Well (Pt. 1) (7) Rattlesnake Shake (8) The Green Manalishi with the Two Prong Crown (9) Tell Me All the Things You Do (10) Station Man (11) Sands of Time (12) Spare Me a Little of Your Love (13) Sentimental Lady (14) Did You Ever Love Me (15) Emerald Eyes (16) Hypnotized (17) Heroes Are Hard to Find

    Tracks, Disc 2:

    (1) Monday Morning (2) Over My Head (3) Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win) (4) Say You Love Me (5) Landslide (6) Go Your Own Way (7) Dreams (8) Second Hand News (9) Don’t Stop (10) The Chain (11) You Make Loving Fun (12) Tusk (13) Sara (14) Think About Me (15) Fireflies (16) Never Going Back Again (live)

    Tracks, Disc 3:

    (1) Hold Me (2) Gypsy (3) Love in Store (4) Oh Diane (5) Big Love (6) Seven Wonders (7) Little Lies (8) Everywhere (8) As Long As You Follow (10) Save Me (11) Love Shines (12) Paper Doll (13) I Do (14) Silver Springs (live) (15) Peacekeeper (16) Say You Will (17) Sad Angel

    Total Running Time: 186:01

    About the Album:

    26 years after Fleetwood Mac released its first box set, The Chain, they put out this three-disc, career-spanning retrospective. This is a much better collection in that it presents the material in chronological order. It also benefits from trimming the material to three discs as The Chain suffered from over-representation of album cuts from the Buckingham-Nicks era.

    Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

    • Fireflies (1980) 50
    • I Do (1995) 50
    • Peacekeeper (2003) 50
    • Say You Will (2003) 50
    • Sad Angel (2013) 50

    Resources/References:

    • AM AllMusic.com review of Greatest Hits by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

    Related DMDB Links:

    First posted 4/6/2008; last updated 8/30/2025.

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