“Rumours” Has It

            If you’ve been unfortunate enough to only ever hear one Fleetwood Mac song, chances are that song is from “Rumours.” Released over 35 years ago, this album is still worth more than just a second look. From iconic anthems like “Go Your Own Way” and “Don’t Stop” to the hauntingly beautiful devotion Stevie Nicks captures in “Silver Springs,” “Rumours” is hands-down their best effort and arguably one of the best albums ever recorded.

            “Rumours” (technically Fleetwood Mac’s eleventh studio album) was the sophomore release of the band’s most famous line-up, consisting of Mick Fleetwood, John McVie (the only remaining original members), Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, and Stevie Nicks. Part of what made “Rumours” so raw and unique were the struggles within the band during its creation and their ability to draw from them. John and Christine McVie were in the midst of a divorce, Buckingham and Nicks were failing an on-off again relationship, and Fleetwood had just learned of his wife’s infidelities.

            The opening tune “Second Hand News” sets the tone for the album, lyrically speaking. Right out of the gate emotion takes the lead (despite the misguidingly optimistic music) with, “I know there’s nothing to say, someone has taken my place.” The following tracks,“Dreams” and “Never Going Back Again” openly convey the sentiment they were attempting to portray.

“Dreams” is anchored heavily by a groove mixture of drums and bass. John McVie jams almost exclusively on two notes while Fleetwood taps a simple four count. Quiet droning from the guitar helps play on the heartbreak displayed in Nicks’ voice as she recites,“Now here you go again, you say you want your freedom. Well, who am I to keep you down?”and “Women, they will come and they will go. When the rain washes you clean you’ll know.”

Buckingham’s solo opus, “Never Going Back Again,” demonstrates many of the same feelings from a more subtle point-of-view. Buckingham’s guitar is the lone musical fixture in this piece, repeating one of the most technical finger picking riffs I’ve ever tried my hand at playing. With a running time of only 2:17 and only a handful of lyrics, the power this song possesses, more than anything, is a true testament to Buckingham’s deftness on guitar.

            “Don’t Stop” and “Go Your Own Way” have to be the best known songs on this album’s line-up, both still seeing moderately excessive radio play. Though one is buoyant in nature and the other is basically a pleasant way of telling your lover to “screw-off,” the music shares a lot of the same pop value with loud 4/4 drum beats, catchy hooks, choruses sang in unison, and danceable loops throughout.

            “Rumours” boasts several unforgettable melodies, but none more driving and compelling as guitar-laden “The Chain” (the only Fleetwood Mac song in which every member played some part in the creative process). The call and response between Nicks and Buckingham as they sing, “If you don’t love me now, you will never love me again,” the thumping 1-2-3-4 of the bass drum during verses, the bass and guitar solos, and the group harmony of “the chain will keep us together” adds character that no other track on this album can match.

            Fleetwood Mac transcended pop-rock standards with “Rumours.” This album helped instill their legacy amongst other powerhouse bands from the 70s and deserves every ounce of praise given to it. So, if you’ve been unfortunate enough to only ever hear one Fleetwood Mac song, do yourself a favor and go check out “Rumours.”