Never Break the Chain...

  As I write to you now, I am listening to one of the best albums of all time. If you haven't already guessed, it is Fleetwood Mac's 1976 album called Rumours.  The name for this album perfectly describes the turmoil of this band.  When this album was made, every single member of the band was going through a break-up.  You had guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and lead woman Stevie Nicks breaking up.  At the same time, piano player/songwriter Christine McVie and bass player John Mcvie were going through a divorce.  Drummer Mick Fleetwood was getting a divorce from his wife Jenny Boyd. (Yes, Patty Boyd's sister and sister in law of Beatle George Harrison).  It's bad enough going through a divorce-it probably made it ten times worse to know that you were divorcing George Harrison's sister in law.  Ok I'm getting off topic...
  So within one paragraph I briefly explain to you the background behind this dynamic, heartache-fueled album.  Actually wait, now I'm going to describe to you the background.  Listen to the album and it is like reading the diary of each of the band member. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham have a long history that started even before they joined Fleetwood Mac.  If you check out this link from VH1 you will see that they had a relationship and started recording together when they were young and struggling musicians.  They had an album, Buckingham Nicks, that was successful in only a few states within the country-particularly Birmingham Alabama.  The album dropped in 1974 and  Buckingham Nicks were struggling just to keep food on the table.  The skies opened when drummer Mick Fleetwood went into their studio to meet with Lindsey and Stevie's producer Kieth Olsen.  Mick was looking for a guitar player and Lindsey seemed like a good guy for the job.  Lindsey and Stevie were a package deal, and in order for them to have Lindsey in the band, they needed to take Stevie too.  Taking both of these musicians would be one of the best decisions that the drummer had ever made for his band.

  So the band makes a first album self titled "Fleetwood Mac-White Album" in 1975 selling around 300,000 and 350,000 albums.  It was obvious to anyone that these five people had a strength in performing and writing music, but their strength would be tested when the couples were set out to record their next album.  Like stated before, the couples within the band were breaking up during this recording, only to stir up emotions to create dynamic songwriting.   The band recorded in Sausalito California in a small recording  studio.  Imagine going through a breakup while having to see the person day to day  If you look at this link from the same VH1 interview at around mark 4:20, you will see that the only way in which this band could communicate their troubles and passion to each other was through the music.  Lets take a look at some lyrics from songs in this album.  You have Stevie Nicks writing a song called Dreams in which she says to Buckingham...

         "Now here you go again

          You say you want your freedom

          Who am I to bring you down?

          It's only right that you should play it the way you feel it
          But listen carefully to the sound of your loneliness."

Lindsey Buckingham shows his feeling on the breakup in a different light when you look at the lyrics of Go Your Own Way...
                                                                              "Tell me why, everything turned around?

Lindsey Buckingham on guitar

                   Packing up, shaking up is all you want to do.
                   If I could, baby I'd give you my world
                   Open up, everything is waiting for you."


   Just compare these two songs and you will see two people going through the turmoils of a breakup and expressing their feeling through their music.  Stevie sings in a lighter approach when she tells him that she understands that he wants to be on his own, but he will miss her when he is lonely at night.  Look at Buckingham's song (a hit might I add...)and you will see that he is just plain angry with the breakup.  I mean come on!  Packing up and shacking up is all Stevie wanted to do?  (I would love to here Nick's reactions on that lyric)  Now lets put them both in a tight studio and see what happens!  A soap opera to say the least...

  Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks wrote songs of each other within the album, but lets look at Christine McVie whose hit song You Make Loving Fun is actually written about another man...other than her ex-husband John Mcvie. Rumor has it (no pun intended) that this song was written about lighting director Curry Grant.  It could be speculation, but with this band you never know. Lets put ourselves in the mind of bass player John Mcvie.  Imagine doing the bass parts of a song written by your ex-wife.  Not only do you have to work with your ex-wife, but you must contribute to a song that is obviously written about another man other than yourself...and the title is You Make Loving Fun  Ouch... to say the least...

Christine McVie and John McVie when they were happy

        "Sweet wonderful you

        You make me happy with the things you do

        Oh, can it be so

        This feeling follows me wherever I go."

Later in the song she sings...
                       
     "Don't break the spell
      It would be different and you know it will
      You make loving fun
       I don't have to tell you, but you're the only one."

Again....ouch.  Sorry John :(

  I need to take a break now, but come back here in a few days you will get your Fleetwood Mac fill.  Lets take a step into Stevie Nick's closet next time.-Wouldn't that be fun!?  Ok it might not be her real closet, but with all her fabulous flowy clothes we can at least imagine can't we? 

Thanks guys!
JDSkills