Podunkian Music Club: October 21

Fleetwood Mac-Go Your Own Way

Fleetwood Mac-Go Your Own Way

The mid to late 1970’s gave us two super groups from California that ruled the stadiums and the records charts. They provided a definitive sound of a decade and became the barometer for which all other bands would measure themselves against at the time.

The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac battled it out for rock music supremacy during that era, each redefining their original sound to become a harder edged, driven sound by the time the decade would come to an end

Both groups had their soap opera moments with personality clashes and musical differences, though the Mac seemed to take things to extremes at times as they wove many subplots into their day to day travels along the road. Chronicled in a number of books over the years, most notably Mick Fleetwood's Life and Advenures, the heady years of success provided for the emotional breakups and reunions of various band mates all played out to record setting album sales.

As for the music, it was about the freshest sound of the day. The driving sound of the Mick Fleetwood’s drums, Lindsey Buckingham’s lead guitar, John McVie’s bass, Christine McVie’s keyboards and vocals and then of course there was Stevie Nicks, the lead voice that made the Mac a Monster in the music biz.

She was a rock and roll goddess of the seventies, everyone’s pin up gal, her flowing dresses, that youthful fresh California look and a wondrous voice which all made for a most bewitching combination if ever there were one.

The Rumours album, was one of those musical achievements that defines a band forever. It was about the most complete rock and roll album of the era, hit after hit after hit, the thing ruled the airwaves for over a year. A statement album after the Mac’s break out album of 75, Fleetwood Mac that provided us with Rhiannon, the one song forever identified with Stevie Nicks.

The follow up Tusk, was the proverbial show stopper, but not in a particularly good way. The follow up album to Rumours resulted in the situation that nobody quite understood where the band was at anymore, how they got there or where the heck they were going to go from there.

The pressure of the rock and roll machine would take its toll on them over the next few years. The band would break up and reform over the next two decades, never quite making it back to those heady days of the seventies when they were Kings and Queens of their empire.

But in 1976, there was The Mac and if ever a band owned a couple of years it was the one that started in 76, they could do no wrong. The music providing a soundtrack for an era of music that still reverberates to this day.

Group-Fleetwood Mac
CD-Rumours