Product Description
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On February 4th 1977, after a year of through
hedonism, scandal and relationship break-ups the British-American
rock band Fleetwood Mac released their eleventh studio album,
Rumours. Although troubled with tension and setbacks the second
time round combination of Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey
Buckingham, John and Christine McVie, together with the
production talents of Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut had created
the band’s ultimate masterpiece. This 35th Anniversary Edition
3CD deluxe set features the remastered version of the original
album, including extra B-side track "Silver Springs", a second
disc of previously unreleased live performances compiled from the
1977 tour and a third disc of tracks from the sessions,
also previously unreleased. Additionally there are new liner
notes by David Wild.
Review
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Rumours will never die. Many years from now, when physical
formats are forgotten and music is delivered directly into the
brain via some sort of digital syringe, it’ll be there:
re-released for the umpteenth time, complete with a full
holographic performance, Mick Fleetwood’s eyes bulging like
ping-pong balls.
They’re hypnotising here. Staring from the back cover of this
triple-disc repackaging marking the album’s 35th anniversary (and
released a year too late for it), the founding her figure
dominates their line-up, even beside Lindsey Buckingham’s
impressive ‘fro. Arguably it was the drummer who guided the band
through Rumours’ troubled gestation, as relationships frayed and
failed around him.
But the background of Rumours is well documented, and its songs
have been heard the world over. Forty million copies sold – a
figure that few present-day acts can dream of matching (although
Adele’s 21, with 25 million sales and counting, could be a
contender). So what does this release have to offer over past,
high-profile reissues?
Disc two is filled by 12 previously unreleased live tracks,
recorded at shows in Oklahoma, Tennessee and South Carolina
during 1977. It’s a well-sequenced affair that gels into a most
enjoyable ‘as live’ set. The crowd is never too intrusive but
always present; interaction between band members is crisply
captured; and Rumours’ standouts are present and correct.
Amongst these tracks are three stowaways from Fleetwood Mac’s
pre-Rumours commercial high, 1975’s eponymous album. Rhiannon is
Stevie Nicks’ most notable moment in the spotlight, a song that
will forever sparkle. It’s as effective over almost eight minutes
here as it is on its sub-four single edit.
Go Your Own Way’s B side Silver Springs is, as on earlier
reissues, added to the original Rumours tracklist. Disc three
contains “More from the Sessions”, selections that
didn’t feature on 2004’s double-disc remaster. Included are
several early takes, with vocal annotations included – “Keep it
going to the B-flat,” instructs Buckingham, between lines, on Oh
Daddy.
Nicks sings beautifully on the lyrically bitter Planets of the
Universe, which she released solo in 2001. And a slow, skeletal
demo of The Chain is far removed indeed from the
Formula-One-famous album version, its tremendous outro yet to
take shape.
With its extra content engineered to appeal to collectors and
casual fans alike, this is a justified addition to the many
Rumours already making the rounds.
--Mike Diver
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