Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” Album
British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac released their eleventh studio album, Rumours on February 4, 1977.
The album was produced by Richard Dashut and Ken Caillat, with most of it recorded in California in 1976. While recording, the band members struggled with several relationship problems among themselves which eventually seeped into the lyrics found on the album. They were also noted to have been using a lot of cocaine and partying during their recording sessions.
Prior to the recording of the album, John McVie and Christine McVie were in the middle of a divorce, Stevie Nicks and longtime partner Lindsey Buckingham had just broken up, while Mick Fleetwood who experienced turmoil in his own marriage soon ended up in an affair with Nicks.
The album’s second single Dreams was written by Stevie Nicks in an unused studio that belonged to Sly Stone.
The irregular drumming pattern in Go Your Own Way has been credited to Mick Fleetwood’s dyslexia.
While recording Never Going Back Again, the band used four days, three tuners and nine pianos to find the best instrument for Christine McVie. Buckingham’s acoustic guitar was also restrung after every 20 minutes to get the right sound.
The tracks released as singles, Don’t Stop, Go Your Own Way, You Make Loving Fun and Dreams all reached the US Top 10 chart.
While the lyrics of all the other songs on the album were written individually by Nicks, Christine McVie and Buckingham, The Chain, happened to be the only song in which all members of the band collaborated.
Accomplishments of “Rumours”
Barely a month after its release, the album had sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. It soon became one of the best-selling albums of all time with over 45 million copies sold globally. It was named the Album of the Year during the 20th Annual Grammys in 1978.
Rumors entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.
The Library of Congress selected it to be preserved with the National Recording Registry in 2018.
Vibe included it as part of its 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century in 1999.
Rolling Stone ranked it number 25 among The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
It was ranked number 16 among VH1’s 100 Greatest Albums countdown in 2001.
