After a media-plagued reunion, Fleetwood Mac set about creating a one night personal gig for family and friends. The original 1975 line up consisting of Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, Lindsay Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood was the greatest line up the band ever brought together. The West Coast talents of the very young Nicks and Buckingham gathered up all the glitter and tinsel that the band had needed since the departure of Peter Green. Nicks’ croaky, mysterious vocal coupled together with the incredibly diverse compositions of Buckingham gave Fleetwood Mac an edge, and one enough to place them in the hearts of the record buying public.
This exceptional album creates that electrifying scene time and time again. You can almost sense the atmosphere of this great, eclectic band generating their own special brand of folk rock. All the legendary songs are here. ‘The Chain, ’ ‘Dreams‘, ‘Everywhere, ’ ‘Rhiannon‘, ‘Go you own way‘; the list is endless. In addition to some old favourites, we here different arrangements on a couple of tracks. ‘Say You Love Me’ from the 1975, white album is given a hillbilly slant and the track comes alive in this new foot tapping recording. ‘Don’t Stop’, the final track will have you jumping with surprise at the addition of a brass band, fully squashed together on stage with the original band members hardly noticeable to the audience. Available also on Video/DVD, it is a prize to treasure. Fans had thought that this album was to mark the end of a legendary group and a big farewell. Thankfully, as we know now. It wasn’t.
An added note here is the workings of some old tracks. Dusted off and given a jolly good airing, we have ‘Silver Springs, ’ a country sounding love song with Nicks at the realm. ‘Sweet Girl, ’ again, is Nicks at her most swoonful and gentle. This track will flow over you like cool water on a hot day.
All in all, one feels privileged to have taken a front seat, so to speak, at this very personal and affectionate concert. Beautifully edited and pieced together, it shows well that after many hard working years, Fleetwood Mac still had that good, unmistakeable sound.
Produced by Buckingham and Elliot Scheiner, this single CD album still holds its price well. The inlay will take you on a pictorial ride through the special night. The photographs are to perfection, showing Nicks, naturally, in her best light!
A joy to be had is owning this album. It will have you dancing, dreaming and listening hard. Each note, each jangle of the tambourine, each shimmer of cymbal is so very much the band we have adored since the late sixties.
(Warner Music)
©sam1942.