Monday, October 15, 2007

Rumours (1977)

It's 30 years later and this album still resides comfortably in the top 20 list of all-time album sellers, reason enough for many (in fairness, myself included with some cases, e.g., Celine Dion, Dirty Dancing, Alanis Morissette, Boston, Garth Brooks, Boyz II Men, etc., etc.) to dismiss it. But this is the primary vault of Fleetwood Mac hits—"Go Your Own Way," "Dreams," "Don't Stop," "You Make Loving Fun"—and if you don't like at least one of them, well, all right. This is also where Lindsey Buckingham's pop production smarts/sensibility, not to mention an impressively squealing guitar in the sundry breaks, really start to step out. Stevie Nicks contributes another knockout punch in "Dreams." And that rhythm section is still kicking ass all over London and southern California. All respect to lovers of Brit blues, but comparing this to Peter Green's projects is like comparing Saturday Night Fever to Odessa, or Nevermind to Bleach. Things change; sales happen. It doesn't necessarily mean it's for the worse. I know what you say.

More information in comments.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for this one. "Rumours" is one of maybe 5 rock albums that are absolutely required. I think you get immediately sent to Guantanamo if you don't have a copy.

    I will say I was kind of disappointed this wasn't the recent remaster, not because I wanted a bunch of demos and extras but because Rhino actually inserted the studio version of "Silver Springs" into the official running order (it was dropped off the LP in favor of "I Don't Want To Know".

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rumours was one of the most overrated albums ever made. I admit I prefer Green's Fleetwood Mac and I also admit the nose Buckingham had to reach the pop market.... but all in all it all sounded then lousy and nowadays it sounds even worse. But then again... millions bought the record, and millions still love it... so I might be wrong:)

    Peter

    www.bicycle-adventures.com

    ReplyDelete