Rumours

Hehehe balls

I wish I hadn’t known that this was the number one highest rated album on 1001albumsgenerator because that has really messed with me. Giving it five stars seemed unfair. I didn’t want to go with the crowd. But giving it less than five seemed worse. It’s really, really, REALLY great. Ultimately, I think it gets four stars for Dreams by itself. Truly one of the greatest songs of the last fifty years. So the question becomes: is the rest of the album worth one more star? And the answer is an easy yes. I cannot stop listening to this.

The album is obviously full of hits - even the deeper cuts feel like they would be a lead single for a different band - but what sets it apart is that you feel like you're on the front row for a beautifully intimate slow-motion car crash. Nearly every member of the band was involved in some kind of break-up while recording (some of the separations were with each other), and they each handled it in Their Own Way, making for a diverse and yet unified look at heartbreak. Best track: Go Your Own Way

English middle class “I have a personality” passport

Fleetwood Mac is one of those bands that I’ve always been peripherally aware of but never really listened to. I have heard most of the songs on this album at one time or another. This album is packed with good songs. The experience was as if the album tracks were each audience members and Oprah is on stage, “You are a hit song! You are a hit song! You are a hit song! Every track is a hit song!!!!!” This album is a prime example of human beings’ ability to excel while drowning in dysfunction in their lives. The fact that this exemplary art was created with a divorce, an on-again-off-again strained relationship, and an extramarital affair going on is impressive. What is incredible is that most of the dysfunction was not elsewhere in their lives, but rather mostly amongst the artists in the studio. How does one even come into the studio to work with people you despise and create this? It’s likely that the dysfunction actually helped create some of the beauty on the album. The emotional compartmentalization required to do so is spectacular. You know what else helped? Copious amounts of cocaine, reportedly. When the emotional toll was too much, cocaine helped dull the pain. The ability of the band members to stand broadside into the hurricane of negative emotions and create this magnificent album is truly remarkable.

Cocaine and Adultery: the album.

One of my favorite parts of this album club is seeing an album pop up that I know and love, getting whiplash imagining how hard I’m gonna five-star it the next day. This is one of those times. It's crazy just how many of Fleetwood Mac’s all-time hits are on one album. So much impressive variety of sound on here, a perfect way to follow up that early Beatles album that was just as bland as possible. Great guitar work, great vocal harmonies and variety (hard to beat three lead vocalists), and fantastic drumming. What could I possibly say about this that hasn't been said already? When people talk about "sex, drugs, and rock & roll" usually they're thinking of the Stones or whatever but this album was quite literally made by a bunch of rockstars doing cocaine and having sex with each other. No one could do this better. Favorite tracks: Dreams, The Chain, Silver Springs (bonus joint), Go Your Own Way, Gold Dust Woman, Never Going Back Again, Second Hand News. Album art: Undeniably iconic. The font is perfect, and the contrast between that picture and the background is also amazing. I always forget about the balls, what a great touch. I can't imagine what it would be like to see this album over and over and not know what sounds it possesses. 5/5

The album that compelled Fleetwood Mac to successfully queer heterosexuality. They were all drugged up to the eyeballs and fucking each other six way from sunday (except John McVie, poor sod, he had to play bass on all Christine's songs about him) and holed up in a studio with next to no windows and still produced a stone cold top 3 album of all time instead of systematically killing each other for sport. Any song on here would be an apex mountain pinnacle for any other band not called The Beatles, take your pick. In fact it's CRIMINAL that they left Stevie Nicks beautiful "Silver Springs" off the track listing (thank you to The Dance and deluxe editions for restoring it), and I like to sometimes think that somewhere, in a CVS, Lindsey Buckingham is at this moment waiting for his quarter mile long receipt to print while the store PA plays "Silver Springs" and all he hears is "you'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you" They never could get away from that sound... 50 stars if they would allow it.

Hey, you can't just give me a perfect album as the first thing to review! Thats cheating!!

One of my favorite things about one of my favorite albums involves a song that somehow didn't make the album. The song's exclusion instead adds to both Rumours and Fleetwood Mac's legacy. There are at least four reasons why the Stevie Nicks penned "Silver Springs" wasn't included on Rumours: 1. There wasn't enough room on the vinyl pressing, a common problem in the '70's. 2. "Oh Daddy", the song that supposedly was chosen over "Silver Springs", was written by Christine McVie about founding member and drummer Mick Fleetwood, and he really wanted it on the album. 3. The consensus among the band members (or more specifically, Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham) was that the album "felt" like it needed another lead vocal from Christine McVie instead of another spotlight for Stevie. 4. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had just ended their romantic relationship. Lindsey knew that "Silver Springs" meant the world to his ex-girlfriend, and in one final kiss-off, refused to allow it on the album (in another interesting twist, "Silver Springs" was the B-side for the Lindsey penned "Go Your Own Way"). All four of these reasons are true, but they mostly stem from reason number 4, as the lyrics for a lot of these songs suggest (especially "Go Your Own Way"). As it stands, the album has so many bangers from top to bottom that it doesn't ultimately matter that "Silver Springs" didn't make it. And if you listen to the Deluxe versions of Rumours, "Silver Springs" is included, right after "Gold Dust Woman". Stevie Nicks got the last laugh. She still got two signature songs on this album (including "Dreams", which is Fleetwood Mac's only Billboard Top 100 number one song and somehow re-charted in the top ten 40 years after it was initially released). And when the Mac reunited the classic lineup in 1997, "Silver Springs" was included in their MTV Video and live album "The Dance". Stevie's performance of her forgotten classic in The Dance is incendiary. Towards the end, she sings the "Never get away" part while staring DIRECTLY at Lindsey Buckingham. The fierce emotion of her face, coupled with Lindsey's frightened look, not only spoke to millions of Stevie devotees, but further defined the couple's relationship. Seriously, go watch that performance if you've never seen it. After Fleetwood Mac finishes the song, Stevie thanks the adoring audience by saying, "Silver Springs is a great old song". Which is sort of like saying Rumours is a great album. Both are true, but they're also huge understatements.

This album is the mount olympus of music. Soaring highs, crushing lows, and the depth of human connection birthed from the most totured of circumstances.

Slightly better than Lee Mack, no where near as good as mac and cheese. Most overrated band of all time? Probably.

The Chain. That is the only song worth hearing on this album. I never really got the Fleetwood Mac thing. The only reason I like that song is because it was the theme tune to F1 racing for years. The rest is all too mellow and nice, it has no passion in it.

I wondered when I'd get to this one. Every "best of" list seems to have this record on it, for some reason. I remember listening to this as a kid on my dad's record player. I actually have not one but TWO copies of this on vinyl for some reason. And yet, I could never understand why people love this record so much. I can't quite wrap my mind around the cult of Rumors. That remains true this listen-through however, because I've been doing this project which has forced me to listen to records with an open mind, I am finding more to like about this record than I have in the past. Songs like, "Go Your Own Way" and "The Chain" are great tracks, no question. The thing is, they're separated by "Songbird" which is a turd of a song. There's a lot of that on this record. Killer tracks separated by duds. Ah well, maybe it's just because of the separation in time between release and now.

Embarrassing truth, I have never listened to this album before, I have never even actively chosen to listen to Fleetwood Mac…and yet I knew all but 3 songs. A testament to the song writing that every song was such a big hit that I knew them anyway. This album is pervasive in our culture’s collective consciousness for a reason.

To go along with the general consensus; this album transcends genres and tastes. Full of melody, musicianship and emotion. Quite rightly lauded as one of the best!

1001 Albums To Never Hear Again Before You Die Chapter 2 (You know they were all fucking each other, right?) Crack open a bottle of Ocean Spray and bang your bandmate’s spouse…it’s Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours! What am I going to tell you about this record that you don’t already know? This thing is ubiquitous. It’s a literal meme at this point. A few years down the road, people are going to start having Pavlovian responses to this record: Dreams will come on and all of a sudden they’ll have a hankering for cranberry juice. It’s a record that you’re just supposed to like, or at least agree that it’s one of the greatest of all time. When you buy record player in 2022, you buy this record and Sgt. Peppers and the King Crimson record along with it. It’s just what people do. Voila! Instant good taste in music. Is it a good record? Sure, only a fool would argue that it’s terrible. It’s a little front loaded with hits, but the songs throughout are all decent to great. …but fucking beige was the perfect color choice for this record cover. Holy fuck, is this thing the perfect encapsulation of MOR in the 70’s, or what? It’s only really the backstory that makes this record a “classic”. If some normal band that wasn’t falling apart due to affairs and cocaine made this record, it wouldn’t be held in such high regard. You’ll never change my mind on that.

Que dire de cet album si ce n'est qu'il était attendu au tournant depuis le début du générateur. Les vieux de la vieille se souviennent d'ailleurs qu'il dominait le classement de l'onglet Global Stats pendant des lustres avant d'être détrôné par le très consensuel Abbey Road. D'un point de vue musical, c'est un sans-faute pour Rumours. D'un point de vue idéologique, en revanche, c'est une autre histoire. L'album entier est en effet articulé sur l'idée que la femme ne peut rien faire sans l'homme, point de vue que je ne partage évidemment pas et que je m'attache à dénoncer au quotidien. L'idée du projet est pourtant celle-ci. On nous présente pour ce faire deux personnages. L'un est un homme, chante admirablement bien, joue de la guitare comme un dieu, parle plusieurs langues, est diplômé d'Harvard et entretient son corps au jour le jour. L'autre est une femme, ne transmet aucune émotion par sa voix, a les mains pleines de boue, le dos bossu, parle un vieux patois incompréhensible, roule les "r" et dispose d'une hygiène corporelle exécrable. La thèse est défendue de la façon suivante : nos deux personnages chantent ensemble des morceaux d'une immense qualité puis l'homme se retire pour que la femme se prenne seule les pieds dans le tapis. L'homme revient ensuite, l'aide à chanter un futur succès commercial puis repart, laissant la femme dans la panade et ainsi de suite. Cette vision inégalitaire des deux sexes m'a vraiment surpris et déçu, pour tout vous dire. À côté de ça, vous avez sans doute aperçu mon nom de robchevalière dans le journal cette semaine puisque Robert m'a décoré à la suite de l'écoute. En effet, lorsque celui-ci a envoyé l'album phare du générateur ce jeudi, j'avais au matin pas moins de quatre albums de retard. Rumours était donc le parfait prétexte pour mettre ma fidélité à l'épreuve. J'écoutai donc en ce jeudi les cinq albums d'une traite et Robert me fit en soirée Chevalier de l'Ordre du Générateur.

I feel a certain obligation to give this a thoughtful review. It is after all one of my absolute favorite albums, and apparently is for a large number of reviewers on this site as well. But at the same time, I feel wholly ill-equipped to say anything about Rumours that hasn’t been said by a ton of other people. What can I say. It's Rumours, hands down one of the best albums ever made, not to mention one of the most beloved albums ever. It's a perfect production, full of perfect songs, perfectly executed. The songwriting... perfect. The vocals... perfect. The musicianship... damn perfect. Half of these songs have taken up real estate in our collective consciousness over the past 40+ years and they aren't moving out anytime soon. This album is Music 101: How to Make a Perfect Record, *but better*. What keeps this music from getting lost in the shuffle of run of the mill 1970s pop-rock is the stellar quality of the musical performances, plus three songwriter-vocalists who are each powerful enough to have led their own bands, had they chosen to do so. This is deeply rare in music, something just a few other bands have been able to accomplish. This is upper echelon rock music for the gods, delivered without a need for bombast or musical excess. The personal excess, well that's another story. Another reviewer made a comment that they cannot stop listening, and my god, if that’s not it. I have listened to this album I don’t know, hundreds of times in my life, and I’ve never tired of it. My feelings on it haven’t substantially changed, except it’s safe to say I like it a little bit more every time I hear it. How is that even possible? Individual songs, sure. Some of them have been overplayed on radio. So overplayed. If “You Make Loving Fun” or “Don’t Stop” comes up on the radio I don’t usually stick around for it. But as a collection, the full body of work? I will play the whole thing all the way through, front to back, no skipping. Individually these songs are beautiful, but as a group, they’re a freaking masterpiece. It’s funny, on an average day, if you asked me my favorite songs on Rumours, I would go for the same songs… Go Your Own Way, Dreams, maybe Second Hand News. But today, I’m really loving “Gold Dust Woman” and “Songbird.” See, that’s why you listen to them all together. For every juggernaut hit you have heard dozens of times, there is a “Never Going Back Again” hiding in the wings, waiting to come and charm you. I don’t think I can make the case for Rumours against the current #1 album on this site. I think #2 is correct though. You can’t beat this album… unless you’re the Beatles. Fave Songs: Never Going Back Again, Dreams, Go Your Own Way, Songbird, Second Hand News

"Second Hand News" must feel terrible about itself. Everything else on this album was a massive hit. Like getting picked last for dodgeball teams. Or being the one sibling in a big family that doesn't get good grades. (Ok so I actually didn't know "I Don't Want to Know" or "Oh Daddy" either, but that's only 3 out of 11.) Really, it's ridiculous. I don't know what other album has had such a collection of incredibly well-known songs. I was curious, so I looked through the top 50 albums on Rolling Stone's greatest albums list, trying to find something that comes close. Only "Thriller" seems to be in contention. How much of this is due to my particular musical exposure? I'm pretty sure I've never listened to "Rumors" as an album before. Most of this has gotta be through rock, classic rock, and pop radio. A lot of crossover potential from the songs might've gotten them played across a wider range of stations? I would guess I heard them as a kid in the 80s and 90s on both the classic rock station and "Mix 101.5 - for the best mix of the 70s, 80s, and today!" But I'm pretty sure radio is my only experience with Fleetwood Mac. (Oh, and Hole's cover of "Gold Dust Woman" from the Crow 2 soundtrack! Maybe the best thing Hole did... but I digress...) Of course, much more could be said about the actual music here, or the drama behind the scenes during the recording of the album, but at its core "Rumors" is just an amazing collection of songs, without a dud or a misstep in the bunch.

By 1977, Fleetwood Mac had left their roots as a blues outfit long behind, opting for Lindsey Buckingham's sunny California pop. It's hard to imagine now, but at the time, most of the songs on Rumors were inescapable on the radio. For me, it was a cultural phenomenon, so the songs on Rumors are a bit difficult for me to assess as music. Adding to the difficulty is that I don't especially enjoy Fleetwood Mac; straight-up pop not being my thing. That said, it's easy to see why Rumors was such a massive success. Fleetwood Mac avoids the wretched synthesizers that ruined many a record of the period; Fleetwood Mac uses them judiciously and tastefully. Their arrangements are tight, only as detailed as they need to be, transparent, and succint, leaving plenty of room for the songs to breathe. There are tons of hooks. Fleetwood Mac never repeat themselves on Rumors--every song is different; there's a wide range of styles and tempos, and there are no real duds. The playing is competent, never ostentatious, and always in the service of the tunes. And it's all so middle of the road, AM radio friendly it hurts. So, how to rate? It's easy to dismiss this kind of music because it sounds so simple, like anyone could do it. But if making a 20x Platinum record was easy, everyone WOULD do it, for the money and fame, if nothing else. I can't deny the artistry and craftsmanship involved. Fleetwood Mac set out to make a state of the art mainstream pop record and they succeeded wildly. 4.5 out of 5 and I'm only docking this half a star because I would never listen to this record out of choice.

9 mois, c'est le temps qu'il nous aura fallu avant de découvrir le tant attendu Rumours de Fleetwood Mac. Laissez moi vous expliquer le déroulé des opérations. Alors que mon camarade d'écoute robvernières et moi n'étions encore que de jeunes auditeurs du générateur, nous nous dirigâmes pour la première fois vers le classement global du générateur (à l'époque composé uniquement des 15 meilleurs albums du générateur, les plus anciens s'en souviendront). Et là, quelle ne fût pas notre stupeur. Au milieu des noms légendaires connus de tous tels les Beatles, les Pink Floyd (nul), Led Zeppelin et autres Nirvana, on pouvait retrouver le nom de Fleetwood Mac. Plus fort encore, ce nom figurait bel et bien en tête du classement. Or, mon rob et moi-même n'avions absolument jamais entendu parler de ce groupe. Nous prîmes alors la décision de nous diriger vers la page spotify du groupe pour en savoir plus, et la ce fut le choc: le groupe était extrêmement connu, avec une ribambelle de hits à disposition. Aucun ne nous semblait familier. C'est alors que cette aventure pris une toute autre tournure. Il faut savoir que rob et moi avons prêté serment d'allégance à Robert avant même de démarrer l'aventure générateurienne. Ce serment comporte plusieurs promesses, comme celle de toujours se tenir à disposition de Robert, mais une de ces promesses, peut-être la plus dure de toute se définit comme ceci: "Tu n'écouteras point les albums n'ayant été généré, et ce même si ces albums tu connaitras déjà". Cette promesse, dans un français parfait, peut paraître difficile à comprendre, laissez moi donc vous donner un exemple très concret: je suis un très grand fan des Red Hot. Les Red Hot n'ont pas été généré par Robert pour le moment. Cela fait donc plus de 9 mois que je n'ai pu écouter ces derniers, étant donné qu'ils sont pour le moment tenus en ôtage par Robert. Maintenant que vous avez bien compris, rappelez vous: nous ne connaissons pas Fleetwood Mac, et ne pouvons les écouter tant que ces derniers ne sont pas générés par Robert. A partir de ce moment là, Fleetwood Mac va devenir omniprésent dans nos vies. Sur les stories Instagram de nos amis, Dreams est choisi en musique de fond pour nous pousser à la faute. Sur les vidéos Youtube, l'album Rumours est placé en arrière plan de nos youtubeurs musique preféré. Plus fou encore, sur l'une de mes playlists Spotify figure The Chain. Je n'ai pourtant pas la moindre idée de ce à quoi cette chanson ressemble. Le mystère est entier. Mais après des mois d'embûches, de bâtons dans les roues de nos détracteurs, Robert nous offre enfin l'écoute de Rumours, en ce jeudi 6 Janvier 2022 synonyme d'épiphanie. Et là, quel ne fût pas notre choc. Cet album représente en effet une course entre les deux chanteurs de Fleetwood Mac, l'un de sexe masculin, l'autre de sexe feminin. Seulement, la femme est beaucoup moins à l'aise que son compère masculin, à la voix superbe et au rythme impeccable. Pendant tout l'album, elle tentera de refaire son retard lors de chanson solitaires, qui lui furent accordé afin de se remettre à niveau. Malheureusement, le cycle sera sans fin. A chaque retour du fabuleux chanteur masculin, il surclassera en tout point cette pauvre femme, prennant une avance considérable que cette dernière ne parviendra jamais à combler, se prennant régulièrement les pieds dans le tapis. Elle ne sera jamais capable de ne serait-ce accompagner ce merveilleux chanteur, dôté qui plus est d'une magnifique chevelure, se retrouvant même ne retard sur les refreins. Ici s'achève le mystère Fleetwood Mac.

One evening in the summer of 1977 my parents took two of my California cousins and their new husbands out to dinner when they were visiting our home for a week. They came home with Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album, having stopped off at Gibsons’ department store to pick it up the album because the California folks were insisting they had to hear it. My 9 year old self sat in the living room with them listening to Rumours unfold and was the first time I recall ever sharing a true moment of mutual wonder and discovery with my parents. Since that time Rumours has been a constant presence in my life. This may be the first time I realized what a unique and special album this is to me. It’s a perfect album. I know every note, yet listening to it today I still feel a rush of discovery I first experienced 45 years ago. I love every song deeply. Any one of them could be one of the best songs I have ever heard. Rumours defines timeless classic for me and is possibly the greatest album I will ever hear.

Dear users of the 1001 album generator, Stop over rating this album. It's good, but not the best album of all time, not even close. "Chains" and "I Don't Want To Know" are great songs, but the rest are just fine. There are other albums on this list that are just better and more consistent. Sincerely, #1 Abbey Road Enjoyer.

I know everyone creams their knickers about this, but I'm just not hearing it to be honest. It's alright, nothing more. It's getting marked down because it's currently 2nd overall and that is fucking mental.

Wonderful bittersweet anthems.

To me, this is one of the greatest albums of all time. The quality of the sound, the songs, lyrics, melodies, and harmonies, is on an entirely different level. The train wreck that was going on behind the scenes made this not just a great album but pure and raw emotion translated into music.

5.0 + Stunning, front to back. Also an awkward testament to our parents’ once very vivid and tumultuous sex lives.

Gold plated classic. Charming, singalong, fantastic pop with great vocals and harmonies, superb musicianship and guitar work. It's one of the most popular albums of all time for a good reason.

An album from my Yoot. I hadn’t heard this in years. I totally forgot that they had an earlier album with Rhiannon and Landslide. My memory said they were all on one album. As a teenager, this album (and the prior one) were played at every party and, in general, everywhere. It’s one of the albums that the girls liked and the boys were also OK with. Stevie Nicks was the most popular band member at the time but my SO-phisticated taste in music preferred Christine McVie’s songs. They made a good pop album but these brothers also knew how to play. e.g. Buckingham’s guitar work on Go Your Own Way. Listening to this was a wonderful trip down memory lane.

A classic album Track 1 is a foot stompin good time Dreams is overplayed but still good Track 3 giving me Led Zeppelin instrumental vibes and I like it Go Your Own Way and The Chain still bang I love Gold Dust Woman, what a perfect last track. Didn’t someone in the 90s cover this song? So many hits on this album, so many songs I’ve heard 1000 times, it makes me appreciate the lesser known ones Stevie isn’t full Stevie-vibrato on this album(and that’s why I like it) Fleetwood Mac doesn’t not = Stevie nicks, love that this album features them all

Connor: we spent a long time thinking about how to word our review of this album. We didn't really come up with anything suitably impressive.

Catchy, toe-tapping soft rock made all the more spicy by the behind the scenes drama. A fascinating blend of artists, writers and style, unconventional, idiosyncratic but it works. Steve Nicks sounds glorious.

Not for me , for middle aged men who wear jeans and brown shoes...

There’s a hotel in Dubai that has called itself the world’s first 7-star hotel. Pretentious crap, it’s no better than most other 5-star hotels. 5-stars being where the ratings max out. However Rumours could legitimately make a claim of being a 7-star album- it’s that good.

Classic No songs were too slow for my liking 10/10

I heard this album a thousand times in the late 70's and that overplay doesn't diminish it in any way. Really good then, really good now.

Ya it’s great what else to say? Not even my favorite fleetwood Mac album but still one of the best of all time. Proof that cocaine and cheating are the cornerstones of making a great album. Also, Christine McVie does not get even respect. Don’t stop and you make loving fun get overlooked when you have bangers like the chain and dreams on the same album

Definition of a no-skips album

Easiest 5 yet! Perhaps not always a formula for success, but this is what happens when everyone in the band is banging one another.

Incredible album. Makes you dance, makes you feel, makes you cry. This could be a list of the top 25 albums of all time and you could still make a strong case for Rumours.

perfect album no notes

Fuck

Ok_lets_go.mp4

3 breakups involving 6 people. Sadness. 10 stars.

Top 10 album of all time

10/10 no notes no skips

One of my fav albums of all time. Each song is a powerful story that captures you with the beautiful vocals. Even though it’s about heartbreak, the songs aren’t sappy but raw and I keep singing along and tapping my fingers to the beat.

This is an absolutely perfect LP. The musicianship is top notch, the melodies are addictive, the production is slick, the tight tracklist leaves you satisfied yet wanting more, and the vocals are just the chefs kiss on top of it all. From the light opener, to the string of hits (Dreams, Don't Stop, Go Your Own Way), stopping by a beautiful ballad (Songbird), to a second half that starts with the infamous 'The Chain' and ending it all with four more tracks that could have easily been hit singles, as well. It certainly feels like a band at their absolute creative peak, yet we all know the problems that plagued them at the time. It sounds cliche to say, but the fact they were able to come out with this album despite everything is absolutely astounding. I also feel like giving it a 5 is a bit cliche. I also don't really care if it is; because 'Rumours' deserves it.

While this album is a life tenant in my skull, I’m not sure I had ever listened to it all the way through in one go as I did today, which was magic, twice. To the library of panegyrics, I’ll just add that today I noticed how Buckingham’s solo at the end of Go Your Own Way, with its economy of notes insistent through repetition, is a blazing row put to metre, right through to the final, growling, had-too-many-angry-whiskies muttering at the end. A poetic intelligence is running the frets.

banger after banger, incredible! [edit: It's so weird how some hairy blues bores suddenly decided to become backing for the early-'70's Dollar and, somehow, spit out a ton of all-time classics. Is there any band with remotely similar history to the two phases of Fleetwood Mac?]

A classic, that I completely missed until I migrated to Radio 2 in my late 30s

Nr. 138/1001 Second Hand News 5/5 Dreams 5/5 Never Going Back Again 5/5 Don't Stop 5/5 Go Your Own Way 5/5 Songbird 4/5 The Chain 5/5 You Make Loving Fun 4/5 I Don't Want To Know 4/5 Oh Daddy 4/5 Gold Dust Woman 4/5 Average: 4,55 Excellent first half with banger after banger. Falls off a little bit towards the second half.

"Dreams" from Fleetwood Mac is definitely ICONIC. I previously have heard the songs on this album in other media (movies, shows, social media, in the background music of department stores, etc.) but never knew the origin of the songs or what band produced the album for that matter. I recall hearing it on TikTok, which sparked my interest and led me to purchase a copy of the record on vinyl when I visited Mobius Records, a record store in Fairfax, VA. I picked up a used 1977 US Press copy for $22, which I am currently spinning to listen to the album once again...

Really good easy listening.

Must have!

One of the all time great albums. The production quality and the vocal harmonies are top notch and it's a very consistent album which makes it close to perfect as a whole.

This album really is perfect. Every song offers variety and has its own character yet still ties in to the overall feel of the album. The lyrics are perfect, the choruses are perfect, the harmonies are perfect, the playing is perfect, the production is perfect and the album doesn’t outstay its welcome. My favourite track will always be The Chain, the bass part at the end is iconic and is one many examples of genius moments in the album.

"Rumours" is the 11th studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. The album was largely recordered in California in the aftermath of several bandmember relationship breakups (all members involved in a breakup) and infamously with an influence of heavy drug (cocaine) use. It was produced by Fleetwood Mac, Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut and the intent was a more "pop" album after the succes of their 1975 album. The music was a mix of acoustic and electronic instruments and accented rhythms, guitars and keyboards. The lyrics were about personal and troubled relationships. It was critically acclaimed especially for its production and vocal harmonization. The album was a massive success hitting #1 in the UK and US and selling ten million copies in its first month of its release. It won the 1978 Grammy for album of the year and in 2017 was selected for the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry for its artistic significance. A great description of the album is "the quintessence of the counter-culture mindset lured into coke-fueled hedoism." Yeah, well, it worked to a very higher level. Four audio tracks of electronic guitars and a chair percussion to create Celtic rock build up the opener "Second Hand News." Inspired by the Bee Gees "Jive Talkin'" and you can really hear that. Great vocal harmonies here and throughout. Buckingham is Nicks' second hand news. Lindsey does give a searing guitar end. Stevie has a much more optimistic and hopeful tale of the break-up in "Dreams." The drum beat and dreamy music. A repeating two note bass. Iconic lyrics throughout: "Thunder only happens when it's raining." Christine McVie offers more hope and optimism to her ex-husband bassist John McVie on "Don't Stop." Piano and drums come in. Underlying guitar. A good song to hum to. The first single and another more pessimistic Buckingham take on the Nick's breakup is "Go Your Own Way." More rockin with the guitar and drums. I love the way this song sounds like it wants to take off and then eventually does. More great harmonies. "The Chain" was written by all members and is a combination of four songs. All three taking turns as lead singer. Buckingham on the dobro. This song always reminds me of a western movie for some reason. Christine McVie offers the good times again in "You Make Loving Fun," a song about her current boyfriend. A definite Stevie Wonder vibe. The album ends with the haunting "Gold Dust Woman." Cowbell, harpsichord, glass breaking and Stevie's weary voice. A story about a LA woman in bad relationship, doing drugs and trying to live. Autobiographical? This album still sounds fantastic. Hit after hit. Tremendous harmonies. Catchy music. Very creative construction of music pieced together. Dynamic with the rotating lead singers. It's interesting with just the different tones of the lead singers' lyrics alone. A classic in every sense of the word.

i don't know what i can say about this album that hasn't been said before. i will say that "silver springs" has to be included when considering this album, and i won't be taking no for an answer. this album is a wonderful mix of songs. emotional songs that tear at your heart, but there's plenty of fun songs so you aren't weighed down too much. "you make loving fun" might be the purest, happiest song on the album while recollecting the joy of love. you've got an acoustic song, "never going back again," and a piano only song (and a little acoustic guitar), "songbird." most songs aren't as minimal, so they stand out more. "the chain" has such an intense beat in comparison. the reverberating bass before the big finish--wow. the album is well balanced. the songwriting is absolutely exquisite here. each member of fleetwood mac contributed, to the album's gain. the different perspectives amid the relationship drama, again, only help the album. the album title makes sense, huh? if i may request readers' patience, the juxtaposition of all of these lyrics: "i know there's nothin' to say/someone has taken my place" from "second hand news", "for you, the sun will be shining/and i feel that when i'm with you" from "songbird", "and if you don't love me now/you will never love me again" from "the chain", and "now here you go again, you say you want your freedom/well, who am i to keep you down?" from "dreams". i love it all so much! the voices of christine mcvie and stevie nicks absolutely ruin me. the minimal accompaniment to "songbird" allows mcvie's voice to be center stage. what a beautiful and captivating voice--and the same for nicks, too. while, no offense, i don't find lindsey buckingham's voice as interesting, he doesn't have a bad voice--and it's perfect for a song like "second hand news." but there's something about nicks and buckingham singing together. there isn't a bad song on this album. it's a perfect album and i have no notes. i don't hesitate in my vote.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (1977) What makes a great pop/rock album great? 1. Solid foundation, with drum- and bass- playing that give evidence of a long history of experience in blues and rock. Mick Fleetwood and John McVie bring that in spades on this album, including (from 1970) keyboards/vocalist Christine McVie—having graduated from a solid British blues/rock career (1967-1974) to the hugely successful 1975 ‘second iteration’ of the band, when they added (Americans!) guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks, giving us literally the best of both worlds. The musical maturity on this album is superb. 2. Sultry lead vocals by Stevie Nicks (“Dreams”) and Christine McVie (whose “Songbird” brings a tear even without knowing the backstory), both of whose dynamism and discipline make for a perfect synthesis with musical settings; 3. Excellent mixing, with plenty of bass and drums, yet leaving plenty of space for well arranged guitar riffs and for C. McVie on this, the swansong of the Fender Rhodes (this was the last album on which that instrument sounded good); 4. Sensitive, intricate, and colorful backing vocals. C. McVie, Nicks, and Buckingham are all masters at backing each other (and themselves on well restrained overdubs), especially on the backing choral sections of “The Chain”, “You Make Loving Fun”, and “I Don’t Want to Know”. Youth choir directors should play this for the youngsters to show how it’s done (I know; I’ve done it and it works wonders); 5. Versatile guitar work by Lindsey Buckingham. From folk finger picking (“Never Going Back Again”) to driving rock (“Go Your Own Way” and “The Chain”) to haunting dobro (“The Chain”) to wailing electric solos (“The Chain”,“You Make Loving Fun”), he’s a master of many styles. 6. Top-rate songwriting. There’s not a weak song on this album, with solo songwriting credits going to C. McVie, Nicks, and Buckingham each contributing fine songs to the collection; 7. State of the art studio work, with plenty of time, thought, cooperation, and support from Warner Bros. Records (This was not produced on the cheap); 8. A sense of drama. Listen starting at 3:01 on “The Chain” and tell me if you don’t feel John McVie’s fretless bass crawl up your spine to the nape of your neck, before handing your scalp to Buckingham’s harrowing, screaming electric guitar solo. Or hear the development of the backing vocals on “Oh Daddy” starting almost imperceptibly at 1:20. These are stories in sound; 9. A boldly experimental approach, as in Mick Fleetwood’s numerous percussive treats on “Oh Daddy” and in the closing track “Gold Dust Woman”, including sound effects, electronic harpsichord, castanets, gong, and (wouldn’t you know it?) cowbell; 10. Clever and technically well executed cover art. This classic album can teach a serious listener how to listen better. Ignore it to your musical poverty. 5/5

This is a ubiquitous record in a way that sets it apart from most on this list. This is a record that music nerds, musicians, casual listeners, and everyone in-between, love. I'm not sure that it's my favorite Fleetwood Mac record, but its up there. Their self-titled record that precedes this has some more interesting songs. But this one is their classic. And it deserves the accolades.

This album certainly evokes a very specific time period for me. These songs were everywhere in 1977 and listening to them brought up memories of particular places and feelings. There's not a dud on the album. Every song is terrific. It helps that the band contains (more than) three great song-writers and vocalists, each with their own style. But these distinct voices can also blend into something sublime. Glad to have this opportunity to be reminded of it in its entirety.

The push and pull, yin and yang sound of a band falling apart whilst keeping it together. There’s not an ounce of fat or filler to any of the proceedings, and with its universal themes of love, loss and redemption, coupled with superb songs and performances, ‘Rumours’ remains loved by almost everyone and will continue to be for generations to come.

A big personal favourite. Not only as a sonic masterpiece as an album, but each song can stand on its own. I can't think of another group with 3 different lead vocalists that works so well. It's endured for over 40 years as one of the GOATs and remains endearing to each subsequent generation. What more could you ask for? Picking a favourite song is absolutely impossible, there are so many moods represented. If I'm looking for motivation - The Chain. Reading before bed - Songbird. Having a peaceful sunny weekend - Dreams, Never Going Back Again.

What can you say about this album. It's the perfect storm in its conception, context, and execution. As everything is falling apart for the band, they produce this cocaine-fueled miracle. The album is a greatest hits collection interspersed with other songs that fit perfectly. The harmonies, the lyrics, the instruments, the arrangements, the production, everything just works on this album 5/5

Gave this a 5 faster than fleetwood macs inner relationships broke down

Brilliant album. Unlike some, the continued familiarity with most tracks doesn’t dull them. The phrase ‘timeless classic’ couldn’t be more apt.

👍🏻

The legendary Rumours: one of the best selling albums ever, featuring a ton of unforgettable tracks and maybe the best Soft Rock album ever, at least in the eyes of many. Even if I think it isn't a perfect record, it is certainly a great one and I'll never get people that claim this album isn't. Yes, it is overrated but that doesn't mean that it's bad. In fact, the songwriting, the vocals and so much more here turn this ultimately into a beautiful and melodic song about love, breakup and life that deserves the spot that it has in music history. The cover is also absolute fire!!! The opening track 'Second Hand News' is an energetic Folk Pop Rock song with hints of Country Pop that make this not only easy to listen to but also easy to swing around to. It's just a perfect way to start things off and get the listener into a mood for an album like this. I personally think that it's also one of the most underrated tracks on the album and easily an incredible track. Of course 'Dreams' is a perfect song. The mix of Soft Rock with Psychedelic Pop and Country is absolutely gorgeous and one of the best known songs of all time. It's so legendary for a reason: IT'S PERFECT!!! The lyrics, the delivery, the songwriting and of course the chorus are all absolutely beautifully arranged and produced. I don't even know what to say except that it's a perfect Pop song. 'Never Going Back Again' goes a bit more into Folk & Country Pop with mainly acoustic guitar and vocals that drive the song. It is a beautiful song but I find to be not nearly as appealing. It's still great but just more basic in a way. I do like it a lot but I wouldn't miss it if it was cut from the album. Luckily, 'Don't Stop' picks things up again with a mix of Pop Rock and Glam Rock but also some Boogie Rock and of course a catchy melody as well as a really catchy chorus. Some parts of it are a bit all over the place but that doesn't stop it from being absolutely incredible and one of the best Pop songs of '77. Nearly as legendary as 'Dreams', 'Go Your Own Way' is pretty much an even better version of 'Don't Stop' with better verses, better songwriting and even a better chorus which is crazy because that previous one was absolutely incredible with all of it but somehow they topped that and even mixed in a bit of Springsteen. Yeah, this is perfect, end of discussion. Side A then closes with the Singer-Songwriter Piano song 'Songbird' which is a really lovely ballad with both emotional vocals and also a really great chorus that combined makes a beautiful love song. I think that a lot of it could've used a bit more to it but this is still a great song. The maybe most forward thinking song has to be 'The Chain' which combines Country Rock with Blues Rock, Prog-Pop and even some Post-Punk which is absolutely crazy in terms of the time and circumstances it was released. The song's really good at building a lot of tension and releasing it in the perfect second. Just an absolute masterclass of songwriting. This might be my favourie song on the album. It's an absolute masterpiece. 'You Make Loving Fun' combines bits of Disco, Funk with their usual sounds to create soft Yacht Rock song. I get why many like this song so much and I do like it a lot too but I don't think that it stands out that much among these songs. It's a wonderful song and I really like the vocals in the chorus especially but apart from that nothing really sticks out a ton. It's all wonderful of course and still a great song. The Country Pop song 'I Don't Want to Know' follows and it's a pretty good song but I think it stays there. I like it but it's not like it's a crazy song that blows my mind. It's nice to listen to and I enjoy it but that's it. Really good. 'Oh Daddy' is a Psychedelic Folk song with a weird sexual feeling to it. Again, it's a really good song and I like a lot of the weird details they put into the song but it also feels very basic when held against the rest of the album. It's good but again, it stays at that level. Closing track 'Gold Dust Woman' combines Folk Pop Rock with Raga Rock and Art Rock and so many name this as one of the albums best tracks but I don't see it. It's good of course but definitely not great. There is just not enough to it. It's just there and sometimes does some whacky stuff that makes it interesting but the chorus feels like it's plastered on top without really integrated properly. favourites: The Chain, Dreams, Go Your Own Way, Don't Stop least favourites: Gold Dust Woman, I Don't Want to Know Rating: strong 8 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

Never going back is just such a fun little ditty x

Great album. Love the cover of the F1 theme tune

Change of pace from Fleetwood Mac with the American connection bringing a poppier stance and the sound of a band falling apart spectacularly, yet staying together.

Amazing with so much internal drama they were able to write a record with so many fucking incredible songs. "The Chain" is one of the best rock songs ever written. Favorite tracks: "The Chain", "Gold Dust Woman"

I swear this has to be one of the biggest hype beast albums of its time. I’m not too familiar with this band, but I do love me some Stevie Nicks. You see this album by the hundreds at any given Walmart, Target, Barnes and noble etc. I feel like I can get this same vibe from REO and actually enjoy it a lot more. So for that; 3 stars

September 2014. A field in Sussex. 2am. Some dick is STILL playing Fleetwood Mac loudly around their camp fire on the other side of the camp site. I don't know if it was just Rumours they were playing, but I have a tricky relationship with this band as a result. I did listen to this. It's got the tunes everyone knows and which I heard on loop on that September night. It's also got some other quite nice tunes. It's OK. But, 2am has scarred me. I don't actively object to Fleetwood Mac, but I tend not to seek them out.

Boring Soft Rock.

I can’t generate the same excitement that so many do about this album. 1970s car ride with the parents music.

So So overrated!!!!

Okay, half the album is five of the best pop rock songs ever, the other half is blandish but polished AOR. However, it's cultural impact allowed many worse versions of the same schtick to be forced upon us for the next half century, so while the five tracks would warrant five stars, I'm giving this two - much as Wagner and Nietzsche were ace but led to Hitler, I feel like Ed Sheeran and Coldplay wouldn't exist without this cocaine epic. Also, it's mad overrated on here.

fucking boring as haha why tf do people like this

A whole album of boring middle of the road music that's been flogged to death on radio for over 45 years

FUCK OFF

fuck this shitty album. hipster bullshit.

Everyone fucking everyone: the soundtrack! I feel like I've never actually listened to this and yet know ever second of this! Not my cup of tea but people seem to enjoy it

Already listened a million times before!

Phenomenal all the way through. Not much else to say except it's wonderful.

Favorite Fleetwood Mac album.

I mean, it's Rumours.

Probably the album I’ve listened to more times than any other. Pretty much perfect. And I still hear the scratch in Songbird that our LP copy has, but I haven’t played it in about 25 years.

I honestly tried to listen to this fairly, to take it on its own merits, but when you're singing along to every word of an album you be listened to for the past thirty minutesears, it's hard to be objective... What can you say? It's Rumours, it's always been great and always will be, and it's getting this five star rating fully deservedly. Faves: Go Your Own Way, Second Hand News, Dreams

one of my favourite albums of all times, what more can i say, no notes 10/10 perfect, the best diss track compilation ever, thank god for giving us all these drama induced bangers

I knew it was a banger but didn't appreciate how many big singles and tracks were just on this album.

could i write poetry to this? n and still

Fleetwood Mac suffered for their own sins to create this perfect Pop album. An unmatched chronicle of the breakups, both personal and professional, that would define them for nearly half a century.

I've heard them all a million times. Don't really need to hear most of this ever again, but it's still really good.

S tier album. Nothing bad to say. No skips.

I already know how good this album is!

This is an amazing album full of great song after great song as well as many "hits". This is an all time great album. I was excited to ahve this one pop up.

Damn near perfect. Beautiful guitar and vocals. Big fan of this one.