Fleetwood Mac Top 3

The die-hard core of Fleetwood Mac are the 2 members which the name of the band refers to: Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. We can divide the career of Fleetwood Mac into 3 eras:

1. Peter Green Era
2. Transitional era
3. Buckingham Nicks era

Fleetwood Mac from the Peter Green (in the middle) era

It was Peter Green who founded the band and decided to use the names of the bass player and drummer for the name of the band. Peter had left John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers that also included Eric Clapton before Peter joined that band. John McVie and Mick Fleetwood were also once members of that same band. Peter knew Mick Fleetwood from another band he once was part of called Shotgun Express. This band also had a very young Rod Stewart in their line-up. They started as a blues band in the Peter Green era. During this era they scored hits like "Need Your Love So Bad" (1968 - NL #7), "Albatross" (1968 - NL #1 / UK #1), "Man of the World" (1969 - NL #13 / UK #2), "Oh Well"(1969 - UK #2 / US #55 / NL #1) and "The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)"(1970 - NL #6 / UK #10). I prefer the albums "Then Play On" and "The Pious Bird of Good Omen" the most from this era.

Fleetwood Mac in 1974

In May 1970 Peter Green left the band and was permanently replaced by Christine McVie (Perfect) from the blues band Chicken Shack (before her marriage with John McVie). Other members during these days were: Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan, and Bob Welch. They all have left the band by 1974. So they were without singer and guitarist. The only hit from this era were "Dragonfly" (1971 - UK #52).

Fleetwood Mac from the Bucking Nicks era

In 1975 Mick Fleetwood discovered the folk duo Buckingham Nicks. They were guitarist and singer Lindsey Buckingham and singer Stevie Nicks. Mick wanted to recruit only Lindsey but he would only join the band if Stevie could join as well. They changed the sound of the band to a more pop rock sound but with hints of folk. It was an immediate success and the band was back in the charts for a long time. They recorded 5 studio albums in this lineup when Lindsey left in 1987. Hits from this era:

• Over My head (1975 - US #20)
• Rhiannon (1976 - UK #46 / US #11 / NL #16)
• Say You Love Me (1976 - UK #40 / US #11)
• Go Your Own Way (1976 - UK #38 / US #10 / NL #1)
• Dreams (1977 - UK #24 / US #1 / NL #8)
• Don't Stop (1977 - UK #32 / US #3 / NL #4)
• You Make Loving Fun (1977 - UK #45 / US #9 / NL #22)
• Tusk (1979 - UK #6 / US #8 / NL #10)
• Sara (1979 - UK #37 / US #7 / NL #14)
• Think About Me (1980 - US #20)
• Hold Me (1982 - US #4 / NL #25)
• Gypsy (1982 - UK #46 / US #12 / NL #42)
• Love in Store (1982 - US #22)
• Oh Diane (1982 - UK #9)
• Big Love (1987 - UK #9 / US #5 / NL #8)
• Seven Wonders (1987 - US #19 / NL #28)
• Little Lies (1987 - UK #5 / US #4 / NL #10)
• Everywhere (1987 - UK #4 / US #14 / NL #4)
• Family Man (1987 - NL #23)

My top 3 of Fleetwood Mac albums is like this:

1. Rumours (1977)

2. Fleetwood Mac (1975)

3. Kiln House (1970)

1. Rumours (1977):
Second Hand News / Dreams / Never Going Back Again / Don't Stop / Go Your Own Way / Songbird / The Chain / You Make Loving Fun / I Don't Want To Know / Oh Daddy / Gold Dust Woman

The recordings of this album took place at a time the members dealt with break-ups (between John and Christine as well as Lindsey and Stevie) and heavy drug use. These circumstances were inspiration for the songs on the album. It resulted in one of the most legendary albums ever.

2. Fleetwood Mac (1975):
Monday Morning / Warm Ways / Blue Letter / Rhiannon / Over My Head / Crystal / Say You Love Me / Landslide / World Turning / Sugar Daddy / I'm So Afraid

Also known as the white album. It's the first album with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. "Crystal" was a song the duo also recorded for their only studio album "Buckham Nicks" from 1973.

3. Kiln House (1970):
This Is The Rock / Station Man / Blood On The Floor / Hi-Ho Silver / Jewel-Eyed Judy / Buddy's Song / Earl Gray / One Together / Tell Me All The Things You Do / Mission Bell

The name of the album was from a oast house (A building for kilning (drying) hops as part of the beer brewing process) in Truncheaunts Lane, near Alton in Hampshire where they lived with their families during the recording of the album. It included Christine McVie as a vocalist for the first time. This is the best album from the transitional era.

Discography Peter Green era:

• Fleetwood Mac (1968) - UK #4 / US #198
• Mr. Wonderful (1968) - UK #10
• Then Play On (1969) - UK #6 / US #109
• The Pious Bird of Good Omen (1969) - UK #18

Discography Transitional era:

• Kiln House (1970) - UK #39 / US #69
• Future Games (1971) - US #91
• Bare Trees (1972) - US #70
• Penguin (1973) - US #49
• Mystery To Me (1973) - US #67
• Heroes Are Hard to Find (1974) - US #34

Discography Buckingham Nicks era:

• Fleetwood Mac (1975) - NL #86 / UK #23 / US #1
• Rumours (1977) - NL #1 / UK #1 / US #1
• Tusk (1979) - NL #3 / UK #4 / US #1
• Mirage (1982) - NL #6 / UK #5 / US #1
• Tango In The Night (1987) - NL #2 / UK #1 / US #7

Albatros - 1969

Jewel-Eyed Judy - 1970

Rhiannon - 1975

Dreams - 1977