FLEETWOOD MAC 101
Lesson Five: “Tusk” and “Live”
After the musical and
cultural phenomenon that was "Rumours" and
the tour that followed, Fleetwood Mac was the biggest name in music.
Their album had sold more copies than any other album in
history. All the band members were now multi-millionaires.
However, the hurt feelings of the
breakups and the difficulties of being on the road had taken a toll
on the band. The record companies wanted another album, and soon, as
did the fans.
Although all five Macsters were intent on releasing the follow-up, they didn't
spend much time together in the studio. Lindsey chose to record his songs for
the new album in his home studio. Christine and Stevie contributed their fair
share of material as well. The new album morphed into an artistic
mosaic of pop-rock songs by three very different songwriters with distinct
creative voices.
The music critics and fans were intently awaiting the follow up to "Rumours" and were expecting an album that was
similar. They wanted the songs that held the emotions that "Rumours" did, and what they got was something very
different.
The songs lacked the creative
input of the other members. For example, Lindsey's songs didn't have any
creative influence from Christine and Stevie. This is demonstrated just
by listening to the album. The songs were distinctly different from each
other. Lindsey's 'The Ledge,' Christine's 'Over and Over,' and Stevie's 'Angel' all demonstrate this point. Each
song is dominated by the composer, and there is little outside influence.
The album was released in October
of 1979. It was called "Tusk."
This highly anticipated album
disappointed critics and some fans alike. It was not what they
wanted, which was "Rumours,
Part 2."
The fact that it was a little more
experimental coupled with the fact that it was a more expensive double album, sales were not what the record label had hoped.
Looking back, the album was quite
successful. It sold four million copies, and reached number 4 on the
Billboard album charts. In the UK, "Tusk" did what "Rumours" could not, it went to number 1.
The album did produce some
singles, however. The title track, 'Tusk' by Lindsey Buckingham went to
number 8.
Stevie Nicks' 'Sara' went to
number 7. Another Stevie song, 'Sisters of the Moon' slid in to the top
100, peaking at number 86. Christine McVie's
'Think About Me' went to number 20.
The tour that followed was the
biggest, longest, and most expensive tour in history. Each member
had their own limousine pick them up from the airport and take them
around. Even their equipment had it's own limo
at times. Plus, the members of the band were getting more and more in to
drugs. They say it was the only way they were able to make it as far as
they had.
They toured for over 11 months,
and while on tour recorded another album, "Live."
"Live" featured select
performances from the "Tusk" tour. It featured hits as Monday
Morning, Say You Love Me, Dreams, Over My Head, Don't Stop, Landslide and a few
songs that had never been on an album before, 'Fireflies,' 'One More
Night,' and 'The Farmer's Daughter.' Lindsey also sang an old Peter
Green hit, 'Oh Well.'
The "Live"
album went to number 14 on the charts after it's
release in 1980.
The band actually had to add more
shows to the tour, however, because they were spending so much money, and
the extra shows helped them to make only a marginal profit, if not to just
break even.
After the tour, and the exhaustion
that came, and the hurt that came from the lackluster reviews, the shock that
suddenly an album that went to number 4 and sold four million copies was not
good enough, Fleetwood Mac needed a break before thinking about another
album.
And in the next two years, the
future of the band would be in jeopardy.
And that is where we will pick up
with lesson six.