Saturday, February 04, 2012

Fleetwood Mac's Most Successful Album "RUMOURS" turns 35














RUMOURS TURNS 35 TODAY!  

Fleetwood Mac's best selling album and second with Lindsey and Stevie was released on Feb 4, 1977.  Right from the get go the album was a huge commercial success and likely one of their most important albums recorded as it allowed them to continue to record for years to come according to Mick Fleetwood.  

All of the songs detail the relationship struggles between the three principal writers, Lindsey and Stevie who were in the midst of breaking up, and John and Christine McVie who were going through a divorce.  The writing coupled with the amazing production work on the album were a recipe for success. 

Anticipation back in 1976/77 ran so high for Fleetwood Mac's Rumours after the monstrous success of 1975's "Fleetwood Mac", their first number one album in the US, that advance orders exceeded 800,000 units, the largest to that point in Warner Bros. history. Released February 4, 1977 the album debuted on Billboards Top 200 LP's and Tapes chart on February 26, 1977 at #10 - it took another 5 weeks for it to reach #1 for the first time.  The album would go on to spend 31 non-consecutive weeks at #1 in the US over the course of 1977 and 1978 with it's longest stretch at number one being 19 weeks between July 16, 1977 and November 19, 1977. The album would spend almost a year in the Top Five, the longest stint in the 1970's - aided in no small part by the release of four successful singles that all hit the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10.  Rumours became Fleetwood Mac's first number one album in the UK when it reached the the top in January, 1978.  Rumours eventually became the best selling album the world had seen up until 1984 when Michael Jackson's Thriller took over the number one spot.  Today it stands as the 10th best selling album certified in the US at 19x platinum.  In the UK the album stands as the 8th highest certified album at 11x platinum - with Adele's 21 currently number one.  In Australia the album was last certified in July, 2011 at 13x platinum.  To date the album has reportedly sold over 40 million copies world wide.

The album reached No.1 in numerous countries with platinum sales awards soon to follow.  Fleetwood Mac embarked on a world tour shortly after the albums release that took them around the world.  They spent the good part of 1977 and 1978 on the road promoting the album and by March of 1978 the album had sold an impressive 10 million copies around the world.
Photo by Bill Hansen
Four Top 10 Singles
The ball got rolling in December, 1976 when Go Your Own Way was issued as the first single.  A succession of singles would be released through 1977.


GO YOUR OWN WAY
The single debuted on Billboards Hot 100 at #71 on January 8, 1977.  It would go on to reach it's peak at #10 on March 12, 1977 where it would spend 2 weeks.  It charted for a total of 15 weeks.

DREAMS
The second single issued was Dreams. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #77 April 16, 1977.  Dreams would eventually reach #1 on June 18, 1977 in it's 10th week of release.  This is Fleetwood Mac's only Number 1 in the USA.  It spend a total of 19 weeks on the chart.

DON'T STOP
Third single from Rumours to be released was a song written by Christine McVie.  It debuted on the Hot 100 July 9, 1977 and reached #3 on the charts - spending a total of 18 weeks on the chart.

YOU MAKE LOVING FUN
The final single released from Rumours was another of Christine's. It landed on the Hot 100 October 15, 1977 spending a total of 14 weeks and peaked at #9.

Countless awards followed most notably Rumours taking home the "Album of the Year" award at the 1978 Grammy Awards.



To this day the album continues to constantly appear on charts around the world indicating new generations are discovering what the older generation already knows... It's one amazing album! 

Happy Anniversary Rumours


$7.99 on itunes
To commemerate the 35th anniversary - Rumours is on sale on itunes for $7.99 through Feb 5th.  If you haven't taken the plunge and immersed yourself it it's greatness... go for it!
itunes




Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Chart Update: Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" & "Greatest Hits" USA


After Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" album re-entered Billboards Top 200 Albums Chart last week at #117 on a sales spike, the album drops off the chart this week - but remains one of the top 200 selling catalogue albums, along with "Greatest Hits".

"Rumours" sold 1,993 copies for the sales week ending Sunday January, 29th declining 51% from the previous week when it sold 4,037 copies.  Not enough to make the Top 200 but enough to keep it on the Catalogue Chart.  Total US sales since Nov. 1991 when sales began being tracked by soundscan = 2,927,056.

"Greatest Hits" sold 1,418 copies for the week up to the 29th declining 9% from the previous week when it moved 1,561 copies.  Total US sales = 4,522,537 since Nov. 1991.

"Landslide" sold 5,111 digital copies up to the 29th down 23% vs the previous week where it sold 6,616 downloads.  Total US sales = 804,841

Billboard Top 200 Catalogue Albums Chart:
For the week ending January 29, 2012 and chart date Feb 11th.
(previous week in parenthesis)

#  93 (19)  Fleetwood Mac - "Rumours"
# 195 (165) Fleetwood Mac - "Greatest Hits"

Top 200 Digital Tracks Catalogue:
# 141 (100) Fleetwood Mac "Landslide"

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Chart Update: Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks | Australia, The Netherlands

AUSTRALIA
January 30, 2012
(previous week in parenthesis)

Top 100 Albums Chart
# 37 (32) Fleetwood Mac - The Very Best Of

Top 50 Catalogue Album Chart 
#  3 ( 3) Fleetwood Mac - The Very Best Of
#  4 (14) Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits (Reaching it's highest position so far)
# 24 (25) Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
# 27 (23) Stevie Nicks - Crystal Visions... The Very Best Of

Top 40 Music DVD Chart
# 16 (14) Fleetwood Mac - The Dance

THE NETHERLANDS
January 28, 2012

Top 50 Backcatalogue Chart
# 35 (42) Fleetwood Mac - The Very Best Of

TODAY ON ITUNES
Top 10 Pop Albums

Australia
# 5 - Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits

New Zealand
# 3 - Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits





Check out the NEW Brett Tuggle Website

New Brett Tuggle website!
Multi-instrumentalist, Brett Tuggle has a long history playing with Fleetwood Mac and it's members whether in the studio or on tour stretching back to the Mick Fleetwood The Zoo day's through to Mick and John's most recent recording in 2010 on the ZZ Top Tribute album and Lindsey's Seeds we Sow album DVD and tour last year.

Be sure to check out the media section... There's audio, plus some really great photos (125 of them) taken during the recording of Lindsey's DVD "Songs From The Small Machine: Live in L.A. in Beverly Hills last year.





Friday, January 27, 2012

Fleetwood Mac featured on Official Brit Awards album coming next month


Three-CD compilation album containing 18 UK Number 1 singles will be released on February 13th to commemorate the return of the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award. 


The 3rd disc of the set is a bonus disc that features some of the previous winners of the award including: Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, U2, Elton John, Queen, and this year’s recipients Blur.

Fleetwood Mac's "You Make Loving Fun" is included on the bonus disc.

Fleetwood Mac took home the award in 1998.

Full Tracklist

Thursday, January 26, 2012

New Video & Photos: Lindsey Buckingham Rehearsal Footage

Don't get too excited... It's only 28 sec. But it's cool!
First two videos provided by Brett Tuggle: Keyboardist/Guitarist/Singer in Lindsey's band 







Plus... Tusk
(Taken from the DVD "Songs From The Small Machine: Live in L.A.)



4 New photos emerged yesterday from the Bullet Magazine Photo shoot and video interview that took place in early 2011... Video and photos below.
Photos by: Williams Hirakawa







Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Fleetwood Mac "RUMOURS" Back on Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart - 2nd Time This Year!

"Rumours" will re-enter the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart again this week marking the 2nd time within a month the album has re-entered the chart.  For the sales week ending January 22nd, "Rumours" sold 4,037 units in the United States good enough for the album to land at #117 on Billboard Chart dated February 4th.

The REALLY interesting part about that is "Rumours" was released on February 4, 1977.  February 4th marks the albums 35th Anniversary and to see it sitting within the Top 200 Album Chart 35 years later, I think that's pretty amazing!

In the last 4 weeks "Rumours" has sold 11,477 units in the US.

Over on the Top 200 Catalogue Chart "Rumours" takes a giant leap up from #103 to #19 this week.  "Greatest Hits" which saw a spike in sales the last three weeks is #165 on the Catalogue Chart on sales of 1,561 which is down from #56 the previous week where it sold 2,406.

In the last 4 weeks "Greatest Hits" has sold 9,353 units int he US.

On the Top Digital Tracks Chart Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide", which re-entered that chart last week at #58 on sales of 8,672 tracks, drops to #100 with sales of 6,616.

Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart
# 117 (-) Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"

Billboard Top 200 Catalogue Albums Chart
#  19 (103) Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"
# 165 (56)  Fleetwood Mac "Greatest Hits"

Billboard Top 200 Catalogue Digital Tracks
# 100 (58)  Fleetwood Mac "Landslide"


Adele hits another milestone!

Adele's 21 tops The Billboard 200 for the 17th week, which is the longest run by any album since Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard soundtrack logged 20 weeks on top in 1992-1993.


It's the longest run for an album by a British artist since the Police's Synchronicity was #1 for 17 weeks in 1983. (Two of the three members of that trio were born in England.) 

Only two albums by British (or majority-British) acts have had longer runs at #1. Fleetwood Mac's Rumours logged 31 weeks at #1 in 1977-'78. (Three of the five members that pop-rock group were born in England.) The Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever soundtrack logged 24 weeks at #1 in 1978. (All three members of the brother trio were born in England.) 



Tuesday, January 24, 2012

VERA FARMIGA TO PLAY FLEETWOOD MAC’S CHRISTINE MCVIE

At last night’s ELLE dinner for “women who make women look good on film (and the men who love us!)”  Vera Farmiga let slip that she'll be playing Christine McVie in the upcoming biopic on Dennis Wilsons life.



"Aaron Eckhart is going to play Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys and I’ll be playing one of the great loves of Dennis’ life—Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac, so that will be really fun!”

Elle.com

Aaron Eckhart will star as the legendary Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson in Randall Miller & Jody Savin's "The Drummer".  The biopic will concentrate on the last six years of Wilson's life which, according to many, he created some of the best music of his career.



Vera Farmiga to star in 'Drummer'
She'll play Christine McVie in Dennis Wilson biopic
Variety

Vera Farmiga to Play Fleetwood Mac Singer Christine McVie in Dennis Wilson Biopic THE DRUMMER
Collider

Vera Farmiga to play Fleetwood Mac singer in The Drummer
The Oscar nominated actress joins Aaron Eckhart in the Beach Boys film and will play singer-songwriter Christine McVie.
Screendaily

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Chart Update: Fleetwood Mac | Stevie Nicks - Australia, UK, Netherlands,

AUSTRALIA - Janauary 23, 2011
(previous week in parenthesis)

Top 100 Albums Chart
# 32 (35) Fleetwood Mac - The Very Best Of
# 99 (75) Stevie Nicks - Crystal Visions... The Very Best Of

Top 50 Catalogue Album Chart
# 3  ( 3) Fleetwood Mac - The Very Best Of
# 14 (20) Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits
# 23 (13) Stevie Nicks - Crystal Visions... The Very Best Of
# 25 (12) Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

Top 40 Music DVD Chart
# 14 (12) Fleetwood Mac - The Dance

THE NETHERLANDS - January 21, 2011

Top 50 Backcatalogue Chart
# 42 (RE) Fleetwood Mac - The Very Best Of

UK - January 21, 2011

Top 40 Catalogue Chart
#21 (25 ) Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

TODAY ON ITUNES:

Top 100 Albums
#20 - Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits - Australia
#30 - Fleetwood Mac Rumours - USA
#31 - Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits - New Zealand
#94 - Fleetwood mac Rumours - Australia

Top 10 Rock Albums
#5 - Fleetwood Mac Rumours - USA
#8 - Fleetwood Mac Rumours - Australia

Top 10 Pop Albums
#4 - Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits - Australia
#7 - Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits - New Zealand

Top 100 Rock Songs
#49 - Fleetwood Mac Go Your Own Way - UK
#62 - Fleetwood Mac The Chain - UK
#79 - Fleetwood Mac Albatross - The Netherlands
#83 - Fleetwood Mac Go Your Own Way - Ireland

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Stevie Nicks Thanks Fans and Friends for Caring and Reaching Out + Soldier's Angel Crowned Song Of The Year

Stevie took to her official website today posting a letter explaining in a little more detail the circumstances surrounding her mothers passing.  She goes on to thank everyone for caring and reaching out to her saying "It means the world..."

Her mother Barbara was such a presents in her life right from the beginning when Stevie first burst onto the music scene back in the 70's - and even though we as fans never saw her that much, we felt we knew her just a little bit through stories Stevie would tell, and her music.  Her Mother (and Father) meant alot to her.

Thank you Stevie for sharing your mother with the world and also for keeping your fans included, we appreciate it and wish you and your family all the best.

The Letter


Barbara Nicks 1927 - 2011
On Dec 29th news began to ripple through the Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks fan community on the passing of Stevie's mother Barbara Nicks.

Our condolences to Stevie and the entire Nicks family. 

Please keep Stevie and her family in your thoughts, I'm sure they'd appreciate it..

Obituary courtesy of The Nicks Fix
Online Condolences can be submitted via

CityArts - New York's Review of Culture crowns "Soldier's Angel"
Song of the Year

Saluting Stevie Nicks’ “Soldier’s Angel”


Writer Ben Kessler salutes Stevie's touchingly honest "Soldiers's Angel" in the current issue of City Arts calling it his choice for best pop song of the last year.

"My choice for best pop song of last year, Stevie Nicks’ “Soldier’s Angel,” points the way out of hype. As if responding to Bridesmaids and New Girl, Nicks shows us how 21st-century pop artists can speak truth and navigate politics.

In “Soldier’s Angel,” Nicks tells how her visits with wounded veterans at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval Hospital unsettled her as a woman, citizen and icon. Lindsey Buckingham’s resonant guitar notes ensure that the song is threaded through with dread in the face of mortality. Against this stirring backdrop, Nicks’ voice—scarred and pitted by time and trouble—expresses a veteran artist’s perseverance for inspiration."

Check out the full article here

It Happened... 19 Years Ago Today: Fleetwood Mac reunite to perform "Don't Stop" live


January 19, 1993: 
The most famous lineup of Fleetwood Mac reunited to perform "Don't Stop" live at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in Washington, DC.

Clinton had made the Fleetwood Mac song "Don't Stop" the theme to his campaign. 

Fleetwood Mac, Sounding a Positive Note Again But Gala Performance is a One-Shot Deal.
Washington Post, January 19, 1993







Review: Lindsey Buckingham "Songs From The Small Machine"


LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM: SONGS FROM THE SMALL MACHINE (Eagle Vision DVD/CD)
By Graham Reid

Aside from Stevie Nicks whose fan base is loyal and huge (but whose last album In Your Dreams was patchy to the point of being often awful), few people these days would care much for what former members of Fleetwood Mac might be up to.

But with Lindsey Buckingham you would always make an exception and tune in.

He helmed some of Mac's most interesting material (notably pushing them from stasis and complacency for Tusk) and his solo career has always been interesting. His Gift of Screws album in 2008 found him in fine, dark form -- and the more recent Seeds We Sow forms the backbone to this two hour-plus live DVD filmed at the Saban Theatre in Beverley Hills early in 2011 which finds him opening solo on acoustic guitar then bringing on a small backing band.

Full Review at Elsewhere.co.nz