On this day in 1976, Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled album (aka The White Album) hit number one on the US charts a year after its release, de-throning Frampton Comes Alive! by Peter Frampton. Fleetwood Mac is the band’s tenth studio album, which perhaps speaks to the testament of success that Winston Churchill decried in his (in)famous speech: “never, ever, ever, ever give up.”
Or, perhaps it speaks to the notion that, if at first you don’t succeed, add the talent and tension of vocalist Stevie Nicks and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, both of whom joined the band for this album, and were already on the verge of breaking up.
(That tension helped fuel their next successful album, Rumours.)
Also in the lineup were John McVie (bass guitar), Christine McVie (keyboards, synthesizer, vocals) and the straightforward drumming of Mick Fleetwood.
Fleetwood’s biographer Cath Carroll notes that his disciplined and attentive playing style helped keep the band, which was fraught with strong personalities and strife, together over the years.
Enjoy the lush, cratered moonscape of hearts breaking that is Fleetwood Mac with the following songs, including “Landslide” above.
“Over My Head”
“Rhiannon”
“Say You Love Me”
“Warm Ways”
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