When Fleetwood mac took a longshot chance on an obscure Los Angeles duo named Buckingham/Nicks, even they probably had no clue just how greatly their fortunes would turn. But the creative chemistry was almost immediate: the Fleetwood Mac album made huge inroads in the US and "Rhiannon" became the greeting card that marked the arrival of Stevie Nicks. That is where this double CD Best Of picks up the story. For all you whiny purists who grouse that the pre-Buckingham/Nicks material is not here, this is a HITS compilation. It covers a quarter century of a band that centered on the core members (even as they revolved in and out) from 1975 on. While Bob Welch and Peter Green each contributed, they came and went quickly and the alchemy that gelled when the band entered the studio for Rumours, frankly, didn't happen until this line-up was in place. Nicks' sensual spaciness balanced Christine McVie's earthiness, Buckingham's guitar playing brought new spark to the band, and his sonic ingenuity prodded Mick Fleetwood and John McVie to new heights.Which means that most of these songs are from that incredible one/two punch of "Fleetwood Mac" and "Rumours," with the band baring themselves even as their emotional lives were splintering. It makes songs like "Dreams" drip with emotion, even as "Go Your Own Way" cajoles the lover on the way out the door. It was impossible not to relate to at least something there, making "Rumours" one of the best selling albums of all time.After that, where would anyone go? Since the relationships had hit their peaks of instability already, the band took advantage of their status to experiment with the wildly ambitious (but overblown) Tusk. Featuring one of the most bizarre top ten singles from a star band ever in the title track, it also has to claim responsibility for the wave of pop songs incorporating marching bands. The mad tinkering was balanced by the hits, which included Nicks' "Gypsy." By now, the band was also feeling their own personal creative powers, which meant just about all members hitting the solo spotlight (and the bona-fide superstardom of Nicks once Bella Donna emerged). When the band reconvened for Mirage, the results were still pretty...but not revelatory. The album hit number one, both Nicks' "Gypsy" and McVie's "Love In Store" captured the sound, but the fire that burned in "The Chain" was nowhere to be found. Same for Tango in the Night, which often felt like Buckingham's solo work with "Family Man" and "Big Love" leading the parade. Even so, Nicks and McVie balanced things out with "Seven Wonders" and "Little Lies." Buckingham split at this point, and his creative sense was missed on Behind the Mask (represented here by only one song). Even though the band reunited once President Bill Clinton asked them for a performance of "Don't Stop," the only album they recorded together was the live The Dance, and three songs are from that (including Buckingham's solo "Go Insane"). The studio versions would have been better, hence the four star ranking. However, if you were listening to the radio from the mid-70's through the end of the 80's, these were the songs and sounds that filled the airwaves. For many of us in our 40's and 50's, a great part to the soundtrack of our lives. To this day, "The Chain," "Don't Stop" and "Rhiannon" can lift memories from the past.Wow, listening to these songs never gets old. They are in many ways musical masterpieces deep with meaning, provocative, and deliver outstanding rock still over thirty years. This is a great CD to bring to the beach - it's good and long, there are a LOT of [excellent] songs. Actually they are ALL excellent. Stevie Nicks (one of my favorite female singers) still delivers her one-of-a-kind voice that is as unique and special as she is. If you want a real treat, check out her site at nicksfix.comPure timeless rock - 10 Stars!Haven't ever owned a Fleetwood Mac album although I play a D tuning version of "Never Going Back". I bought this CD to bring an order for something else up to $25 so I could get the shipping charge waived.Glad I did. This is a really nice sampling of their best songs and I find myself enjoying most all of them.I must have received a different version than everyone else. My first CD contains no songs except those that are buried within Fleetwood.exe and Dreams.mov. This should have been a bonus CD and CD 1 should have been left the way it probably was originally. I don't want songs buried in QuickTime movies. For some strange reason, they don't want to play in my CD player. Pathetic.I have not been able to stop listening to this cd for the several weeks i have owned it. I totally missed Fleetwood Mac the first time around (i'm 26), so I am just now getting into it and am loving it. I have always heard a few of thier most popular songs and even though this is a greatest hits, i had not heard some of the songs and i love most songs on this album now!excellent!
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