Two reviews of the new release(s) of the Buckingham/Nicks album, with opposing opinions

Mike at The 'In' Groove recommends the Rhino/Kevin Gray version. Thumbs down for the Chris Bellman version. 

Is the cover art the highlight?

I can't stomach either of the artists.

DeKay

I had never heard it until I received my copy. Glad I bought it.

@slaw : What version did you buy?

Rhino version is great recording whether you’re a fan or not.

The only opinion that matters is yours..  Remember YouTube is about putting out content good/ bad , right /wrong.  Truthfully it’s meaningless. Just like this post of mine.

Rhino Hi Fidelity 

I had the original LP album, didn't like it then, don't like it now. They got better with experience.

The Buckingham/Nicks lineup of Fleetwood Mac is for many their favorite, for others it’s the original Peter Green lineup. For me it’s The Danny Kirwin/Jeremy Spencer (with Christine McVie somewhat involved) era, which produced only one album: Kiln House, my favorite of all of theirs. That may be a minority opinion. The one lineup I REALLY don’t like is the one with Bob Welch.

@bdp24 

The Buckingham/Nicks lineup of Fleetwood Mac is for many their favorite, for others it’s the original Peter Green lineup. For me it’s The Danny Kirwin/Jeremy Spencer (with Christine McVie somewhat involved) era, which produced only one album: Kiln House, my favorite of all of theirs. That may be a minority opinion. The one lineup I REALLY don’t like is the one with Bob Welch.

I agree re: the original line-up.However, despite my dislike of Welch, I love Danny Kirwan's playing on Future Games and Bare Trees.  

I concur. That’s why I own that era as well. It's possible for me to appreciate all FM eras and delineate between.

Look I've had the original copy....and unless it knocks me on my Butt...I don't need it or will buy it....

That's one reason I'm glad I bought this quiet , very good pressing.

I had no out of pocket on this title in my entire life. That formed my perspective.

I listened to it back when it came out and thought it good…not great, with the exception of maybe two songs. 
The earlier FM stuff like Bare Trees was, to me, their high water mark, and Kiln House highly rated.

Theres a new book out that covers every FM song (!) since their beginning and the photos alone make it worth a look..

@stuartk: Yeah, I only recently learned that Kirwin is on the Future Games and Bare Trees albums. Both are now in my little black book (which I take with me when I go record hunting.

I own an original and concur that there has been way too much fuss about this album that is just not very good. Unless you are a huge Fleetwood Mac or Stevie Nicks fan, in which case you most likely already have it, why bother?

One of these reviewers is in the business of selling records, so I take their reviews with a grain of salt. Having said that, and owning two other copies of this record, I am glad I bought it. Discogs users have rated it 4.93 out of 5, which is pretty much unheard of. 

@bdp24 

I considered buying the box set of remastered FM CDs ("Fleetwood Mac: 1969-1974") solely for the sake of hearing Kirwan's contributions in better SQ but it's hard for me to justify the cost of admission, given the limited number of tracks I'd be accessing.

RE: Kiln House, "Station Man" has been a favorite track of mine since I first heard it way back when.

BDP:

Exactly, I dislike what they did to FM.

Spencer and Kirwin were my favorite guitarists - even over Green (together they were kind of like the two guys in Television).

I walked out of a FM concert in 1974 when they were half way through playing "Bermuda Triangle".

My friends joined me @ the car approx. 15 minutes later and we started the 3 1/2 hour drive back home.

However, Welch blends in well on "Bare Trees".

DeKay

@dekay, +1.  I'm with you on Fleetwood Mac.  I very much dislike Pop music.

@big_greg   Mike at The In-Groove recommended the Rhino version which he doesn't have in stock over the version he has in store.

Wow, I have the original album from 1973 and see no reason to re purchase another 50+ year old album, but I will listen to it on Qobuz once or twice and see whats what.

I’m from San Jose, and saw/heard Lindsey and Stevie on stage in their garage band days (in 1968). They were in a group named Fritz, shortened from the original The Fritz Rabyne Memorial Band. I don’t recall a thing about how they sounded. Years ago I saw a pic of them onstage at Mother Butler (in 1967 iirc), a local Catholic girls high school. The school had a dress code, and bands were required to wear "appropriate" outfits. The boys are pictured in dress shirts with ties, Stevie in a formal gown and bouffant hairdo. 

It is funny in a way. I recorded this album on cassette in my dorm from a suite mate who had the original pressing in 1978.  I played it a few times and thought it was "OK" but nothing to write home about. (Yeah, as others note, about two songs stand out). 

Over the years I thought about getting it on vinyl or CD but found the Discogs prices stupid high at over $200 for a used one. 

So, I bought this on CD and it should arrive next week. I just wanted to have it again after all these years.  

I like FM in various versions but I grew up with the Stevie/Lindsey version when I was in high school so it will always be special to me.

I always thought of that version as a "rock band", not exactly pop.  I mean they sure don’t sound like ’Hannah Montana’ do they? 

Just glad that after 50 freaking years, you can get it for $14. 

@moonwatcher 

Most of us are strongly impacted/conditioned by, music we heard when we were young. It’s only natural that we habitually assess music we subsequently encounter through this familiar frame. 

You compare Rumors era F.M. to Hannah Montana. I suggest you try a different comparison: listen to older F.M.. Try "The Green Manalishi" from the album "Then Play On". You may perhaps get a better sense of why someone my age (69) might regard the Buckingham Nick’s F.M. as Pop.

.

@stuartk Yes, the music of our youth will always elicit an emotional connection.  In my sheltered part of the world, I had never even heard of FM until the first album with Stevie and Lindsey in it. 

I’ll go back now and hear the other versions eventually and yes, try "The Green Manalishi". I like a variety of music now from classical, jazz (various forms), electronica, EDM, rock (of course), and Americana. It is good to discover "new" things, even if they are "old". 

I hardly ever listen to much "classic rock" anymore. I’ve heard it enough. And I can go to my grave without ever hearing Jethro Tull’s "Aqualung" again. FM "adult contemporary" radio pretty much ran it into the ground. You’d think that was the only song they ever did. Well, not exactly. 

Thanks for the recommendation. 

@moonwatcher 

I still listen to some Classic Rock but it’s infrequent. You are absolutely correct re: the regrettable impact of repetitive radio airplay on the genre.

BTW, I still enjoy listening to Stand Up once in a while. It's always been my favorite Tull release. 

I'm new to this particular album and think it's great. Has some terrific tracks no matter how you want catagorize their sound. Crying In The Night and Races Are Run being two favs and are really solid tracks. Stevie & Lindsey have undeniable chemistry at this early stage of their relationship & carrer. All new, starry eyed and their sincerity bleeds through. It is a very good mid/light rock album indicative of the time and circumstances around its recording. Just my opinion

With no disrespect to the OP on this thread , I have no idea why RHINO would have re-issued this album. It reminds me of the album done by Gregg Allman and Cher …….the common thread between these two albums is that they both ; stunk . 

……also, the covers are almost identical!!!!

^ I'm not a f'ng  negative person . The covers are way different.

I may be in the minority - I pulled it off the shelves after several years of playing other LPs (I have a large collection), and I was very pleasantly surprised.

The songs are generally well crafted and, for their experience level, well performed.  I consider Lindsey one of the great singer/songwriters and guitarist of Rock.  

Regarding the dislike of 'Pop' music, I recall that even the Beatles and Stones had a tinge of Pop on occasion...

I myself love Pop music. ABBA is one of my favorite groups. But then my first record purchases were 7" 45 RPM singles in the early-60’s, when Pop music ruled the airwaves. I had lots of girl group and inner city (NYC, Chicago, Detroit, Philly) vocal group records, and still love that music. Dion DiMucci was and still is a great singer! Nick Lowe: "Pure Pop For Now People."

Here’s an incredible Pop song from 1958:

https://youtu.be/Lpm3079BjlI?si=rITq9ZcJzR-naBhY

And here’s Dave Edmunds’ almost identical cover version from his 1975 album Subtle As A Flying Mallet:

https://youtu.be/E7-COsoGysY?si=ETKS8yAtNvYD9X-a

I may have to give the Buckingham Nicks album another listen.

I remember hearing the original album back in the day and have streamed the latest version on Qobuz.  If you like the album the latest version sounds very good in my opinion.  You can’t go wrong with Rhino versions in my experience.  

I really don't think it's a great album in this day and age, but it's an important album in rock history.

Speaking of Pop music, here’s a great Pop song, written and sang by Jackie DeShannon. The first version of the song I heard was that of the British Invasion Group The Searchers, but I prefer Jackie’s original. Here ’tis:

https://youtu.be/IZf6YdPVwNY?si=zumN_n3osaM4c9oo

In 1979 I joined a Pop Group with a girl singer, and I brought this song to the Group suggesting we add it to our set list. We performed the song at our L.A. debut, at The Troubadour, which may have been where this video was taped (sure looks like The Troubadour).

Slaw ….really , take a longer look . Sounds like you’re a little angry here . Just my opinion, chill out 

I like this album.  Have an original and the Rhino reserve.  The Rhino reserve is worth it, IMHO.  Great sonics and quiet vinyl.  This album will not change anyone's opinion on that iteration of FM, though.  For those fans of Bare Trees (another favorite of mine) Rhino reserve has just re-released it.  I have found the Rhino reserve versions to be of great value-low price and great sound.

@garebear  

You're right my friend. I am overly passionate at times with music. 

I have spent $ on all the most recent releases in a slip box of different FM periods, supposedly from the master tapes. Do have some decent pp. So that is my current history of physical vinyl copies I use as my reference. As well as most of their individual solo albums.

I like all the iterations of Fleetwood Mac and decided to take a leap of faith and purchase the Rhino HF never having heard the Buckingham Nicks LP. I love it! Sounds very good too. From my research it appears the original is still the best version but the Rhino is worthy. I like Scott's reviews for the record (pun intended). 

I've never really connected with the Buckingham Nicks album but greatly enjoy the cover album recorded by Cunningham Bird, the great Madison Cunningham and Andrew Bird.