Search - Fleetwood Mac :: Greatest Hits

Brilliant California Pop-Rock

Westley | Stuck in my head | 10/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fleetwood Mac released their first major greatest hits record with this collection. The CD covers the years 1975 - 1988, when the group consisted of Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood. Although the group formed in 1967 as a blues rock band, they didn't start having big hits in the United States until this period. The CD includes 14 of their 16 U.S. Top 20 hits - only "Don't Think About Me" (#20 in 1980) and "Seven Wonders" (#19 in 1987) are excluded.



Fleetwood Mac recorded some of the most brilliant California pop-rock of the 1970s and 1980s, and this collection represents it well. Their enduring popularity is witnessed by the over eight millions copies this record has sold. In addition, having three talented lead singers and song writers helps make their music so varied. I particularly enjoy Stevie's songs, such as "Rhiannon" (which went to #11, not #5 as stated in the Editorial Review) and "Dreams."



Two additional songs were recorded for inclusion on this set (Lindsey Buckingham had left the group by then). "As Long as You Follow" features a solid vocal by Christine McVie and peaked on the Top 100 at #43 in 1989. "No Questions Asked" is a somewhat cluttered-sounding song featuring Stevie Nicks that's not a particularly strong addition.



Since the release of this CD, of course, Fleetwood Mac has reunited. They also subsequently released the 2-disk "The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac," which covers 35 of their songs. Whether you prefer to purchase this CD or the more extensive one obviously would seem to rest on how much depth your Fleetwood Mac collection already has and how deep you want it to go. I'm sticking with this one as I have several of their studio CDs that help fill in some of the gaps, such as the sublime "Landslide."

"

Fleetwood Mac's Best!

Barron Laycock | Temple, New Hampshire United States | 07/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although they recapitulated and brilliantly reinterpreted a lot of the material in here with their marvelous CD, "The Dance" a few years ago, the versions included in this offering are the original studio versions that were both on the original albums and all over the wavelengths of popular FM radio in the seventies and eighties. From the innovative treatment in the opening number of Rhiannon" to the final refrains of "No Questions Asked", this CD treats the listener to all their favorite Fleetwood Mac songs. And all them are indeed here.Included are "Don't Stop", "Go Your Own Way", "Hold Me", and "Everywhere". Of course, no greatest hits album would be complete without "Gypsy", "You Make Loving Fun", and "Dreams". Also here is "Say You Love Me", "Tusk", "Sara", and "Over My Head". There are few other songs included, so you have well over an hour of exceptional music from one of the most wildly successful rock bands of the last twenty years. This should keep you busy remembering just how good Lindsay Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, the MacVies, and of course, Stevie Nicks were. Who knows, perhaps there will be another reunion! Meanwhile, enjoy this collection of their greatest hits!"

A Great First Start

Ben C-F | Minneapolis, MN United States | 09/23/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was the first Fleetwood Mac album I bought, some years ago. As such, it was a wonderful introduction to the realm of the band, at least its Buckingham-Nicks lineup (without a doubt their most successful period, and arguably their greatest creatively). Contains the whole gamut of hits, "Rhiannon," "Go Your Own Way," "Little Lies," yada yada yada. And if you're new to FM, or only know their Rumours stuff (as was my case), this really is a good start. You get to hear Fleetwood Mac at their most radio-friendly, without some of the other aspects of each songwriters' talent that might take some time to adjust to (Stevie's six-minute cosmic rants, Lindsey's insanity). You miss out on a lot (I had no concept of TUSK from hearing this album), there are a couple curious omissions (where's "The Chain?"), and a band such as Fleetwood Mac really deserves to have its entire catologue heard (otherwise you'd miss gems like "That's Alright" and "World Turning"), but it is a good CD, and as one guy pointed out, a great party album. The two new songs are pleasent, nothing exceptional-- "As Long As You Follow" has a great melody and catchy guitar solo, but the production is a little watered-down in light of the sonic collages from TANGO. However, this is really a great intro to Fleetwood Mac-- and actually, I found this compilation better represented the B-N era of the band than THE CHAIN box set. Go buy it!!"