Search - Various Artists :: Legacy: A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac's Rumours

Rumours' legacy is preserved

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 11/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the better tribute albums, coming as it did on the heels of Fleetwood Mac's The Dance, this is one of those that pays tribute to an entire album, and it does so in proper song order.
Not only that, but there are no play-it-safe versions that plague many a well-intentioned tribute album.The female artists succeed more than the male ones, in particular the Corrs' "Dreams", Shawn Colvin's "The Chain", and Jewel's rendition of "You Make Loving Fun." Colvin and Jewel's vocal skills are assets that do not spoil the songs, plus there are minor variations from the originals. Dolores O'Riordan's forlorn and shrill voice and the heavier guitars add a new dynamic to "Go Your Own Way." No cranberry filler here. A slow drum beat accompanies "Oh Daddy" done by Tallulah, who sounds like a poor man's Jewel. However, it's Jewel who gets top honours for best female vocalist in this collection.OK, now the male artists. A quick-tempo percussive beat introduces "Second Hand News," done by Tonic. The fuzz guitars are the main contribution here, as well as the roaring guitars near the end of the song when the chorus is repeated. "Songbird," originally done by Christine McVie, is done here by Duncan Sheik, accompanied by a string arrangement. It's passable, I suppose. There's a hybrid symphonic-synthesizer opening in Elton John's "Don't Stop." He comes through here okay, but given his legendary reputation, he could've done way better via the piano boogie. The Goo Goo Dolls give "I Don't Want To Know" an uptempo alt-rock treatment coupled by harder guitar treatment than the original. Finally, "Gold Dust Woman" done by Sister Hazel, that cross between Pearl Jam and Lynyrd Skynyrd, uses a sitar and dobro in places, giving a slight but not that noticeable Asian flavour. Heavier guitar once again boosts the song beyond.Nothing compares to the originals, but it's the way they are done, whether the variations are subtle or pronounced, that make this album work. Now that's the way a tribute album should be, adventurous but still worthwhile. The quality of the songs here are better compared to other tribute albums and does not desecrate the memory of a classic of classics."

A bit uneven, but a great tribute

Karlis Streips | Riga, Latvia | 10/22/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Rumors" is one of my all-time favorite albums, so I approached this tribute with trepidation -- not necessary. I don't care for a couple of the covers (especially Shawn Colvin's sickly version of what is probably the greatest song on "Rumors", The Chain), but most of them are very good. In particular Tonic's "Second Hand News", Elton John's "Don't Stop" (of course, Elton John could sing the Greater London phone book and I'd be first in line to get the CD), and above all Sister Hazel's version of "Gold Dust Woman", which approaches the original in outstanding excellence. I miss Fleetwood Mac, and this is a fine reminder."

Mediocre -- if you like the bands listed, listen

Elspeth | 05/17/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This covers compilation sounds like a compilation of the bands listed. For example, when Jewel does "You Make Loving Fun", it's most definitely Jewel singing. She sounds like she does in every other song. The Tonic and matchbox20 versions are the only things worth buying this for. If you're a die-hard Fleetwood Mac fan, check out "Fleetwood Mac, Patron Saints of Pop, an Apostilary Homage" instead."