RUMOURS
Rumours is the eleventh studio album by the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Largely recorded in California during 1976, it was produced by the band with Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut and was released on 4 February 1977 by Warner Bros. Records. The record reached the top of both the United States Billboard chart and the United Kingdom Albums Chart. The songs “Go Your Own Way”, “Dreams”, “Don’t Stop”, and “You Make Loving Fun” were released as singles. Rumours is Fleetwood Mac’s most successful release; along with winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978, the album has sold over 45 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. The Rumours studio sessions were marked by hedonistic behaviour and interpersonal strife among Fleetwood Mac members; these experiences shaped the album’s lyrics. (More from Wikipedia)
Another important British Invasion band, Fleetwood Mac evolved into a best-selling pop-rock band. Their 1977 album, Rumours (primarily named for the numerous personal upheavals in the lives of the two couples in the band, John McVie and Christine McVie, and Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks) became the sixth biggest selling album of all time; Wikipedia reports worldwide sales of 40 million copies, with certified sales of 26.8 million. When Bill Clinton wanted a song to replace the ancient “Happy Days are Here Again” that had been played for 60 years at Democratic Party Conventions, “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)” from this album was his choice for the 1992 Democratic Convention following his nomination for President.
(June 2014)
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People bought more albums in the 1970’s than at any time before or since. For what it’s worth, 6 of the 10 biggest selling albums of all time were released during the 1970’s – in order, they are The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd; Bat out of Hell by Meat Loaf; Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) by the Eagles; the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (featuring the Bee Gees and others); Rumours by Fleetwood Mac; and Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin. However you might feel about these chestnuts, it is hard to imagine a more varied group of albums. Thriller by Michael Jackson (1983) remains Number One, but I was certainly surprised to see Back in Black (1980) by AC/DC in second place.
(December 2016)
