Washington Post, August 8, 1978
HEADLINE: Fleetwood Mac
BYLINE: Geoffrey Himes
BODY:
Reprinted from yesterday's late editions
More than anyone since the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac has managed to satisfy both mass audiences and critics. While the group was setting new records for the most albums ever sold, "Rumours" was being widely hailed for blending female and male perspective as well as rich southern California harmonies and driving British blues.
If anyone has managed to resist their charm, it has been hard-core rocks fans who claim the band lacks the defiance and gritty originality of great rock n' roll.
Any such doubters should have been at the Capital Centre Sunday when the quintet played "The Chain." Guitairst Lindsey Buckingham and drimmer Mick Fleetwood combined on a chillingly ominous introduction. The voices of Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie entered that atmosphere with a three-part harmony waring about the bindings of love. The vocals separated gradually and began echoing with helpless repetition: "If you don't love me now, you'll never love me again."
This was cut off by an instrumental bridge by Buckingham , Fleetwood and bassit John McVie that underlined the desperation of the lyric. The rhythm section pushed hard and Buckingham responded with painfully eloquent high-pitched rock n' roll guitar.
The instrumental crescendo climaxed in renewed vocals: "Chains keep us together" punctuated by Buckingham's short guitar phrases and his screams. The song was only the second of the evening. But it confirmed that Fleetwood Mac stands apart from the other superstars of the '70s, such as ABBA, Peter Framptonand the Eagles.
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