[joe68]

As tipped here in December, Rhino will roll out expanded reissues of three classic Fleetwood Mac albums on March 23. The sets -- 1975's self-titled album, 1977's "Rumours" and 1979's "Tusk" -- established the Mac as one of the most popular bands in the world. "Rumours" is the sixth-best selling album of all time according to the Recording Industry Association of America, which has certified it for U.S. shipments of 19 million copies.

"Fleetwood Mac" was the first album to feature vocalist Stevie Nicks and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. The pair made an immediate impact on the group's sound, best heard on such evergreens as "Landslide" and "Rhiannon." The expanded edition features single versions of the latter cut, "Say You Love Me," "Blue Letter" and "Over My Head."

By the time of "Rumours," the group's members had become famously entangled in romance and drug-fueled excess, but these travails manifested themselves into such rock radio hits as "The Chain," "You Make Loving Fun," "Dreams," "Go Your Own Way" and "Don't Stop." Although details are scant, the new version will include a second disc of 18 previously unreleased tracks, such as demos for "Gold Dust Woman" and "Never Going Back."

The double-album "Tusk" found Fleetwood Mac combating the pressure to follow-up the massive success of "Rumours" by balancing radio-ready fodder ("Sara," "Save Me the Place") with unusually experimental material (the title cut, featuring a marching band). A second disc of 21 previously unreleased demos and outtakes has been appended to the reissue.

Fleetwood Mac begins an Australian leg of its highly successful reunion tour Feb. 16 in Newcastle, Australia. The trek ends March 7 in Sydney.


-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.