For Blue Letter Archives: FM Live Review #2

[David]

"Live" & Kicking
By ?? Ashton
Miami Herald
Dec. 21, 1980

After the critical & commercial disappointment of Fleetwood Mac's ponderous "Tusk," one would think a two-record live package would be the last thing the band would do for a follow-up. After all, if two discs of new material was too much, who could listen to two records of rehashes?

Surprise, surprise. "Fleetwood Mac Live" is that rare live double-record that works, expanding & enhancing the well-known songs & flavoring the mix with new material.

Of course, the bulk of the album is from the other three albums by the present band members: "Fleetwood Mac," the zillion-selling "Rumours" & "Tusk." But there's also a handful of new songs, an update of the early Fleetwood Mac favorite "Oh Well," & a charming version of the Beach Boys' obscurity "The Farmer's Daughter."

This is not your slapped-together recording of a night at the L.A. Forum. The 18 songs here were selected from recordings made all over the world, from Tokyo to London to Kansas City to Passaic, N.J. Technically, a couple of the tunes were done at a soundcheck in Paris, & three more for the band's friends & crew at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica. But the live feel is present throughout, & the performances from 11 different times & places are blended together so smoothly that one really can't notice the diverse sources--though some of the songs seem to have been recorded in auditoriums with more reverb or a more rowdy audience than some others.

The Fleetwood Mac hits are not done just like the records (unlike, say, the songs on the Eagles' new live album). Instead, some of them are turned into whole new songs, the same way Bob Dylan did in his 1978 tour. Lindsey Buckingham's "Not That Funny" (from "Tusk") is stretched to nine minutes, & performed with an intensity that the album version lacked. Stevie Nicks' "Sara" & Christine McVie's "Over & Over" are also greatly changed from original incarnations on "Tusk."

Those who saw the Mac on its "Tusk" tour (the group played Hollywood Sportatorium in August) saw a band still improving the songs from the double album. That's why it is surprising to find such a small sampling of the "Tusk" tunes here--even the percussion-&-horn-filled title song (which the band performed brilliantly in concert) is absent.

Present & accounted for are wonderful versions of "Rhiannon" & "Go Your Own Way," the group's two best songs. "Rhiannon" is a lengthy delight, with added verses & a haunting vocal by Nicks. "Go Your Own Way" is a vocal & instrumental showcase for Buckingham. Other chestnuts that were reworked include "Dreams" & "Don't Stop," recorded at that Paris soundcheck (sans audience).

McVie's "One More Night" & Nicks' "Fireflies" haven't appeared on albums before, & even those selections sound more complete than much of "Tusk."

The performances, the songs & the production on "Fleetwood Mac Live" are so good that if Fleetwood Mac had never had a platinum record, this album would probably be the group's own "Frampton Comes Alive," sending them to the top of the charts.

However, for Fleetwood Mac, the album more likely represents a rest between albums--or perhaps an end. Stevie Nicks is working on a solo album. The promotional package accompanying "Live" included five individual pictures of the musicians rather than a group photo. And the cover is a blurry shot of the band waving. One can't help but think they are waving goodbye, & "Live" is their fond farewell.