This Classic Rock Band Found Success Again 43 Years Ago by Taking a ‘Step Back,’ But Had to Battle ‘Ghosts’ originally appeared on Parade.
In the late ‘70s, Fleetwood Mac was one of the biggest bands in the world.
Rumours, the group’s second album with new members Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, spent an astounding 31 nonconsecutive weeks on top of the Billboard album chart and spawned the top 10 hits “Go Your Own Way,” “Don’t Stop,” and “You Make Loving Fun,” as well as the group’s first number one single, “Dreams.”
It also picked up a Grammy in 1977 for Album of the Year.
Given the success of Rumours, the band certainly earned the right to experiment and took full advantage of it on Tusk, a two-record set released in 1979. The album’s tribal, rhythm-driven title track was recorded live at Dodger Stadium with the USC Trojan Marching Band.
While the band may have reached new artistic heights on Tusk, it failed to match the commercial success of Rumours, as it peaked at number four on the chart, while the 1980 double-album Fleetwood Mac Live stalled at number 14.
However, the band regained their commercial footing with their next effort Mirage, which hit the top spot this week in 1982 and stayed in the top position for five weeks.
Mirage was meant to be a return to the sound Fleetwood Mac had mastered on Rumours. “It was a reaction to Tusk,” Mick Fleetwood told me in an interview for The Billboard Book of Number One Albums. “We all felt, ‘Let’s get back and not be so experimental and be less esoteric in our approach.’ It’s a little cruel to say it was a step back, but Mirage was certainly a reflection of doing things the same sort of ways we had done on Rumours.”
Mirage was recorded primarily at the Le Chateau studio in France, which was made famous by Elton John’s Honky Chateau. The album was completed in seven months — fast compared to the time the band had spent recording its two previous studio efforts.
However, the sessions didn’t go completely smooth. “There were ghosts at the Chateau,” Fleetwood recalled. “Things would end up on tape and we had a lot of trouble with some of the machines. My drum roadie was reduced to tears.”
In the long run, however, a few gremlins were nothing for Fleetwood Mac. “After we got through the emotional boot camp of Rumours, we could get through anything.” Fleetwood said. When Mirage reached number one in a mere four weeks, becoming Fleetwood Mac’s third number one album, it was proof positive.
This Classic Rock Band Found Success Again 43 Years Ago by Taking a ‘Step Back,’ But Had to Battle ‘Ghosts’ first appeared on Parade on Aug 7, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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