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This Classic Rock Band Found Success Again 43 Years Ago by Taking a \u2018Step Back,\u2019 But Had to Battle \u2018Ghosts\u2019<\/a> originally appeared on Parade<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n In the late \u201870s, Fleetwood Mac<\/a> was one of the biggest bands in the world.<\/p>\n Rumours<\/em>,<\/a> the group\u2019s second album with new members Stevie Nicks<\/a><\/strong> and Lindsey Buckingham<\/a><\/strong>, spent an astounding 31 nonconsecutive weeks on top of the Billboard<\/em> album chart and spawned the top 10 hits \u201cGo Your Own Way,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t Stop,\u201d and \u201cYou Make Loving Fun,\u201d as well as the group\u2019s first number one single, \u201cDreams.\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac <\/strong>SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox<\/strong><\/a> \ud83c\udfac<\/strong><\/p>\n It also picked up a Grammy in 1977 for Album of the Year.<\/p>\n Given the success of Rumours<\/em>, the band certainly earned the right to experiment and took full advantage of it on Tusk<\/em>, a two-record set released in 1979. The album\u2019s tribal, rhythm-dri\u00adven title track was recorded live at Dodger Stadium with the USC Trojan Marching Band.<\/p>\n While the band may have reached new artistic heights on Tusk<\/em>, it failed to match the commercial success of Rumours<\/em>, as it peaked at number four on the chart, while the 1980 double-album Fleetwood Mac Live<\/em> stalled at number 14.<\/p>\n However, the band regained their commercial footing with their next effort Mirage<\/em>, which hit the top spot this week in 1982 and stayed in the top position for five weeks.<\/p>\n Related: Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham Appear to Be Reuniting on Reissue of Long Out-of-Print Album<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Mirage <\/em>was meant to be a return to the sound Fleetwood Mac had mastered on Rumours<\/em>. \u201cIt was a reaction to Tusk<\/em>,\u201d Mick Fleetwood<\/a><\/strong> told me in an interview for The Billboard Book of Number One Albums<\/a><\/em>. \u201cWe all felt, \u2018Let\u2019s get back and not be so experimental and be less esoteric in our approach.\u2019 It\u2019s a little cruel to say it was a step back, but Mirage<\/em> was certainly a reflection of doing things the same sort of ways we had done on Rumours<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Mirage<\/em> was recorded primarily at the Le Chateau studio in France, which was made famous by Elton John\u2019s Honky Chateau<\/em>. The album was com\u00adpleted in seven months \u2014 fast compared to the time the band had spent recording its two previous studio efforts.<\/p>\n However, the sessions didn\u2019t go com\u00adpletely smooth. \u201cThere were ghosts at the Chateau,\u201d Fleetwood recalled. \u201cThings would end up on tape and we had a lot of trouble with some of the machines. My drum roadie was reduced to tears.\u201d<\/p>\n In the long run, however, a few gremlins were nothing for Fleetwood Mac. \u201cAfter we got through the emotional boot camp of Rumours<\/em>, we could get through anything.\u201d Fleetwood said. When Mirage<\/em> reached num\u00adber one in a mere four weeks, becom\u00ading Fleetwood Mac\u2019s third number one album, it was proof positive.<\/p>\n