Fleetwood Mac has always been one of those intriguing, controversial bands who put out some great albums in the 1970s and 80s. Most everyone knows of their best known "Rumours" album and a good many can say the same for the follow up "Tusk" album. Both are great albums and probably one of the reasons they put out a live album on the wake of the previous two. Much of the material from the mentioned studio albums is to be found on "Live" and for good reason. Those albums gave us so many great classic songs. For me, however, and this will be an ongoing theme for me throughout the tour of 1981, it had some personal meaning in my own life at the time. One of my comrades in arms bought this album at the PX in Rota, Spain just before we sailed back to the USA. It got played a lot on the voyage home and it was this album that made the trip home a lot easier.
Fleetwood Mac "Live" not only had great musical memories, it also gave me one small regret and hearing again after so many years brought it back. That regret is the fact that I never saw them live. Listening to this album, I can safely say that it would have been totally awesome to see Fleetwood Mac in concert. Not just the great songs on it, but the energy they put behind each of the songs they play. I have always said the Lindsey Buckingham does not get the respect he deserves as a guitarist, his efforts on the live album are proof of that. I mean, the man can play. Of course, the rest of the band are all very good on the album.
While, the album is heavy laden with songs from "Rumours" and "Tusk," there are some classic gems from Fleetwood Mac's past that pop up on the album too. I absolutely love the live version of "Rhiannon" and "Landslide" is nicely done as well. Then there is the live version of my all time favourite Mac song, "Go Your Own Way." If there is a heavy metal cover of this song anywhere, someone please let me know because I would love to hear it. This song would sound fantastic if it was metallised. Saying that, if I have to pick out one personal disappointment about "Live," it's the absence of "The Chain" on it. I would have loved to have heard John McVie play my all time favourite bass line live. By way, I have heard Shark Island's cover of said song and it is done well.
Track Listing:
1. Monday Morning
2. Say You Love Me
3. Dreams
4. Oh Well
5. Over and Over
6. Not That Funny
7. Sarah
8. Never Going Back Again
9. Landslide
10. Fireflies
11. Over My Head
12. Rhiannon
13. Don't Let Me Down Again
14. One More Night
15. Go Your Own Way
16. Don't Stop
17. I'm So Afraid
18. The Farmer's Daughter
- Fleetwood Mac
Lindsey Buckingham- guitars, vocals
Stevie Nicks- vocals
Christine McVie- keyboards, vocals
John McVie- bass
Mick Fleetwood- drums, percussion
My fellow music blogger Every Record Tells a Story recently posted his view of the top ten double live albums. This album wasn't mentioned. I'm not saying that it should be in the top ten of any double live album list, especially against the albums ERTaS lists. However, this album is worth a definite mention as a great double live album. For me, it will forever be the closest I ever get to seeing Fleetwood Mac live.
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