Buckingham Nicks: Fleetwood Mac’s Forgotten Classic Turns 50
This month marks the 50th anniversary of a true lost classic album, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham’s lone album together, Buckingham Nicks. The album, which came out on Polydor Records, sold poorly, didn’t even show up on the charts and quickly went out of print. Yet now, 50 years on, the album still sounds as fresh, hopeful and beautiful as it did when it first came out. It’s also a very important album in the career trajectory of both Stevie, Lindsey and Fleetwood Mac. In fact, it absolutely has that Fleetwood Mac “sound,” so I consider it Fleetwood Mac’s Forgotten Classic.
The Background
After knowing each other since high school, and playing together in what was basically a cover band in college, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks began recording demos of the songs they’d been working on. The demo tape eventually got the attention of two gentlemen starting their own production company. The company’s resident producer, Keith Olsen, took great interest in the tape and helped them to get signed to a deal with Polydor Records in the U.S. The production company was known as Anthem Records, and they got co-label credit on the release. For the recording sessions Olsen, acting as their producer, tapped some of L.A.’s finest session musicians to assist, including Jim Keltner, Waddy Wachtel and even Philly’s own Mark Tulin (formerly of The Electric Prunes). By all accounts, everyone involved was very happy with the results of the sessions, and Buckingham Nicks was ready for release.
‘Buckingham Nicks’ Bombs
Buckingham Nicks hit the record stores in September, 1973, with Stevie and Lindsey doing a brief U.S. tour to support the album. Inexplicably, as much as the band and their producer were excited about this album, the record label were much less enthusiastic. They sent advance copies to just a handful of college radio stations and commercial rock stations. Just one single was released and, again, there was no label support. Needless to say, with almost no promotional muscle behind it, Buckingham Nicks was a bomb. It didn’t even enter the charts, and the label quickly put the album out of print and dropped the duo. Well done, you dopey record company execs!
A Golden Opportunity For Stevie And Lindsey
Understandably, Stevie and Lindsey were dejected at the lack of success of the album. Stevie returned to working a number of odd jobs to help support her and Lindsey, while he worked on more song ideas and recorded more demos. Fate, however, would intervene soon after when Mick Fleetwood was in Los Angeles in 1974. He was scouting recording studios for a future Fleetwood Mac project. Upon meeting Keith Olsen at a studio called Sound City, Olsen played Mick “Frozen Love” from the Buckingham Nicks album to demonstrate the studio’s abilities. Not only did the studio’s equipment impress Fleetwood, but so did the song. In fact, he was so blown away by it, that he asked to meet Lindsey and offer him a gig with Fleetwood Mac! Buckingham agreed to do so on the condition that Stevie Nicks also be permitted to join. After meeting with the whole band, Buckingham and Nicks were hired as the newest members of Fleetwood Mac, and the rest is history! Incidentally, Keith Olsen was also hired by the group to produce their next album.
Renewed Popularity Of Buckingham Nicks And Hopeful Reissue
Once Fleetwood Mac became worldwide rock stars, fans clamored for anything related to the band. It’s unknown why Polydor kept the album out of print while the Mac’s success was taking off. I remember seeing dozens of copies of the album in the discount bin at the old Peaches record store in the Northeast! I think it went for $2.99, far less than a vinyl copy commands today. I smartly bought one, along with Next Of Kihn by Greg Kihn (the things you remember!) Over the years, I’ve had the chance to chat with both Lindsey and Stevie. Each time I ask them if we’ll ever get to see a digital release of Buckingham Nicks. Both have told me they’d like to see it come out, but other projects keep getting in the way. So we wait, hoping one day to have a pristine version of the album released to the masses.
In the meantime, check out the songs on YouTube, and scroll down for some photos of our MGK employees and listeners showing off their precious copies of Buckingham Nicks!
Buckingham Nicks track listing:
Crying In The Night (issued as a single, remixed with more guitar)
Stephanie
Without A Leg To Stand On
Crystal (later re-recorded by Fleetwood Mac)
Long Distance Winner
Don’t Let Me Down Again
Django (cover of a jazz song by The Modern Jazz Quartet)
Races Are Run
Lola (My Love)
Frozen Love
WMGK Employees And Fans Love The Buckingham Nicks Album
