British-American classic rock groupFleetwood Machas proven to bea deeply foundational force within the genre. They’ve made songs so iconic thatmany bands show respect through covering their material, not to mention having a body of artistry strong enough that even the underrated tracks from within the depths of their discographyare not to be missed.
Butin ranking every Fleetwood Mac album, there is an LP by two of its members that often gets overlooked within the scope of the band’s Hall Of Fame-level exploits. That record happens to be the self-titled debut (and only) album from vocalist Stevie Nicks and vocalist/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham,when they were briefly known as the duo Buckingham Nicks.
Buckingham Nicks Was Quickly Overlooked Even After The Duo Joined Fleetwood Mac
After being released in late 1973, theBuckingham NicksLPwas greeted by a lukewarm commercial reception. The pair’s deft mix of pop-inflected folk-rock across 10 total tracks was met with positivity, but an initial popularity that was only a niche level at best. The career luck of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham wouldn’t radically change until the following year.
That’s when Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood visited California’s Sound City Studios(whereBuckingham Nickswas recorded) to scout out a new location for taping the group’s next album. Keith Olsen (the producer ofBuckingham Nicks) played a song from the record for Fleetwood to demonstrate both his production skills as well as the studio’s sound.
While the duo would eventually be hired to join Fleetwood Mac on New Year’s Eve 1974 (after the departure of guitarist Bob Welch), this didn’t createany further waves of interest or success forBuckingham Nicks. Not that the duo would do much to promote the tracks from the album as the years advanced (either solo or in Fleetwood Mac).
The Pair Didn’t Often Highlight Songs From Buckingham Nicks
While joining Fleetwood Mac created immense success for Buckingham and Nicks (both in the group and their respective solo careers), only creative fragments of output from their brief Buckingham Nicks tenure came with them. The biggest waslikely re-recording the BH song “Crystal” for Fleetwood Mac’s breakthrough 1975 self-titled LP, which Nicks also cut for thePractical Magicfilm soundtrack.
“Don’t Let Me Down Again” was another Buckingham Nicks song that was performed on Fleetwood Mac’s 1980 tour (which also happened to be unveiled a few times during their 1975 support ofFleetwood Mac). While Nicks broke out “Crying in the Night” in 2016 during her 24-Karat Gold Tour,her first rendition of the song in any format since 1973.
The only cuts to graduate from the vinyl-only release ofBuckingham Nicksto CD over the course of decadeswere vinyl transfer versions of “Long Distance Winner” and “Stephanie.“The first was included on Nicks’Enchantedbox set in 1998, while the latter briefly appeared on a promotional-only release of Buckingham’s (and during a 2012 solo tour from the guitarist).
Despite these teasing glances at the past (and Fleetwood Mac’s critical success),Buckingham Nicksremained part of cutting room floor obscurity. A surprising musical factoid with accessibility that remained confined to record shops and difficult-to-sniff-out bootlegs that might occasionally rise to the surface. That is, until this year, whenthe reality of aBuckingham Nicksreissue suddenly picked up steam.
This Reissue Might Be A Chance To Give This Underrated LP Some Love
As the distance from the initial 1973 release ofBuckingham Nicksgrew longer and longer, the LP’s vinyl record-only status made it harder and harderfor interested listeners to find and absorb the album’s content. Occasional speculation about aBuckingham Nicksreissue from the duo themselves kept hope for it alive over the years, but time continued to pass.
That is, until this July, when messages on Buckingham and Nicks' Instagram pages came together to complete a lyrical line from theBuckingham Nickssong “Frozen Love.” While these coordinated postsdid fuel the fire of some greater reconciliation between the pair(who’ve had a decades-long, complex relationship), it was actually the beginnings of aBuckingham Nicksreissue announcement.
Led by the drop of the LP’s first single (and first song), “Crying In The Night,“Buckingham Nickswill roll out in its fully reissued glory on September 19th. For fans of Fleetwood Mac and the solo efforts of both Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, seeing their initialBuckingham Nicksturnprovides an interesting new audio angle on their beginnings.
While a single like “Crying In The Night” won’t be quickly mistaken for either artist at their prime level, putting this track (and album) in the correct place provides a fascinating mirror of how Nicks and Buckingham both evolved (together and apart). The vocals, their harmonies together, Buckingham’s burgeoning guitar tone;Buckingham Nicksis a true classic rock origin story.
