Fleetwood Mac - Rumours


Today on Bottle of Beef, we find out if Germany is good at pressing records for Target. This one's gold-dust colored, apparently. 


I heard lots of rumors that people don't like the singing voice of Stevie Nicks. You know me, as long as it's not Petula Clark or Barbara Mandrell, i don't care what barnyard animal they compare you to. Beeflieve it or not, i've never actually heard the entire British spelling. So, in that spirit, let's kick Mick in the toilet chains and ask him to cough up an album of mystical sagas about not 1, not 2, but 3 simultaneously failing relationships, and an amount of cocaine to rival David Bowie, Miles Davis, and Rick James. It's the undeniably classic album, Rumours. 

Daaaamn. No, really, people say this is a pretty flawless album, and except for Lindsay's terrible chorused vocals on Never Going Back Again, i have to agree. The story goes that they'd show up at The Record Plant Sausalito (which looks more like a horror movie cabin in the woods than a recording studio), have a huge feast and get wasted, then start recording completely blitzed around 1 or 2 am. 6 other studios were involved as well, so about a million 1977 dollars in production costs. Afterward, they all looked at each other and asked "did we just make an album about our divorces and subsequent dating experiences. Oh, well, time to extensively tour it." 

The only creepy song is Oh Daddy, and with a name like Smuckers.... Doesn't matter that it's simultaneously about the reconciliation of Mick's marriage and his leadership of the band. It's creepy, Christine. The most surprising track is Buckingham's Never Going Back Again. Just an awesome piece of acoustic Folk-Rock guitar work, that one. Yeah, it's got all the super-hits, but it is a pretty spectacular album to contain them. And yes, Optimal Media GmbH knows how all the setting knobs and levers on their pressing machines work. This is the nicest piece of 21st-century vinyl i own. 

Is Rumours worthy of 25th best album ever recorded? I suppose so. I mean they intended to make a Pop album, they succeeded big time, the songs are actually enjoyable to listen to, it is a bit mysterious with a tinge of whimsy, you got weird sound effects all over the place, and that iconic bassline to guitar solo from The Chain to open Side B. It's their 11th, so they've had a fair bit of practice. Yeah, everything about this album is great. I guess the rumors are true; it's lovely. As many times as i've referenced it over the last two years, you'd think i'd own a copy before now. Nope, and if Target had a better selection i might not have bought it today either. I am a mystery, wrapped in a conundrum flavored tortilla. Maybe if Kellogg's decides to pay their American employees properly we'll turn it into a breakfast cereal. Bottle o' Beeflets - Malted Flakes: Makes it's own gravy, just add milk! See? I knew i could work in some relevant social commentary if i just blabbered long enough. Enjoy.

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