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Fleetwood Mac — Never Going Back Again
Album: Rumours
Avg rating:
8.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2995









Released: 1977
Length: 2:12
Plays (last 30 days): 2
She broke down and let me in
Made me see where I've been

Been down one time
Been down two times
I'm never going back again

You don't know what it means to win
Come down and see me again

Been down one time
Been down two times
I'm never going back again
Comments (222)add comment
Admittedly, I prefer the old stuff. However, this is an extraordinary album by any reasonable measure, 10!!
Calm and guiding sounds of youth
We never can, now that the lovely Christine has gone.
 easmann wrote:


Thank you for your thoughtful piece.
 easmann wrote:


hey, thanks for all this. i knew of peter green's fleetwood mac, but i didn't know the rest of this history. very cool of you to share.
Say what you wish about Lindsey Buckingham; he's undeniably  a great guitar player and vocalist, imho. 
 shutter wrote:
How many of you remember THE Buckingham Nicks album?  Ehhhh?  Raise your hands.  C'mon, raise your hands!  Now THAT is a classic that is only on vinyl.  But, geeze, is it good!  Annnnnnd I digress, wistfully...
 
Yep.  got two copies.
 xcranky_yankee wrote:
i try to stay at one bar these days, then nobody looks like a 10

Yer either at the wrong bar, or haven't stayed there long enough...
c.

This song is amazing. I don't get tired of it.
 NE14_paradise wrote:

Some songs get a 10 after only a few bars. This is one-of-them. :-)

i try to stay at one bar these days, then nobody looks like a 10

Some songs get a 10 after only a few bars. This is one-of-them. :-)
This is what it feels like to be a child as an adult. Love it.
Lindsey does it for me.......wonderbar!
I'm a simple man. I hear Fleetwood Mac, I rate highly.

A wonderful group, in all of their incarnations.
 bluematrix wrote:
"Who does Fleetwood Mac sound like?"
 
Which version of Fleetwood Mac?
If someone asked me "Who does Fleetwood Mac sound like?" (a popular game here in RPLand), I'd be hard pressed to come up with anything. That's kinda cool. And this is a fine example of how to make a unique and yet still poppy song.
Too much living in the past. RP help us separate the wheat from the chaff.
Lovely, lovely guitar playing here. This song absolutely hooks me whenever I hear it, and the production is gorgeously understated, just a few swells of vocal harmonies in the right place. Awesome.
 shockwavewriter wrote:
I grew up with FM on one of my roommate's stereos constantly.  For years, someone was playing FM.  Drove me nuts, and being the contrarian that I am, I kinda refused to like them.  Too much, too sweet, too damn harmonic.

I got over that.  Now, I can appreciate them.  Damn what a fine band, both pre-Nicks/Bucky and later.  So many great songs.  This is one of them!
 
and they had their own style
didn't copy what was popular at the time
and no one copied them (surprisingly)
they were unique
great seg from Leo Kottke
I grew up with FM on one of my roommate's stereos constantly.  For years, someone was playing FM.  Drove me nuts, and being the contrarian that I am, I kinda refused to like them.  Too much, too sweet, too damn harmonic.

I got over that.  Now, I can appreciate them.  Damn what a fine band, both pre-Nicks/Bucky and later.  So many great songs.  This is one of them!
 jbuhl wrote:
Kottke then Buckingham....niceBill

 
{#Notworthy} {#Yes}
Just love the simplicity of LB's lyrics and the intricacy of his guitar work...before, during and after FM
Kottke then Buckingham....niceBill
 unclehud wrote:
Why, Stevie Nicks, of course!  Everybody knows that!  Everybody in my hotel room, anyway.
 
If you were unclear before now as to how she ruined the band, my explanation will most certainly fall on deaf ears: "Listen to their old rock and blues based stuff.  It's so much better than their later pop pablum."
 
For the record, Christine McVie was one of the pillars of this band, and has a never-expiring proposal of marriage from me — if her people would ever withdraw that ridiculous restraining order.  (Just kidding ... )

 WonderLizard wrote:
Well, I guess you can lay blame where you want, but Fleetwood and McVie hand picked Nicks and Buckingham for the next incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, so I guess you have to lay a little of the blame on them. It was their band. Just sayin'...
  
To be fair, unclehud's comment was made jokingly (mostly, and it's funny too). However, I suspect there are some folks who take that view seriously. Your point WonderLizard is a good one: Lindsey and Stevie did not take over the band from outside, they were invited, welcomed.

Fleetwood Mac formed in 1967 and released nine albums before Buckingham and Nicks were recruited:

Fleetwood Mac (1968)
Mr. Wonderful (1968)
Then Play On (1969)
Kiln House (1970)
Future Games (1971)
Bare Trees (1972)
Penguin (1973)
Mystery to Me (1973)
Heroes Are Hard to Find (1974)

Their sound changed dramatically over time and with each of several different member lineups. It's understandable if folks have a favorite lineup or album or two. Every album has some worthy work. But here's the thing —

If they could have kept any prior iteration of the group together and functional, they would have
- 1970: Founding member Peter Green succumbed to his growing schizophrenia and departed the group. Christine (Perfect) McVie recruited.
- 1971: Founding member Jeremy Spencer unexpectedly disappeared having joined a religious cult. Bob Welch recruited.
- 1972: Early member Danny Kirwan, struggling with alcohol dependence and violent moods, was reluctantly fired.
- 1972-74: A host of personnel and legal troubles finally culminated in Bob Welch departing the band. 
- 1974 (final days of): Mick Fleetwood was introduced to Lindsey Buckingham and recruited him. Lindsey joined on condition that Stevie Nicks was included. 

Famously, that incarnation of the band also had their difficulties yet managed to continue to work together (imagine writing a song about the person who cheated on you and performing it, on stage, next to that person).

So, about "blaming" Buckingham or Nicks, or both, for "ruining" Fleetwood Mac. That appears to be some folks' emotional truth, and I think I get that. But logically it's unsound. No one has to like their version, or any version, of the band. And you know, upon reflection, why must anyone be blamed? 

I think if you asked Mick he'd say that Buckingham and Nicks helped save his band one more time, not ruin it. 

(Edit: Two days later) Mick Fleetwood: ‘Peter Green is the reason there’s a Fleetwood Mac'
(Mick praises both Green and Buckingham in this recent article for their creative drive and influence on the band.)

"Some bands, like AC/DC, have lost members and replaced them with someone who is almost a duplicate of their predecessor. Perhaps because I'm not a writer or lead player myself, I've always believed you should accept musicians for what they are. That's why Fleetwood Mac became so many different things over the years."
— Mick Fleetwood

I'm just grateful for a lot of Fleetwood Mac's music across all of the lineups.
Oh well, it's just my opinion. Peace.
 unclehud wrote:

Why, Stevie Nicks, of course!  Everybody knows that!  Everybody in my hotel room, anyway.
 
If you were unclear before now as to how she ruined the band, my explanation will most certainly fall on deaf ears: "Listen to their old rock and blues based stuff.  It's so much better than their later pop pablum."
 
For the record, Christine McVie was one of the pillars of this band, and has a never-expiring proposal of marriage from me — if her people would ever withdraw that ridiculous restraining order.  (Just kidding ... )
 
Wonderlizard already addressed the idea that somehow Stevie Nicks single-handedly changed the direction of Fletwood Mac, but...  If you really think of the (1975) "Fleetwood Mac" and "Rumors" albums as "pop pablum", then I guess I can see how you'd mix up "deaf" and "freakin' incredulous".
 Kaisersosay wrote:
 BobbyCat wrote:

I do raise all hands and feet. THAT album + Rumours remain unforgettable great moments forever.

Hand raised as well, Hot cover of the B&N album with Stevie , yum . Saw them on the Rumours tour in 77 at the Cap center. In fact 38 years ago tomorrow. The only reason I can know that is I still have the stub. 8 bucks to see them.
 One of the best concerts I've seen.  

 
hot, yeah, sort of. still mad as a bag of cats but the album, Rumours, outstanding.
Reminds me of Buckingham / Nicks - before they were 'famous': 
g

 BobbyCat wrote:

I do raise all hands and feet. THAT album + Rumours remain unforgettable great moments forever.

Hand raised as well, Hot cover of the B&N album with Stevie , yum . Saw them on the Rumours tour in 77 at the Cap center. In fact 38 years ago tomorrow. The only reason I can know that is I still have the stub. 8 bucks to see them.
 One of the best concerts I've seen.  


Ei wie schee
Everybody in my alien space craft loves this song...  this album is in the top 20 of all time...
 unclehud wrote:

Why, Stevie Nicks, of course!  Everybody knows that!  Everybody in my hotel room, anyway.
 
If you were unclear before now as to how she ruined the band, my explanation will most certainly fall on deaf ears: "Listen to their old rock and blues based stuff.  It's so much better than their later pop pablum."
 
For the record, Christine McVie was one of the pillars of this band, and has a never-expiring proposal of marriage from me — if her people would ever withdraw that ridiculous restraining order.  (Just kidding ... )
 
Well, I guess you can lay blame where you want, but Fleetwood and McVie hand picked Nicks and Buckingham for the next incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, so I guess you have to lay a little of the blame on them. It was their band. Just sayin'...
 shutter wrote:
How many of you remember THE Buckingham Nicks album?  Ehhhh?  Raise your hands.  C'mon, raise your hands!

 
I do raise all hands and feet. THAT album + Rumours remain unforgettable great moments forever.
When Mac was thin and Nicks was clean.
I'm more of a Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac fan
They were a very good blues band back in the day 
  
 shutter wrote:
How many of you remember THE Buckingham Nicks album?  Ehhhh?  Raise your hands.  C'mon, raise your hands!  Now THAT is a classic that is only on vinyl.  But, geeze, is it good!  Annnnnnd I digress, wistfully...

 
Absolutely a great album.   I keep checking to see if it has been released on CD, nope.  Keep hearing a rumour (pun intended) that it might be but nada so far.  I have a MP3 version but not great quality.
 Darlington wrote:


I read an article this week about the new resissue of Rumours, and one of the many interesting tidbits of information was the fact that all the Buckingham/Nicks songs off their first Fleetwood Mac album were songs written for the follow-up to Buckingham/Nicks but reworked for Fleetwood Mac. The Rumours songs were the first songs actually written and recorded as full band collaborations.

The musical geek in my loves stuff like that.

 

i have one of those in me too. good tidbit.
 shutter wrote:
How many of you remember THE Buckingham Nicks album?  Ehhhh?  Raise your hands.  C'mon, raise your hands!  Now THAT is a classic that is only on vinyl.  But, geeze, is it good!  Annnnnnd I digress, wistfully...
 

I read an article this week about the new resissue of Rumours, and one of the many interesting tidbits of information was the fact that all the Buckingham/Nicks songs off their first Fleetwood Mac album were songs written for the follow-up to Buckingham/Nicks but reworked for Fleetwood Mac. The Rumours songs were the first songs actually written and recorded as full band collaborations.

The musical geek in my loves stuff like that.
As many times as I've heard this song...it seems all the more appropriate at this moment.
 unclehud wrote:

I don't think I'm a very negative person, but I can't stand this song, because she ruined Fleetwood Mac.

 
I am a negative person, and I love the three Fleetwood Mac 70s albums with Buckingham and Nicks. The down-tempo songs are a bit too radio-friendly for my taste, especially the Christine McVie ones. But that's a minor issue.
Thank you for not playing the tired, overplayed tunes off this album. Actually it isn't bad, there's a lot more worse stuff out there...just FM continues to consistently do NOTHING for me.
 drewd wrote:
Hey ! Where did you get a CD in the late 70 s ???
 
Cassette Deck?  ; )
 eswiley2 wrote:
First heard this CD on a road trip back in the late 70's.  Never get tired of it.  :)
 
Hey ! Where did you get a CD in the late 70 s ???
First heard this CD on a road trip back in the late 70's.  Never get tired of it.  :)
 Valley_Boy wrote:
Which "she" ruined Fleetwood Mac and how?
 
Why, Stevie Nicks, of course!  Everybody knows that!  Everybody in my hotel room, anyway.
 
If you were unclear before now as to how she ruined the band, my explanation will most certainly fall on deaf ears: "Listen to their old rock and blues based stuff.  It's so much better than their later pop pablum."
 
For the record, Christine McVie was one of the pillars of this band, and has a never-expiring proposal of marriage from me — if her people would ever withdraw that ridiculous restraining order.  (Just kidding ... )

I was 12 or so .. cruising through the West Virginia mountains with my family.
 That was the very first time I heard this song. Picked up the 8 track at a roadside shop.
Wonderful memories.

Always loved the guitar work on this tune. I think it's about an 8.5 for me. I'd give it a 9, but it's kind of a lightweight song, with nifty playing.
 shutter wrote:
How many of you remember THE Buckingham Nicks album?  Ehhhh?  Raise your hands.  C'mon, raise your hands!  Now THAT is a classic that is only on vinyl.  But, geeze, is it good!  Annnnnnd I digress, wistfully...
 

Indeed, it is good. I have it in MP3 format...{#Whistle}
 shutter wrote:
How many of you remember THE Buckingham Nicks album?  Ehhhh?  Raise your hands.  C'mon, raise your hands!  Now THAT is a classic that is only on vinyl.  But, geeze, is it good!  Annnnnnd I digress, wistfully...
 
Got my hand up!
 shutter wrote:
How many of you remember THE Buckingham Nicks album?  Ehhhh?  Raise your hands.  C'mon, raise your hands!  Now THAT is a classic that is only on vinyl.  But, geeze, is it good!  Annnnnnd I digress, wistfully...
 
Yes, it's a classic.  So many good songs on it...

And I believe "Crystal" was re-recorded when they joined up with FM.

How many of you remember THE Buckingham Nicks album?  Ehhhh?  Raise your hands.  C'mon, raise your hands!  Now THAT is a classic that is only on vinyl.  But, geeze, is it good!  Annnnnnd I digress, wistfully...
 unclehud wrote:

I don't think I'm a very negative person, but I can't stand this song, because she ruined Fleetwood Mac.


 

Which "she" ruined Fleetwood Mac and how?
cc_rider: Or did she goad them into making some incredibly heartfelt music? I'm not a fan of hers either, but this album is one of the greatest ever made. Conflict seems to have brought out the best (and worst) in them.

yessss!


What up with that??
 AckiYamamoto wrote:
my rating: Godlike!
But - there's even a better version: search for track 8 on Disk 1 of the Fleetwood Mac - "Live" album
 
I agree; a beautiful slowed-down acoustic version; very nice.

my rating: Godlike!
But - there's even a better version: search for track 8 on Disk 1 of the Fleetwood Mac - "Live" album
 unclehud wrote:

I don't think I'm a very negative person, but I can't stand this song, because she ruined Fleetwood Mac.

 
Or did she goad them into making some incredibly heartfelt music? I'm not a fan of hers either, but this album is one of the greatest ever made. Conflict seems to have brought out the best (and worst) in them.

Love this song...so simple yet it isn't.
 Bosami wrote:
Buckingham is such a quirky, underrated guitarist. Love his stuff.
 

fabulous fingerpicker

I don't think I'm a very negative person, but I can't stand this song, because she ruined Fleetwood Mac.


Lindsey makes this song.
I wish there was an extended remix of this one.
It's only fault... too short.

"I Know I'm Not Wrong" off of Tusk is another classic by him.
It's too bad it never seems to get played anywhere.

 agkagk wrote:

He's amazing! There's an acoustic guitar track on "Out of the Cradle" in which it sounds like he's playing two songs simultaneously. Incredible fingers!
 

Yes, Always a great sounds from his fingers.
 Bosami wrote:
Buckingham is such a quirky, underrated guitarist. Love his stuff.
 


He's amazing! There's an acoustic guitar track on "Out of the Cradle" in which it sounds like he's playing two songs simultaneously. Incredible fingers!
 Bosami wrote:
Buckingham is such a quirky, underrated guitarist. Love his stuff.
 
Agreed, as popular as they were, he was still very underrated.

 LizK wrote:
"Rumours" the album is a 10.  {#Heartkiss}
 
Couldn't agree more!!!!!

"Rumours" the album is a 10.  {#Heartkiss}
 romeotuma wrote:

I agree with everything you are saying...  I remember it like it was yesterday...  hard to believe it has been so long...  time flies when we're having fun...

 
 
{#Puke}
Cool, was playing the Future Games LP and looked at RP and they are playing a different FM, Good Timing....
Great tune, great album, great group, good times ....
Buckingham is such a quirky, underrated guitarist. Love his stuff.
{#Daisy}FAN{#Daisy}TAS{#Daisy}TIC{#Daisy}

 romeotuma wrote:


love it...
 
Are you sure? {#Bounce}
 bindi wrote:
I had certainly heard of them, but after seeing them, we all wondered why they weren't the Lyndsey Buckingham band - man, that guy was amazing!  . . . just amazing.
 
So very true, that guy is a genius.

Great song.
Never really paid close attention to Fleetwood Mac until recently.
My girlfriend is crazy about them and their solo projects, and will travel great distance to see them live.
I got to see them play in Toronto recently... very good show.

I was part of a "between bands" entertainment  group (skateboarding) in Buffalo the year this album came out , maybe the year after. . .   We were on for 10 minutes just before this band came on.  We finished the show, then packed up our ramp and scaled up the scaffolds and hid behind the loudspeakers about 10 ft above the stage..

Great vantage point view- wise. . . not so great for sound. 

I had certainly heard of them, but after seeing them, we all wondered why they weren't the Lyndsey Buckingham band - man, that guy was amazing!  . . . just amazing.

Yes, yes, yes!!!!  Mr. Buckinghams crowning glory!!!{#Notworthy}

Anyone ever figure out why the extremely fabulous Buckingham Nicks album was never released on CD?  Now THAT is a classic bit of talented singing and musicianship.
This album is so good it was a greatest hits album before people knew what a greatest hits album was.
Underrated guitarist IMHO.
Another thing I love about RP! One of my least favorite tracks on this "album", but good enough to deserve being played every once in a while. Thanks Bill!! {#Clap}
 romeotuma wrote:


This is a fantastic song...  it is soooo good for the ears...
 

Just doesn't age, does it? Love it.
 toterola wrote:


Wow, how many is that today?

Anyhow, this is a wonderful song. Or is it a cautionary tale? {#Stupid}
 
Both! {#Cool}
One of my favorite guitarist's
 romeotuma wrote:


This is a fantastic song...  it is good for the ears...
 

Wow, how many is that today?

Anyhow, this is a wonderful song. Or is it a cautionary tale? {#Stupid}

This is o.k., I like their earlier stuff better, like off Bare Trees or English Rose.


This is one of my favorite Fleetwood Mac tunes.
It just sounds so different than most of the other stuff that we hear by them, that I find it has stuck with me (in a positive way) over the year... unlike much of the rest of the overplayed songs on this album.

 Reminds me of lying on the living room floor, listening to moms records on the big, 80s style headphones. {#Music} Thanks for the memories RP! {#Good-vibes}
 Bridieboo wrote:
What a great way to start my RP day.  Lindsay Buckingham rules.

 
So does Lindsey Buckingham!
Loved this 'back in the day' then hated it for a long time (just because it was Fleetwood Mac which had been overplayed to death) , now listening after this length of time I realize that it was a good song all along
What a great way to start my RP day.  Lindsay Buckingham rules.

{#Dancingbanana}
 nagsheadlocal wrote:

Srsly. And those of use hooked on the Peter Green/Danny Kirwan band were a little surprised and somewhat put off by Stevie Nicks, but Lindsay Buckingham's extraordinary songwriting talent makes up for it.

 
{#Guitarist} And although I like the Bob Welch incarnation, the FM remnants would have surely died a sudden death, at least financially, had they not stumbled across LB.


kaosmonkey wrote:
whoa...never noticed before, will never be able to avoid it now... and the more I look, is she staring right at them? The entire composition of the cover seems to be centered around those dangling balls.

Apparantly she followed up well and truly on her window shopping, from mick fleetwood's fake balls onto the real things


 DavidS_UK wrote:
This album was so over hyped when first released, but actually stands the test of time.
 
Srsly. And those of use hooked on the Peter Green/Danny Kirwan band were a little surprised and somewhat put off by Stevie Nicks, but Lindsay Buckingham's extraordinary songwriting talent makes up for it.

 gekkosan wrote:


This is, at last, the place to express that I have NEVER understood what those balls are doing dangling in front of him.
Always puzzled me, and I still find it odd.
 

One of the first albums I owned, and we used to giggle hysterically at the cover. I was 8. Great album to grow up with.
This album was so over hyped when first released, but actually stands the test of time.
I don't even like Fleetwood Mac at all, but I love this song.
 kaosmonkey wrote:


whoa...never noticed before, will never be able to avoid it now...

and the more I look, is she staring right at them? The entire composition of the cover seems to be centered around those dangling balls.


 

Yeah—it's not even really that subtle. I'm sure Mick thought is was hilarious.
colleen wrote:
The story of my life...
Me, too.
The story of my life...
davin wrote:
didn't we just hear this ?!
So? This is one of those songs that you can hear over and over again, and it never gets tiresome. :-)
gekkosan wrote:
This is, at last, the place to express that I have NEVER understood what those balls are doing dangling in front of him. Always puzzled me, and I still find it odd.
whoa...never noticed before, will never be able to avoid it now... and the more I look, is she staring right at them? The entire composition of the cover seems to be centered around those dangling balls.
didn't we just hear this ?!
God I love this tune! Timeless!
prob top 5 of the dashboard lights mix during high school, ahhh her name was Mandy, a firey redhead now long lost- FMac colored those days amazingly. vividly.
Bosonator wrote:
Do you have his newest album (Under the Skin)? It'll rock your world. I think Lindsey is from another planet... possibly another dimension.
I have the CD, as the name says, It gets under my skin, IMO, not very good, a big disapointment!!!
I think I like the KCRW Rare On Air Buckingham solo even better than this version. eeke wrote:
ahhhh...even great with buckingham as solo!
Great song I didn't know that was Fleetwood Mac
ahhhh...even great with buckingham as solo! rbigelo wrote:
Fleetwood, McVie, Buckingham and Nicks at their very best!
Gorgeous! A rock solid 9!
kmh wrote:
a classic
x2 seconded hear hear
a classic
rbigelo wrote:
Fleetwood, McVie, Buckingham and Nicks at their very best!
I highly recommend the Dolby 5.1 version of this.
nagsheadlocal wrote:
A few years ago I was delivering some design work to a local rock station. It was about 9 in the morning. Lindsay Buckingham was the in-studio guest, doing a promo for a local show. The ad director invited me to watch from a monitor. That morning he played this song and he played his heart out. I felt guilty that a man with this level of talent was playing in front of two sub-literate morning jocks. I hope he had a good crowd that night and they appreciated his abilities and spirit.
Nice story. I wish I could have been there.
Fleetwood, McVie, Buckingham and Nicks at their very best!
A few years ago I was delivering some design work to a local rock station. It was about 9 in the morning. Lindsay Buckingham was the in-studio guest, doing a promo for a local show. The ad director invited me to watch from a monitor. That morning he played this song and he played his heart out. I felt guilty that a man with this level of talent was playing in front of two sub-literate morning jocks. I hope he had a good crowd that night and they appreciated his abilities and spirit.
Lindsey is excellent
nigelr wrote:
Too true. His performances on 'The Dance' were inspired, at the least.
So totally agree. I watch that thing over and over at PBS pledge time just for him.
4:14 am - Fleetwood Mac - Never Going Back Again 4:09 am - Oi Va Voi - Yuri 4:06 am - Franz Ferdinand - 40 Feet 4:03 am - Elastica - 2:1 3:59 am - Neil Young - Out On The Weekend hail