BUCKINGHAM NICKS

When Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks released their musical collaboration, "Buckingham Nicks" back in 1973, their debut album didn't really receive much attention. They had first met while attending high school in Northern California, both aspiring to become musicians. They began working together after school when Buckingham asked Nicks to join his band, Fitz. During this time, Nicks and Buckingham drifted into a romantic relationship. Fitz achieved some moderate success yet soon disbanded.

Buckingham and Nicks continued on as a duo, attracting the attention of producer, Keith Olsen who worked with them to record some demos. This lead to them getting signed with Polydor Records in 1972.

The album, "Buckingham Nicks" showcased the emerging talents of both of these young musicians, giving them their first taste of professional recording sessions and working with some great musicians. The duo hit the road to promote the album, generating some interest from audiences, but their label failed to give their record much of a promotional push. The couple would have to find other means of financial support following the album's lackluster performance and being let go by their management company.

But their fortunes changed after Mick Fleetwood happened to hear some of their songs while visiting Olsen at the recording studio. Bob Welch had just left his band, Fleetwood Mac and he was intrigued by the sounds of Buckingham and Nicks. Fleetwood invited the couple to meet the other members of his band, Christine and John McVie for dinner and they all seemed to click. And a new band was born that evening. With Olsen on board as co-producer, the self-titled album from this newly formed rock group was released in 1975, reaching number one on the US Billboard Album chart the following year thanks to the hit singles, "Over My Head", "Rhiannon", and "Say You Love Me".

Now over fifty years later, after not being available to hear in any format, "Buckingham Nicks" has just been reissued and remastered on CD, vinyl and streaming. This ten song collection will certainly be more appreciated now as the album reveals their burgeoning artistry and clear indications of what they would go on to contribute to Fleetwood Mac.

CHRISTINE MCVIE (1943 - 2022)

Christine McVie, the long-time member of the rock group, Fleetwood Mac, has passed away on November 30th at the age of seventy-nine. The British singer was responsible for writing and performing some of the band's best known and loved songs like "Say You Love Me", "Songbird", "You Make Loving Fun", "Little Lies" and "Everywhere".

She was born Christine Perfect and grew up in the town of Smethwick near Birmingham. She took to the piano at a very early age, becoming classically trained until she was a teenager after which she shifted her focus to rock & roll. While attending Moseley School of Art in Birmingham, Perfect met several budding musicians, like Spencer Davis, Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton who were immersed in the blues music scene happening there. She eventually left behind the idea of becoming an art teacher and pursued music full time with a move to London. Perfect joined Chicken Shack, a blues band, in 1967 and they released two studio albums, receiving some notice with the singles, "It's Okay with Me Baby" (written and performed by Perfect) and a cover of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind".

After marrying John McVie, the bass guitarist for another blues-rock band, Fleetwood Mac, in 1969, Perfect decided to leave Chicken Shack in order to have more time with her new husband. But not wanting to end her career in music, she released a self-titled debut album the following year, a collection of largely r&b and blues covers with a few original songs by Perfect. She had begun working with Fleetwood Mac, providing backing vocals and even painting the cover of their 1970 album, "Kiln House", and after founding member Peter Green left, the now named Christine McVie officially became a member of the band.

Not long after she joined, Fleetwood Mac began to have internal problems with band members coming and going, a lawsuit with their manager and their albums were failing to generate much interest. The band decided to relocate to Los Angeles for a fresh start, releasing "Heroes Are Hard to Find" in 1974 with McVie and Bob Welch trading off writing and singing the songs on the album. Welch, exhausted and frustrated after the disappointing sales of the album, decided to leave Fleetwood Mac (going on to a successful solo career) and two new members were asked to join. With Lindsey Buckingham and his girlfriend, Stevie Nicks now in the band, Fleetwood Mac released another self-titled album in 1975. The record offered a resurgence for the band with the hit singles, "Over My Head" and "Say You Love Me" from McVie and Nicks' "Rhiannon" and "Landslide" with the album selling over seven million copies.

During the recording of their next album, the McVies' marriage was coming to an end and the romantic relationship between Buckingham and Nicks was over. They all managed, along with drummer and founding member, Mick Fleetwood, to continue to work together with the end result being the band's eleventh studio album, "Rumours" in 1977. The album was critically acclaimed, had four top-ten singles (which included McVie's "Don't Stop" and "You Make Loving Fun"), became one of the best selling of all time at twenty million copies and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

During the height of Fleetwood Mac's fame, McVie recorded her second solo album, a self-titled record in 1984 that featured the top ten single, "Got a Hold on Me". After years of recording and touring, McVie decided to end life on the road in 1998. She released her third solo album, "In the Meantime" in 2003 but eleven years later, McVie was lured back to Fleetwood Mac. McVie teamed up with Buckingham for a collaborative studio album, "Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie" in 2017 which was followed by a tour. Fleetwood Mac was supposed to begin a tour with the popular line-up the following year but Buckingham left the band although some say he was fired over a conflict with Nicks. The tour went on but with guitarist Mike Campbell, formerly of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Neil Finn of Crowded House as replacements for Buckingham.

In Fleetwood Mac, McVie was a demure and low-key member compared to Nicks' colorfully theatrical character or the handsome Buckingham's brilliantly skilled yet brash persona. But she was a vital component to the band's enduring success, with her smooth piano playing, sultry and smoky voice and gift for crafting heartfelt yet catchy pop songs. It was clear that the creating and performing of music was most essential to her, far more than the trappings of fame and success. McVie was a sincere team player, willing to recede a bit out of the spotlight so that the entire band could shine brightly.

2018 NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY

"My Girl", the classic Motown love song by the Temptations, has surprisingly just been added to the National Recording Registry this year. This number one tune, written by Smokey Robinson and his Miracles band mate, Ronald White back in 1964, is just one of twenty-five important recordings that will be preserved by the Library of Congress. A few other surprise additions that I thought would have already occurred are the beloved soundtrack to the 1965 Best Picture Oscar winner, "The Sound of Music";  the recording of a song most associated with singer, Tony Bennett, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and "Rumours", one of the biggest selling albums of all-time by the rock band, Fleetwood Mac.

Since 2002, the Library of Congress have selected sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important that informs or reflect life in the United States. The selections will feature a wide range of music, commentaries, radio programs, comedy albums and speeches. To date, there are now 500 recordings placed in the National Recording Registry.

Here is the complete list of the twenty-five recordings being inducted in the 2018 National Recording Registry:

“Dream Melody Intermezzo: Naughty Marietta” (single) - Victor Herbert and his Orchestra (1911)

Standing Rock Preservation Recordings - George Herzog and Members of the Yanktoni Tribe (1928)

“Lamento Borincano” (single) - Canario y Su Grupo (1930)

“Sitting on Top of the World” (single) - Mississippi Sheiks (1930)



"The Complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas" (album) - Artur Schnabel (1932-1935)

“If I Didn’t Care” (single) - The Ink Spots (1939)



Proceedings of the United Nations Conference on International Organization - (4/25/45-6/26/45)

“Folk Songs of the Hills” (album) - Merle Travis (1946)

“How I Got Over” (single) - Clara Ward and the Ward Singers (1950)



“(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” (single) - Bill Haley and His Comets (1954)



“Calypso” (album) - Harry Belafonte (1956)

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” (single) - Tony Bennett (1962)



“King Biscuit Time” (radio) - Sonny Boy Williamson II and others (1965)

“My Girl” (single) - The Temptations (1964)

“The Sound of Music” (soundtrack) - Various Artists (1965)



“Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” (single) - Arlo Guthrie (1967)

“New Sounds in Electronic Music” (album) - Steve Reich, Richard Maxfield & Pauline Oliveros (1967)

“An Evening with Groucho” (album) - Groucho Marx (1972)

“Rumours” (album) - Fleetwood Mac (1977)

“The Gambler” (single) - Kenny Rogers (1978)



“Le Freak” (single) - Chic (1978)



“Footloose” (single) - Kenny Loggins (1984)



“Raising Hell” (album) - Run-DMC (1986)

“Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” (single) - Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine (1987)



“Yo-Yo Ma Premieres: Concertos for Violoncello and Orchestra” (album) - Various artists (1996)

BUCKINGHAM + MCVIE: TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME?

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the release of one of the biggest selling albums of all-time; Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours". Recorded during a difficult time of personal upheaval within the group with the divorce of bass guitarist John McVie from keyboard player/vocalist Christine McVie along with the romantic break-up between guitarist and vocalist, Lindsey Buckingham and singer/songwriter, Stevie Nicks. Even Fleetwood Mac's co-founder and drummer, Mick Fleetwood was dealing with martial problems as his wife at the time was having an affair.

Yet despite all of the emotional chaos for each member of the band, somehow all of this tension set off a profound creative spark. While all four singles, "Go Your Own Way", "Don't Stop", "You Make Loving Fun" and the number one hit, "Dreams",  made it to the top-ten on the U.S. pop chart, every song from this near-perfect album received some radio play. "Rumours" would become a world-wide massive hit, go on to win a well-deserved Grammy Award for Album of The Year and to date, has sold more than forty million copies.

Now two members of the group, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie have just released a self-titled album. After coming out of semi-retirement to rejoin Fleetwood Mac in 2014, McVie hit the recording studio with Buckingham to help get herself back in to the groove. This proved to be successful sessions with new material coming together for a potential new Fleetwood Mac album. The project was put on hold to start the Fleetwood Mac On With The Show tour. Stevie Nicks was going to contribute songs for the Fleetwood Mac album after their tour but decided to pursue her own career retrospective project, "24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault" and tour for that album. Deciding not to wait for Nicks, Buckingham and McVie continued on with the project as a duo.

"Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie" is a solid album bringing a familiar, comfortable vibe by merging Buckingham's experimental style and McVie's smooth pop sound. While it's just the two musicians' name of the project, two other members of Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie participated on a number of the tracks. This duo will be hitting the road this summer starting on June 21st in Atlanta to promote the record. Listen to the first single, "In My World", a Buckingham lead song and "Feel About You" which features McVie on vocals:

HOT AND FRESH OUT THE KITCHEN

"HEARTTHROB" - TEGAN & SARA

After over ten years of making music, Canadian alt-rock outfit, Tegan & Sara have decided they want to be pop stars. With their seventh studio album, the identical twin lesbian sisters approached producers Greg Kurstin (Pink, Kelly Clarkson) and Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple) to help guide them to a wider audience. It has seemed to have paid off as their album, "Heartthrob" debuted on the Billboard Album Chart at number three with a remix of the first single, "Closer" reaching number one of the dance chart.

To be perfectly honest, the Quin sisters haven't really altered their sound too radically as the only major difference is that the music has a smoother quality. Regardless, no one is ever going to confuse them with Britney Spears as these ladies certainly continue to rock.

"I'm Not Your Hero" - Tegan & Sara (2013)

"WOMAN" - RHYE

Rhye is the side project of two musicians who each had long careers working with their own bands. Mike Milosh is from Canada and has performed with his electronic outfit, Milosh while Robin Hannibal is a Danish musician who is part of the duo, Quadron.  These two artists came together as both just happened to share the same record label and after each had just moved to Los Angeles.

After collaborating for a week, Rhye was formed which lead to their debut, "Woman". Together they crafted a collection that is sensual and soulful which has prompted comparisons to Sade and Spandau Ballet but bring their own special touch with Milosh providing androgynous vocals. The duo also share a low-key approach to their music with little fan-fare as Rhye has done relatively very few live performances to date.

"Open" - Rhye (2013)

"SING TO THE MOON" - LAURA MVULA

British songstress, Laura Mvula has already taken much of the world by storm but she hasn't gotten nearly enough attention here in America. This twenty-five year old Birmingham native was working as a receptionist before sending her demos out and getting quickly signed to RCA Records. Her debut, "Sing To The Moon" features beautifully rendered songs written by the artist and producer, Steve Brown which combines elements of soul, jazz and African rhythms. I really dig her sultry sound and predict a very big future for this very talented young woman.

"Green Garden" - Laura Mvula (2013)

Here is the beautiful video for Laura Mvula's very first release, "She":



"EXTENDED PLAY" - FLEETWOOD MAC

The reunited Fleetwood Mac is about ready to embark on a new world tour and have just released an EP with new material appropriately entitled, "Extended Play".  The four songs featured are "Sad Angel", "It Takes Time" and "Miss Fantasy", written and produced by Lindsey Buckingham and a re-recorded version of "Without You", a recently discovered demo written by Stevie Nicks back during her days in Buckingham/Nicks. These are the first new recordings by the band in ten years with bassist, John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood ready to perform these tracks (along with their well-known hits) live across the globe.

"Sad Angel" - Fleetwood Mac (2013)

"DELTA MACHINE" - DEPECHE MODE

Depeche Mode, considered one of the most popular EDM bands in the world, has just released their thirteenth full-length recording, "Delta Machine". The British band, currently a trio with Andy Fletcher on keyboards, Martin L. Gore providing guitar, keyboards, vocals and lead songwriter along with Dave Gahan on lead vocals, has gone from a lighter synth-pop sound from their early days in the eighties to the much darker and moody techno-beats that they currently perform today. There are no real surprises on their latest effort but it's still quite engaging. Look for Depeche Mode in your city soon as they have begun the Delta Machine Tour in Europe and will hit North America in August.

"Secret To The End" - Depeche Mode (2013)

The music video for the title track from David Bowie's latest album is considered quite controversial and has even upset the Catholic League. This surreal clip of "The Next Day" displays religious imagery along with priests consorting with scantily-clad women in a club where Bowie, as a Christ-like figure, performs. Like his last video, this is directed by Floria Sigismondi and star-studded, featuring actors, Gary Oldman and Oscar-winner, Marion Cotillard.



Janelle Monáe is finally back and she's delivered a very tasty bit of funk. This dynamic performer has just released "Q.U.E.E.N.", the first single off of her forthcoming record, "The Electric Lady". The music video features her high-style, quirky visuals and slick moves as well as an appearance by the equally fabulous eccentric, Erykah Badu who adds her voice to the track.



Finally, here is the video by Lana Del Rey of her haunting song, "Young & Beautiful" for the film, "The Great Gatsby":