Rumours Live '77 (2CD)

With me being such a huge (career spanning) Fleetwood Mac fan of several decades standing; I urged on the side of caution when this latest double live album of Fleetwood Mac came up for release in September 2023.I made a snap decision and bought this 2 cd live performance at the 'Fabulous forum',Inglewood,California on 29/08/1977.All tracks on both discs are previously unreleased and consist entirely of performances at the one concert - and not culled from any other date of the Related Rumours live tour.Featuring classic line-up of; Mick Fleetwood,John Mcvie,Christine Mcvie,Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks - it sees the band on top,amazing form.tracks from their first two albums together; Fleetwood Mac aka: white album and it's phenomenal follow up (that's right) Rumours,are featured on this collection.Opening - with audience cheers - Say you love me (one of Christine Mcvie's finest), then Monday morning - superb guitar playing by Lindsey B - (both from white album) are cracking starts to procedures.Not long before Rumours representation is here before us: with Stevie Nicks giving her all on her own comp' - Dreams.The exception to the first two afforementioned studio albums live versions is: Oh well - Peter Green penned from the early blues band incarnation of FM.Lindsey Buckingham stepping up to lead vocals and doing a fine job too.also have to note Mick Fleetwood's drumming and especially John Mcvie's incredible bass guitar playing on this track - a fine,fitting (then living) tribute to FM guitar and blues legend - Peter Green.At the time of this review: I heard a debate on a radio station about a music performers' view of them being perfectionists,leading them to conclude; "we aim to replicate the record note for note,when performed live".What!! To me,this approach is very silly.you want a lot more in a live atmosphere,and FM the band deliver their extended,extra instrumental and vocal prowess before the 'hungry for more' fans on this excellent,nay - brilliant live album!Tracks such has; Rhiannon,Gold dust woman - Stevie N let's rip on these,I'm so afraid and World turning are prime examples of these live work ethics.Have to highlight Christine Mac's infectious keyboard playing on several tracks.eg: Oh daddy,Blue letter and Over my head.The band are on top form throughout this Live album - below average tracks? 🤔 don't exist guys! The chain (John Mac's legendary bassline) superb on here as well.Final/closing track to this live set is the beautuful,moving classic Christine Mcvie ballad - Songbird.a moving end to procedures at any time - now with added poignancy since the passing of the wonderful Christine Mcvie in November 2022 😢🙏🏼 What a star🎹🎶Other Fleetwood Mac live album's are out there for comparison to this latest offering; Fleetwood mac live - original release 1980,re-issued 2021,The dance 1997 ('Rumours' line-up) reunion performance and Rumours 35th? (36th really) anniversary 4 disc set - including 1 disc live album - in 2013.but I am fastly becoming convinced that this 'Rumours live' album from 1977 - first released in 2023 - is the ultimate Fleetwood Mac live - must have album.NB: package is presented in fold-out digipack format - includes; original Rumours album artwork,musician and production credits - regular Mac re-issue contributor Bill Inglot gets main credit here.inner booklet contains sleeve notes on Rumours live era by one Sam Graham - no Stephen Davies or David Wild this time round - good write up all the same.Excellent sound quality and feel throughout,which can only enhance the whole Rumours live experience.Enjoy this latest FM live album offering - just like the band and audience seemed to be doing,way back on the 29th August 1977 🎸🎹🥁🎤🎶PS: the part quoted lyrics for Songbird: "And the songbirds are singing like they know the score..." on RHS of my CD digipack; is,I feel a back-handed but subtle tribute to Christine Mcvie - calming the concerns of a fellow reviewer who said this release should be a tribute to the great lady 😊One last PS - and still they come! 😂 don't get confused with the date of this concert: 08/29/77.this is for the US market 🇺🇸 for the British - at least - it's 29/08/77 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🤗

OK, yes, this isn't the best recording, it is very top-end heavy with little in the way of bass - but it's archive recording from 1977 - what do you expect? It's clear, bright, and very listenable. I doubt this was a multi-track recording, probably only a 2-track recording, so there's going to be limits on what a mixing engineer is going to be able to achieve, even with modern equipment. Does it compare with modern recordings? of course not. I have no real concerns with the recording whatsover, given it's age I'd go so far as to call it excellent.Worth it for a blistering Rhiannon and a sublime Oh Daddy. Very frustrating that the second disc is mostly Buckingham-sung songs, with all of Stevie's songs on the first disc, but that's how the shows were back then.We've waited far too long for a proper archive live release from the Mac, and this one is worth the wait. Hopefully we don't have to wait so long for the next, it would be great if this were the first in a series and we get a show from the Tusk tour next - don't hold your breath though.Could have done with a better sleeve - there must be other photos of the band they could have used!

Fleetwood Mac recorded in late August, four months into the five-month long second leg of their North American "Rumours" tour, which had started in May and the band are captured at the top of their game here. Although this is not the first time Fleetwood Mac have released live material from the "Rumours" tour, such as on the "Rumours" album 3CD expanded remaster package in 2013, that had featured live material as recorded earlier on the tour during May 1977.This is an excellent recording and well balanced with superb clarity and definition of the individual vocals and instruments and without any studio repairs. The on-stage extended versions of many of their popular songs from this period really work well in the live format, where Lindsey Buckingham really gets to stretch out on guitar. Stevie Nicks is a mini tour-de-force in her own right with gentle, floating backing vocals one minute to full-on blasting the next. Christine McVie plays a lot of Hammond organ here (rather than electric piano) which certainly bolsters the backing and works well in combination with Buckingham's guitar. Songs such as "Oh Daddy" sound excellent with this arrangement. Buckingham, of course, is a wonderfully versatile guitar player and never short of dozens of styles and chops and he is equally comfortable picking on acoustic, backing up Stevie performing "Landslide", as he is going full-throttle on his electric solo on "Go Your Own Way".The actual quality of the songs Fleetwood Mac had written together and recorded on their two albums "Fleetwood Mac", aka the "White Album" and "Rumours" as featured in this set is quite remarkable. It's one classic after the other and there's not a dull moment to be had.This release is certainly worthy enough to be considered as essential to all who enjoy this period of Fleetwood Mac.

Al little disappointed with the sound on this set. I would suggestthe 3 CD Live is better

Wonderful live recording, definitely the best way to hear "Rumours", plus other highlights from the band's back catalogue. The studio album is a classic, but there is more passion and power in the live shows.