Second hand news

Second Hand News

Stevie Nicks: vocals
Lindsey Buckingham: guitar, vocals
Christine McVie: keyboards, synthesizer, vocals
John McVie: bass
Mick Fleetwood: drums, percussion

Thirty years ago this month, Fleetwood Mac made music history with the release of their Grammy award winning album, ‘Rumours’, an album who’s prominence and relevance still resonates as true today as it did upon it’s release on February 4th 1977.

Good day and welcome. Here I’m going to be discussing a classic album which is an essential addition to any music collection. As you may have already guessed, it’s Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’

As it was the second album released by the act, following their eponymous debut, it was much anticipated by both the fans and the music press alike (both ‘Rolling Stone’ and ‘All Music Guide’ giving it a five star review).

At this time, all five members were in emotional turmoil as their marriages and relationships had broken down, including those of the two couples who made up the majority of the group. This, as Stevie Nicks pointed out, lead to long hours being spent in the studio in the most uncomfortable of circumstances. It is from these instances that most of the songs on the album came to be, charting their discomfort and lack of emotional stability, most noticeably with the track ‘Go Your Own Way’ which was a song composed in the anticipation of the groups break-up.

Finally, upon completion of the album, the band realised the quality of the album released and were brought closer together.

‘Second Hand News’, the opening track is a heartfelt romp describing how the physical act of love is not as essential to love itself as initially perceived. It is more of a folk song of the modern era giving an insight into the mind of Lindsey Buckingham who had recently been in a relationship with Stevie Nicks.

‘Dreams’, unfortunately covered by The Corrs in recent years, tells of the imminent break-up of Fleetwood Mac, hidden under the guise of the end of the relationship of a couple. Stevie Nicks’ sweet sultry voice describes this in the kind of detail which makes one feels the need to redeem any quarrel held with them and their partner.

‘Never Going Back Again’, reverting again to the bands folk roots, tells of how empty the victory of a fight between a couple is, describing how although a point has been proven, both of you have been hurt in the process. Buckingham’s acoustic guitar gives a hint of warmth and joy to the song which creates a great juxtaposition between the lyrics and the music. This recurring theme is a key aspect of ‘Rumours’

‘Don’t Stop’, penned by Christine McVie following her divorce from bass player John, is an optimistic look at her new life and how things will surely get better. It was an instant pop classic which shot straight to number three in the Billboard Charts.

‘Go Your Own Way’ as previously stated is about the chaos that the band descended into. It tells of how it’s possible to give your life to someone, or something, it can often be in vain as you are not appreciated. The hint of optimism within the song tells us that it is much easier to find someone who will love you for who you are rather than to convince someone that you are worthwhile.

‘Songbird’ is easily the most heartfelt song on the album. Covered by Eva Cassidy recently, it is described by its writer Christine McVie as ‘a little anthem’ that she wishes upon ‘all of us’. It tells of a rediscovery and a new appreciation of an old love. It instils within the listener a sense of joy and empathy for the singer, but perhaps a hint of sadness for ones self for not being able to express the same emotions she describes so perfectly. It consists primarily of a soft piano sound with a slight acoustic guitar accompaniment, forming a truly beautiful ballad on the album.

Never before has such heartbreak been shown as is done in ‘The Chain’. A perfect combination of pop with a dark bluesy under tone, it tells a tale of pain, heartbreak, deception, lies and how a partner can find it impossible to let go, even though both are aware that their relationship has no future. Although both the lyrics and music were wrote separately, they fit together so seamlessly that the listener feels that they were wrote for each other.

‘You Make Loving Fun’ is up tempo blues at its best. We, as listeners, are brought into Christine’s new relationship as she tells us of how she gives herself, emotionally and spiritually, to another. The darkness that exists here lies within the fact that she is, perhaps, saying this to hurt the partner, John, who came before. It is only expected seeing as she is recently out of a long and arduous divorce.

‘I Don’t Want To Know’ is a cheery pop song about letting go, a willingness to find love and move on while at the same time wishing only the best for your ex-partner. This song shows us that once the pain and heartbreak is over, life can begin anew with a fresh outlook to all that is ahead.

‘Oh Daddy’ is Stevie Nicks acknowledging her vulnerability now that she is alone. It is set within the phase of the break-up in which she has lost her self esteem and is crying out to her lost lover to find out what is was they saw in her. This song reverts back to simplicity consisting of prominent bass with a hint of synth. The backing vocals bring home the hopelessness portrayed in the lyrics.

In essence the closing track on the album, ‘Gold Dust Woman’, is about cocaine. This pseudo-psychedelic song tells us of how a relationship ended because a greater emphasis is put on drugs than on their partner. The song never once refers to the drugs, but instead uses the ‘Woman’ as the evil within the song, letting the listener believe that it was adultery as opposed to addiction which lead to the downfall. It is told in the form of new-age country with a slight hint of oriental influences with underlying blues tones.

‘Sliver Springs’ did not initially feature on the album but was a B-Side to ‘Don’t Stop’. It is available on later re-mastered edition of the album

Although its sweet acoustic sound lulls the listener into believing that this album is about the joys of love and closeness between two people, it is in fact a tale of heartbreak, loss and the void which can only be filled by the love of another. It shows us the error of our ways and tries to teach us that we don’t know what we have until it is lost. For this factor, I regard ‘Rumours’ very highly and would strongly encourage you all to find a copy for yourselves, not only as a reflective epic on love within this modern era, but also as a timeless pop classic.


If anything needs to be cut, a lot of the song analysis can be let go.

I decided to do an album from around the date of the issue. I could continue with this style of things or just pick albums at random, whatever’s clever.