On this day (July 11) in 1975, Fleetwood Mac released their second self-titled album, often referred to as The White Album. The record’s three singles, “Over My Head,” “Rhiannon,” and “Say You Love Me,” were the band’s first top 40 singles. The LP topped the Billboard 200, becoming the band’s first album to reach No. 1 in any country. More importantly, it was their first album with the now-legendary lineup of Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, and new additions Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.
Buckingham and Nicks met in high school, and she joined his psychedelic rock band, Fritz, in the late 1960s. By the early 1970s, the band had broken up, and the pair decided to move from Palo Alto, California, to Los Angeles to insert themselves into the city’s booming music scene. There, they formed the folk-rock duo Buckingham Nicks and released their self-titled debut album in 1973.
Fleetwood Mac had also recently moved to Los Angeles. Their guitarist, Bob Welch, had left the band after the release of their 1974 album Heroes Are Hard to Find. As a result, Fleetwood and the McVies were on the hunt for a new guitarist. Impressed by Buckingham’s guitar skills, Fleetwood invited him to join the band. However, Buckingham informed him that he and his then-girlfriend and bandmate were a package deal. Impressed by the duo’s musical chemistry, Fleetwood agreed, and the couple joined the band.
Fleetwood Mac Sees Renewed Success with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks
Fleetwood Mac, originally a British Blues band fronted by Peter Green, saw some early success. Their 1968 self-titled debut album went to No. 4 in the United Kingdom. Their next two albums were also top 10 hits. However, the early 1970s saw the band struggling to launch an album to the top 40, with five consecutive releases failing to chart in the UK. They saw a little more success in the United States. Heroes Are Hard to Find failed to chart across the pond, but peaked at No. 34 in the States.
The band notched their first No. 1 single in the UK with the 1968 instrumental track, “Albatross.” They had a few more top 10 hits in the UK, but much like their albums, their singles faltered in popularity in the early 1970s.
Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar work and Stevie Nicks’ vocals helped revitalize the band. Fleetwood Mac ushered in the most successful era of the band, which included the iconic 1977 album Rumors.
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