Fleetwood Mac: 40 Years of Creative Chaos

Fleetwood Mac: 40 Years of Creative Chaos
by Donald Brackett

Fleetwood Mac: 40 Years of Creative Chaos
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Book Summary Information

Author: Donald Brackett
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-09-30
ISBN: 0275993388
Number of pages: 216
Publisher: Praeger

Book Reviews of Fleetwood Mac: 40 Years of Creative Chaos

Book Review: A new perspective on an old story
Summary: 4 Stars

Donald Brackett's history of Fleetwood Mac pretty much covers the usual ground gone over by many previous works; in fact, he quotes several of those previous works, or refers to them, quite a bit making for a very complete and useful bibliography.

What is new and refreshing is that Brackett attempts to tackle the entire story of Fleetwood Mac from its beginnings as a blues band founded by Peter Green in 1967, through its "rebirth," as he describes it, in 1970 as a New Agey, cosmic soft rock outfit fronted by Bob Welch, and then through its breakthrough years of success (he calls it a "reincarnation") beginning in 1975 with the addition of Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Brackett argues convincingly that the "middle period" of Fleetwood Mac, the five albums released from 1971 to 1975, should not be dismissed but are a vital link to understanding the band's history and accomplishments.

Another point made repeatedly by the author, to which this reviewer can only say "Amen!" in the strongest possible terms, is that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame made a huge error by excluding Bob Welch from FM's induction into its Hall in 1998. One can only hope that historical perspective will eventually lead to the correction of this mistake.

Technically, this reviewer feels that the book suffers somewhat from unnecessary repetition, a quirk of style by the author that seemed annoying as the book went on. The book also suffers from editing errors, especially in the last few chapters; it's as though the proofreading and editing process was hurried at the end.

Such imperfections notwithstanding, this is a book that succeeds in telling the story of Fleetwood Mac in its entirety and with enough historical perspective to at last get a feel for the whole "body of work" and the forces behind its longevity and success.

Summary of Fleetwood Mac: 40 Years of Creative Chaos

Fleetwood Mac's distinctive sound, first really captured in the 1977 record Rumours, launched the group into the commercial stratosphere, and over the past three decades they have never looked back. All along the way their dysfunctional relationships have informed their professional success, as well as their personal downfalls. By writing and singing about their problems, Fleetwood Mac has transformed what breaks them apart into what keeps them together. They have turned their dark relationship dilemmas into glittering entertainment. In this highly entertaining chronicle, author Donald Brackett provides readers with a special opportunity to review the band's complicated history and reconsider the personal, dynamic sources of their classic albums and enduring hits.

The band drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie started in 1967 has gone through more personnel changes and stylistic innovations than any other pop group in our cultural history. The story of the group began when John Mayall and Alexis Korner, the band's mentors, launched a mid-'60s British blues revival. Ex-Mayall players Fleetwood and McVie then went on to form an incendiary band of psychedelic blues under the name Fleetwood Mac. But it was not until hearing a little-known 1973 record from Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks that Mick Fleetwood heard the future sound and true pop potential of his own group.

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