Buckingham Nicks
Band members Related acts
|
line-up 1 (1973) - Lindsey Buckingham -- vocals, guitar, bass
- Stevi (Stevie) Nicks -- vocals backing musicians:
- Jorge Calderon -- percussion -
Tom Moncrieff -- bass
|
- Lindsey
Buckingham (solo efforts)
|
Genre: rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Buckingham - Nicks Company: Polydor Catalog: PD-5058 Year: 1973 Country/State: US Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve; minor ring wear Available:1 Catalog ID: 5618 Price: $75.00 Cost: $66.00
|
Following the 1971
breakup of the San Francisco based band Fritz, vocalist/guitarist Lindsey
Buckingham and Stevie Nicks (the liner notes spelled it "Stevi")
elected to continue their collaboration as a duo. After two years of
low-keyed touring, in 1972 the duo was signed by Polydor.
Unfortunately, without much support from Polydor, the album quickly vanished without a trace. To this day I'm
amazed the album wasn't a major hit, though Polydor reissued it in the
mid-1970s (the reissue didn't include the original gatefold sleeve).
One of my all time favorite releases ... In the wake of the album's commercial failure, Buckingham returned to sessions work, playing with Don Everly's touring band while Nicks took a day job as a waitress. Under Olsen's patronage the pair also began recording material for a planned sophomore album. The setback proved momentary as within a year the two were members of Fleetwood Mac. Funny, but after hearing the album you're left to wonder whether Fleetwood Mac had the bigger impact on these guys, or vice versa ... my money's clearly on Buckingham and Nicks having influenced the former.
With the revamped Fleetwood Mac tearing up the charts, in 1975 Polydor re-issued the album. Same album art and songs; the only difference was the re-issue wasn't a gatefold sleeve. Not a big deal, but just remember the difference if you're looking for a copy of the album.
A couple of additional comments on the album ... it's one of those rarities in that it's never been officially reissued on CD. The demand is certainly there and every couple of years you'll here talk that it may be reissued. Hasn't happened. Depending on who you listen to, part of the reason for the set being missing in action may have to do with Buckingham and Nicks having reportedly re-acquiring rights to the master tapes with Nicks unhappy with the original LPs packaging..
"Buckingham-Nicks" track listing: 1.) Don't Let Me Down Again (Lindsey Buckingham) - 3:52 rating: **** stars If you grew up in the mid-1970s, Fleetwood Mac were a big part of your musical life and from the opening guitar riff, 'Don't Let Me Down Again' sounded like a prototype Fleetwood Mac single. All the ingredients that were to propel Fleetwood Mac to the commercial stratosphere were on display here - a great melody, the pair's intertwined vocals, and that instantly recognizable guitar ... The track was released as the first single:
- 1973's 'Don't Let Me Down Again' b/w 'Don't Without a Leg To Stand On' (Polydor catalog number PD-14209)
2.) Django (instrumental) (Lindsey Buckingham) - 1:02 rating: ** stars It was credited as a Buckingham tune, but seems to have drawn inspiration from The Modern Jazz Quartet's composition 'Django.' A pretty instrumental meant to showcase Buckingham's acoustic guitar prowess, the only complaint about 'Django' were the ill-fitting backing strings and the short running time. 3.) Races Are Run (Stevi Nicks) - 4:14 rating: **** stars In later years critics would slam Nicks for not having much of a voice. While I can't argue with them, on the mid-tempo ballad 'Races Are Run' she sounded fantastic. Her dark, slightly muddy delivery seldom sounded as sexy as on this dark and haunting number. 4.) Lola (My Love) (Lindsey Buckingham) - 3:44 rating: **** stars To my ears Buckingham's quirkiness has always been simultaneously charming and disconcerting. On this set the characteristic was clearly on the charming side with 'Lola (My Love)' standing as a weird stab at crafting a blues-rocker. The funny thing is that it worked and worked well with the song quickly generating quite a bit of steam. 5.) Frozen Love (Lindsey Buckingham - Stevi Nicks) - 7:15 rating: **** stars 'Frozen Love' was another prototype 'Fleetwood Mac' ballad that served to underscore how much the pair would influence the latter. The only writing collaboration between the pair, the result was one of their prettiest compositions, again showcasing their wonderful harmonies and Buckingham's instantly recognizable guitar (this one ended with a blazing electric guitar solo). Ironically this was apparently the song that convinced Mick Fleetwood to recruit the pair for Fleetwood Mac. If you believe the story, Fleetwood happened to be in Sound City Studios when the song was being mixed by Keith Olsen. With Danny Kirwan having recently left Fleetwood Mac, the band was looking for a new guitarist and Fleetwood decided Buckingham would be a good fit. He quickly learned that Buckingham wouldn't consider the offer unless Nicks came along. I guess you know the rest of the story ...
(side 2) 1.) Crying In the Night (Stevi Nicks) - 2:58 rating: **** stars Spotlighting Nicks' throaty delivery, 'Crying In the Night' was one of the album's most commercial tracks, which is probably why Polydor tapped it as the album's second and instantly dead on arrival single.
- 1973's 'Crying In the Night' b/w 'Stephanie' (Polydor catalog number PD-14428)
2.) Stephanie (instrumental) (Lindsey Buckingham) - 2:12 rating: **** stars Buckingham's talents as a guitarist have always been overlooked. Yeah, his picking style is weirder than weird, but the man can make those strings sing and anyone who doubts his talents needs only check out the stunning instrumental 'Stephanie'. 3.) Without a Leg To Stand On (Lindsey Buckingham) - 2:09 rating: **** stars It's easy to see why a song like 'Without a Leg To Stand On' attracted the ear of Mick Fleetwood. Kicked along by Buckingham's instantly recognizable guitar, the song was a great country-rock vehicle that aptly displayed the pair's wonderful harmony vocals. 4.) Crystal (Stevi Nicks) - 3:41 rating: **** stars To my ears 'Crystal' was one of the album's highlight. A stunning ballad, it's still one of the prettiest songs Nicks has ever written (Buckingham handled the lead vocals) and goes a long way to explaining why Fleetwood Mac decided to re-record the track for 1975's "Fleetwood Mac". For what it's worth, the Fleetwood Mac version didn't improve on the original. Anyone who has ever wondered whether Fleetwood Mac influenced Buckingham and Nick, or Buckingham and Nicks influenced Fleetwood Mac need only listen to this one. 5.) Long Distance Winner (Stevi Nicks) - 4:50 rating: **** stars The album ended with another Fleetwood Mac-ish performance in the form of 'Long Distance Winner'. Nice slice of FM rock which would have sounded good on top-40 radio.
|
|
Genre: rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Never Going Back Again Company: Rox Vox Catalog: RVLP2178 Year: 2021 Country/State: US Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: yellow vinyl Available:1 Catalog ID: 5618 Price: $75.00
|
Recorded by Birmingham, Alabama radio station WJLN-FM during a 28 January, 1975 performance in Tuscaloosa, the thirteen live tracks on "Never Going Back Again" have been available for years, though there's never been issued as a legitimate product. Perhaps that's not a surprise given Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks have steadfastly refused to reissue their "Buckingham Nicks" studio album. I've never found a definitive explanation for their reluctance to reissue the in-demand and expensive collection, but one of the plausible stories centers on Nicks' unhappiness with the cover photo. She's expressed her unhappiness at the topless photo that graced the cover. tReleased in 2021 by the Cyprus based Rox Vox label, I have no idea if this one is legitimate, but the album joins a long list of questionable "live sets" released by the label over the years. Anyhow, unless you are a hardcore Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham, or Stevie Nicks fan, you could be forgiven for passing on this collection. It's not that the material is bad. If you're a Fleetwood Mac fan it was fascinating to hear earlier versions of tracks like 'Monday Morning' and 'Rhiananon.' If you were a Buckingham-Nicks fan it was cool to hear live versions of tracks that made it on their studio album ('Lola (My Love)', 'Crystal' and 'Races Are Run'). If was even more interesting to hear tracks that didn't make it on to the studio album, or subsequently show up on a Fleetwood Mac album including the rocking 'Heartbreaker (Circles In Time)' and a cover of the Curtis Brothers 'Long Distance Winner.' Energetic performances and backing from a tight touring group featuring drummer Gary "Hoppy" Hodges, bassist Tom Moncrief and guitarist Waddy Wachtel didn't hurt. The main drawback here was sound quality. Today live recordings from the soundboards are top-notch. Apparently not the case in the mid-'70s. If you're looking for crystal clear studio sound, this one is going to drive you crazy. On the other hand there are some stunning performances here - particularly side two which doesn't have a bad song on it.
"Never Going Back Again" track listing: 1.) Lola (My Love) (Lindsey Buckingham) - 5:45 rating: *** stars Never known for his stage patter, it's mildly interesting to hear Buckingham uncomfortably engage with the audience. The opening and refrain that propelled 'Lola (My Love)' appear to have been reused for 'The Chain.' Buckingham's finger picking guitar styled remains instantly recognizable, as do the Buckingham-Nicks shared vocals. Shame the vocals blur out due to crappy recording. 2.) Monday Morning (Lindsey Buckingham) - 3:42 rating: *** stars Once again the sound quality was miserable, but this early version of 'Monday Morning' was certainly interesting to hear, if only because it goes a long way to explaining why Fleetwood Mac was so anxious to hire the pair. Along with 'Rhiannon' this was one of two songs on the album that was written for a planned Buckingham-Nicks follow-up album. It was along one of the four demos that convinced Mick Fleetwood and the rest of Fleetwood Mac to hire them. The version that appeared on 1976's "Fleetwood Mac" was virtually identical. 3.) Never Going Back Again (instrumental) (Lindsey Buckingham - 1:49 rating: ** stars 'Never Going Back Again" was another track that was appropriated by Fleetwood Mac, appearing on 1977's 'Rumours." The original acoustic instrumental wasn't immediately recognizable as the Fleetwood Mac version (which was originally entitled 'Brushes' as a reflection of the fact the initial recording only featured Buckingham on acoustic guitar and Mick Fleetwood playing snare drum with drum brushes). The song was apparently written after Buckingham and Nicks had broken up and featured Buckingham's wonder acoustic picking guitar stylings. I'm guessing this one wasn't fun for Nicks to sing. 4.) Races Are Run (Stevi Nicks) - 4:21 rating: *** stars The first track to showcase Nicks, the studio version of the Nick's ballad 'Races Are Run' was far superior to the live version. Shame the recording quality on this one was so poor. 5.)
Rhiannon (Stevi Nicks) - 3:25 Ultimately one of Fleetwood Mac's biggest hits and Nick's signature song, "Rhiannon' was one of the songs written for the planned second Buckingham Nicks album and one of the tracks submitted to Fleetwood Mac when they were mulling over whether to Buckingham and Nicks to the line-up. I'm no Fleetwood Mac biographer, but the popular belief is that the song was inspired by a Welch witch. Wrong. Nicks' inspiration came after reading Mary Leader's "Triad: A Novel of the Supernatural" though she's admitted to liking the Welch name. The plot line revolving around a young woman with a split personality. Compared to the Fleetwood Mac version the track isn't all that different - a bit faster and a bit rawer, but instantly recognizable.
6.) Long Distance Winner (Rick Curtis - Michael Curtis - Tom Curtis) - 4:27 rating: **** stars Mis-titled 'Long Distance Winner' this is actually a track entitled 'Blue Letter.' The song was originallt written and recorded by The Curtis Brothers. Buckingham and Nicks were friends of the group and elected to cover an edited version of the tune. An old-fashion rocker the tune showcased the fact the pair could effortlessly handle a conventional rocker. Shame it didn't appear on their studio album or reappear as a Fleetwood Mac song. Great Buckingham solo ... Reflecting one of their first dates with Fleetwood Mac, YouTube has a performance of the tune from a 1975 concert at Largo, Maryland' Capitol Center: Fleetwood Mac/Lindsey Buckingham ~ Blue Letter ~ Largo live 1975 - YouTube 7.) Django (instrumental) / Sorcerer (Lindsey Buckingham / Stevi Nicks) - 5:46 One of the tracks featured on the studio album, the instrumental 'Django' was credited as a Buckingham tune, but it seems to have drawn inspiration from The Modern Jazz Quartet's composition 'Django.' The studio version of song offered up a pretty melody seemingly meant to showcase Buckingham's acoustic guitar prowess. The live version is performed on electric guitar and showcases his weird picking style. The only complaint I have is the song's short running time. Originally entitled 'Lady from the Mountains', 'Sorcerer' again showcased the pair's wonderful harmonies. It was a good introduction to the dark and depressing world that Nicks' would ride to massive chart success with Fleetwood Mac and as a solo act. A mid-tempo ballad,. In fact, in 1987 Nicks' re-recorded 'Sorcerer' for her "The Wild Heart" LP but didn't included it on the album. She recorded it again for 2001's "Trouble In Shagris-La".
(side 2) 1.) Heartbreaker (Circles In Time) - 3:03 rating: **** stars 'Heartbreaker (Circles In Time)' captured the pair at their hardest rocking ... With a great blues-rock melody and their tight shared vocals, it was highly commercial and you had to wonder why it didn't make it on to the studio album. 2.) Don't Let Me Down Again (Lindsey Buckingham) - 4:33 rating: **** stars Capturing Buckingham's unique country-rock picking style 'Don't Let Me Down Again' sounded like a prototype Fleetwood Mac single. All the ingredients that were to propel Fleetwood Mac to the commercial stratosphere were on display here - a great melody, the pair's intertwined vocals, and that instantly recognizable guitar ... In spite of crappy sound quality, this was one of the album highlights. It reappeared on 1980's "Fleetwood Mac Live." 3.) I Can't Wait 3:21 4.) Heartbreaker (Circles In Time) - 2:57 rating: **** stars Guess the Rox Vox folks really liked this one since they included it twice. Shame they didn;t include one of the two other songs performed at the show - I Don't Want To Know' and 'You Won't Forget Me.' 5.) Frozen Love (Lindsey Buckingham - Stevi Nicks) - 6:03 rating: **** stars One of the standout performances on the studio album, 'Frozen Love' was another prototype 'Fleetwood Mac' ballad that served to underscore how much the pair would influence the latter. The only writing collaboration between the pair, the result was one of their prettiest compositions, again showcasing their wonderful harmonies and Buckingham's instantly recognizable guitar (this one ended with a blazing electric guitar solo). The live version loses nothing on the studio version and may even be better given the urgent, ragged edge. Ironically this was apparently the song that convinced Mick Fleetwood to recruit the pair for Fleetwood Mac. If you believe the story, Fleetwood happened to be in Sound City Studios when the song was being mixed by Keith Olsen. With Danny Kirwan having recently left Fleetwood Mac, the band was looking for a new guitarist and Fleetwood decided Buckingham would be a good fit. He quickly learned that Buckingham wouldn't consider the offer unless Nicks came along. I guess you know the rest of the story ... 6.) Crystal (Stevi Nicks) - 4:13 rating: **** stars Another highlight off the studio album, 'Crystal' was a stunning ballad and remains one of the prettiest songs Nicks has ever written (ironically Buckingham handled the lead vocals) and goes a long way to explaining why Fleetwood Mac decided to re-record the track for 1975's "Fleetwood Mac". The live version was a bit ragged, but still a beautiful performance. For what it's worth, the Fleetwood Mac version didn't improve on the original. Anyone who has ever wondered whether Fleetwood Mac influenced Buckingham and Nick, or Buckingham and Nicks influenced Fleetwood Mac need only listen to this one.
|
BACK TO BADCAT PAYMENT INFORMATION
rating: **** stars