Fleetwood Mac, Live

On the whole, this is a great live album, which captures the sounds of Fleetwood Mac's performances on the Tusk Tour perfectly. However, the choices of songs for this album do leave out several would-be fantastic additions.

Firstly, The band's stage tour de force 'The Chain' is missing. This has been a favourite with fans for 30 years. This void that is filled with songs that don't match 'The Chain's' power at all.

Buckingham's 'I'm So Afraid', is on every single live album the Mac has ever officially released. This song, in my opinon is average at best, just made tedious by the four minute long guitar solo tacked onto the end of the song; fantastic when you're at the concert in person- boring when you're sat at home listening to it through head phones, unless you're a real guitar buff. The space this song took up on the record could have been used to add great tracks like 'Tusk', 'Angel', 'Gold Dust Woman', 'You Make Loving Fun', or, indeed, 'The Chain'.

One of the highlights of the album for me is Nicks'beautifully extended 'Sara', which is wonderfully sang in her husky, vulnerable voice. You can almost piicture her on the stage singing this song on the stage.

In fact, all of her songs are the best on this album, I would say. The live versions of 'Rhiannon' and 'Landslide' were recorded in London. 'Rhiannon' is the haunting rocker you would expect it to be, whilst 'Landslide' is a soft, acoustic country ballad. My only complaint is, although her voice is beautiful on this song, there are parts where it is so soft it is almost inaudiable.

The new songs are welcome additions to the album also. Stevie Nicks' 'Fireflies' is a meaningful and profound song about pain and conflict. Christine McVie's 'One More Night' is a soft ballad, that sounds as though it was taken from the actual album 'Tusk'; very much like 'Never Make Me Cry'. There is also an additional track, 'The Farmer's Daughter', written by Beach Boy Brian Wilson, who was in a relationship with McVie at the time, is a soft and catchy song, in which the three singers of FM all harmoinise beautifully.

McVie's anthem 'Don't Stop' was recorded at a sound-check in Paris. This song has stood the test of time, and is performed with all the power and fury of a hard rock band, as is Buckingham's 'Go Your Own Way'. Also, unlike 'So Afraid', the extended version of Buckinham's 'Not That Funny' is a quirky example of the punk that influenced him to spearhead the Tusk record- wierd yet wonderful.

Another unexpected but most welcomed addition to the album is 'Don't Let Me Down Again'. This song was featured on the album 'Buckingham/Nicks', which was recorded before the duo joined Fleetwood Mac. The now collectors item album was un-heard by many Mac fans, so this lively song adds a pleasant country/folk angle to the live album, and the former lovers sing it in perfect harmony.

The band also pays tribute to founder member Peter Green, with a shortened version of the powerful blues song 'Oh Well', which is a positive example of nostalgia.

All in all, this is a great live album. Although some of the space could have been used to add more pleasing songs for the listener, it is a must have for any Mac fan. Their sound is captured perfectly, with a few pleasantly suprising twists added in there too.

Went to see Fleetwood Mac at Wembley Arena on Friday 6th. It was one of the most uplifting and life affirming gigs ever! The band couldn't have been better, Lindsey's guitar playing skills were amazing, Stevie was awesome.

It was obvious they wanted to be there and loved they were! Almost 3 hours of heaven.

Fleetwood Mac, Live features Fireflies on disk 2 is one of Stevie Nick's best songs. Infact disk 2 is amazing Nick's Rhiannon shows how she gave herself over to the song (damaging her voice in the mean time) and Lindsay and Fleetwood are way out there sometimes shouting randomly and garbling words. Exciting stuff. Check the Brian Wilson number on the end of the disk two.

Disk one is solid, I can't quite enjoy Buckingham's takes on Peter Greens songs as much as the originals. Christine shines.

A great snapshot of the band in its halcyon days. Well worth it to any fan.