Was it drama, musicianship, character, or celebrity culture that made rumors so iconic? Probably all of the above.

Listening to the age of a classic album can serve as a punch in the face. Who wants to know that the jewel of their youth, a record they grew up obsessed with, has turned 10, 20 or 30? Nobody likes to feel old.

Well, it’s time to apply for your first pensioner card, because it’s going to hit you like a freight train packed with a ton of bricks.

rumorsthe drama-filled dream pop masterpiece of Fleetwood Mac is turning 45 years old. On February 4, 1977, this iconic record was released, beginning a four-decade journey through all the experimental genres, subgenres, and metagenres that have appeared since.

Somehow, he reigns supreme. No kidding, it’s been the best selling vinyl for some time. It’s about time to celebrate this glorious midlife crisis, as we break down a few things you didn’t know.

“Shacking up is all you want to do”

Stevie Nicks wasn’t a big fan of the lyrics to the most successful song on the album. Go your own way. Obviously, a song about yourself being the singer’s former lover is never going to land well, but that doesn’t mean Nicks hasn’t spoken about it.

she called the letter “Angry, nasty and extremely disrespectful.”

Lindsey wrote Go Your Own Way (about Stevie) while on the road (via F.Mac’s 1975 concert tour). Although the second verse Tell me why everything changed Packing up, living together is all you want to do – not added until 1976. Stevie had asked him to remove the packing up, shaking up part, but refused to do so.

immeasurable success

rumors It was obviously a hit record, one of the most hit records of all time, but the numbers it put up are just staggering. It has gone platinum 11 times in the UK and 20 times in the US, averaging just over a million sales per year since 1977, which is around 2,500 copies per day.

What was curious was an initial split in the record’s success between its two main audiences. In the USA rumors it held the number one spot on the charts for 31 weeks, while in the UK it managed… one.

A dynamite demonstration

It is impossible night to think about go your own way even with the slightest difference: the song is at a level of familiarity with Here comes the Sun either Smells like Teen Spirit. He is rooted.

The first take of the track was surprisingly close to the last, with some choral layers, atmospheric instrumentals, and some lyrics the only difference. Buckingham Mentioned “Lying down is all you want to do” it was nowhere to be heard on this first take.

It’s complicated

Time rumors is close to your perfect album, its canonical status can be attributed in part to the extensive soap opera drama that surrounded its recording process.

A diagram of the relationships between each of the band members, their lovers, and even their spouses would look more like a spider’s web than any regular polygon.

However, the magic of rumors it was the numbing effect it had on the tumultuous inner workings of Fleetwood Mac. While Nicks was known to look at Buckingham between takes and hurl insults like “Fuck you, asshole. You can go to hell”there was electricity in those recording rooms caused by the potential energy of the record.

Then Mick Fleetwood explained it perfectly; comparing the situation to a divorced couple who stays together for the love of their children.

“They break up but they want to do the right thing, not hurt the kids. The album was our baby. That’s what made the impossible possible.”

The balls

A prominent feature of the album cover is the set of family jewelry that dangles proudly between Fleetwood’s legs. Unless he had been aware of his live shows, he would not know that these had been a recurring element of his stage attire for several years.

They are actually a set of bathroom chains that Fleetwood stole from a club where the band played one of their first gigs. He has since lost them, but fear not, he has a new pair of ‘lucky balls’.