The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac

This remastered 2CD set includes 36 Fleetwood Mac favourites including ‘Dreams’, ‘Everywhere’, ‘Go Your Own Way’, ‘Rhiannon’, ‘Sara’, ‘Tusk’, ‘The Chain’, ‘Little Lies’ and ‘Don’t Stop’.

Although the title is a misnomer, considering that material from Fleetwood Mac line-ups featuring earlier members including founder Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, Bob Welch, and Danny Kirwan is noticeably absent, THE VERY BEST OF serves up the cream of the Buckingham/Nicks years. Rounded out by Mick Fleetwood and former paramours John and Christine McVie, this "classic" Mac line-up lasted for seven albums and created timeless material often fueled by romantic turmoil within its ranks. With Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, and Christine McVie all serving as singer-songwriters, there were plenty of hits to go around.

Ably displacing 1998's GREATEST HITS package, this two-CD set features plenty of well-known radio hits starting with cuts from the Mac's 1975 self-titled smash ("Monday Morning," "Rhiannon," and "Say You Love Me") on through the live 1997 reunion album THE DANCE ("I'm So Afraid," "Big Love"). In between, the wealth of solid material boggles the mind and includes classics found on 1977's classic RUMOURS ("Go Your Own Way," "Don't Stop"), 1979's TUSK (title track, "Sara"), and 1982's MIRAGE ("Gypsy," "Hold Me"). Equally engaging are slightly more obscure cuts like "Paper Doll" and "Silver Springs" (originally found on the out-of-print box set 25 YEARS: THE CHAIN).

What the critics say...

Rolling Stone (11/28/02, p.94) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...[The album] showcases the results of having three strong songwriters and a willingness to spend months in the studio sweating the smallest details..."