Every Fleetwood Mac Album, Ranked By Their Staying Power
Go your own way and vote up the Fleetwood Mac albums that are essential to the band's discography.
Fleetwood Mac's discography is a rich tapestry of sounds, emotions, and musical innovation that has left an indelible mark on rock music. Each record has contributed significantly to the band's ever-evolving narrative. Rumours, in particular, emerged as a cornerstone in their career, embedding itself firmly among the best Fleetwood Mac albums; it still resonates with fans around the world thanks to its captivating blend of beguiling harmonies and candid storytelling. Another album that stands out is Tango in the Night, with its eclectic fusion of pop hooks and raw emotion.
Ready to step into a world of mesmerizing harmonies, compelling lyrics, and exceptional musicality? Embark on this enticing journey through Fleetwood Mac's impressive discography, and immerse yourself in the captivating charm of one of rock music's most influential bands.
- Photo: Warner Bros.1492 VOTES
The Band: Mick Fleetwood (drummer), Christine McVie (keyboardist and vocalist), John McVie (bass guitarist), Lindsey Buckingham (guitarist and vocalist), and Stevie Nicks (vocalist).
Reception: It would be an understatement to say that Fleetwood Mac's eleventh studio album Rumours, in which most songs were written about troubled relationships, is one of the most critically acclaimed, commercially successful, and influential albums of all time. Released in 1977, the album has an impressive Metascore of 99 out of 100 on Metacritic. With five-star reviews across the board, AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the album as “an unparalleled blockbuster.” Naturally, Rumours was a global No. 1 album in many countries, including the UK and US. In 1978, it won Album of the Year at the Grammys.
Standout Song: “Go Your Own Way” for having one of the most recognizable choruses (maybe of all time?).
Underrated Song: "Never Going Back Again" for its ability to be a sad song, but one that also picks you up.
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- Photo: Reprise2363 VOTES
The Band: Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist), Christine McVie (keyboardist and vocalist), John McVie (bass guitarist), Lindsey Buckingham (electric, acoustic, and resonator guitarist, banjo, and vocalist), and Stevie Nicks (vocalist).
Reception: After Bob Welch departed the band in 1974, Fleetwood Mac's self-titled release welcomed Lindsey Buckingham as guitarist and Stevie Nicks as a vocalist for the first time. However, most of the songs for the album, which would pioneer the Californian soft rock of the late '70s, were written before they joined the band. Peaking at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 15 months after its release, the album was a commercial success. In a five-star review from AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine insisted the singles - "Rhiannon," "Say You Love Me," and "Over My Head" - “deservedly made this into a blockbuster.”
Standout Song: “Rhiannon” for Stevie Nicks' vocal delivery and compelling voice.
Underrated Song: “Say You Love Me” because it deserves to stand just as tall as some of their career-defining classics.
- Photo: Warner Bros.3363 VOTES
The Band: Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist), Christine McVie (keyboardist and vocalist), John McVie (bass guitarist), Lindsey Buckingham (guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, percussionist, and vocalist), and Stevie Nicks (vocalist and pianist).
Reception: Following the runaway success of Rumours, Buckingham went into the creative process of Tusk wanting the album to sound nothing like their previous work. Another early decision made was for the LP to be a double record. With production costing far more than on Rumours, Tusk also sold far fewer copies than its predecessor, despite topping the charts in the UK and going double platinum in the US. According to Pitchfork, Tusk is “pocked with heartbreak, resignation, lust, hope, and deep hurt.” The outlet continued: "If Rumours was the band’s break-up record, Tusk covers arguably even more complicated ground: how to transform a romantic partnership into a purely creative one, while remaining mindful of all the perilous ways in which love nurtures art, and vice-versa."
Standout Song: “Tusk” for its epic experimentation.
Underrated Song: “Sara” for serving as another Stevie Nicks single that deserved more attention.
- Photo: Warner Bros.4359 VOTES
The Band: Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist), Christine McVie (keyboardist, vocalist, and synthesizer), John McVie (bass guitarist), Lindsey Buckingham (guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, percussionist, drum programming, and vocalist), and Stevie Nicks (vocalist).
Reception:Tango in the Night proved that Fleetwood Mac was back on top form after a few commercial failures. With sales of over 15 million worldwide, the album took on a more pop approach as opposed to the Californian soft rock sound they mastered during the '70s. In a four-star review from The Guardian, Alexis Petridis described the album as a "classic," stating it is a "blend of solid-gold pop and super-slick production, interwoven with the sound of a band sliding into chaos." In a mixed review from The Village Voice, Robert Christgau said: "This is pleasant stuff, nothing to get exercised about either way - no Rumours or Fleetwood Mac, but better than Bare Trees or Mystery to Me, not to mention Mirage. Marginally better, anyway. In a style where margins are all. And all ain't all that much anymore."
Standout Song: “Little Lies” or “Everywhere” as both are '80s classics.
Underrated Song: “Mystified" for capturing what magic sounds like in a song.
- Photo: Reprise5227 VOTES
The Band: Peter Green (vocalist, guitarist, harmonica, bassist, percussionist, cello), Danny Kirwan (vocalist and guitarist), John McVie (bass guitarist), Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist), and Jeremy Spencer (pianist).
Reception: For their final album release of the 1960s, Fleetwood Mac's Then Play On saw the band leave critics divided. In a mixed review from Rolling Stone, John Morthland said they had fallen “flat on their faces" and described the album as “nondescript ramblings.” Journalist Robert Christgau at the time referred to the LP as “an odd amalgam but very good. Recommended to the curious.” Compared to their previous albums, this was their first to not be recorded live in the studio. Instead, editing and overdubbing techniques can be heard on a large scale.
Standout Song: “Coming Your Way" for setting the tone of the album so perfectly.
Underrated Song: “My Dream” for sounding like what the title exudes.
- Photo: Reprise6144 VOTES
The Band: Bob Welch (guitarist and vocalist), Bob Weston (guitarist and vocalist), Christine McVie (keyboardist and vocalist), John McVie (bassist), Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist).
Reception: 1973's Mystery to Me was the last Fleetwood Mac album that would be recorded in England; MIck Fleetwood commented in 2003 that they saved money recording in the house where they were living at the time. The title stemmed from a line in the chorus of the album opener, "Emerald Eyes." When it came to what critics thought, many were divided. In a three-star review for AllMusic, Jason Elias said: “Despite the all-encompassing ethos, Welch's songwriting skills made him walk a fine line between the mystical and the silly. But luckily most everything works here.” Gordon Fletcher for Rolling Stone insisted the second half was better than the first, which he wasn't a fan of. “All the songs were the same faceless blend of tired, low-key English rock. Things proceeded at a funeral pace, and whenever Christine McVie assumed the vocal chores she could be counted on for the same old bland-as-sand mood mouthings,” he stated. The album made little impact on the charts, peaking at No. 67 on the US Billboard 200.
Standout Song: “Hypnotized” for Welch's epic guitar riffs.
Underrated Song: “Somebody” for being reminiscent of some of their early work.
- Photo: Reprise7215 VOTES
The Band: Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist), Christine McVie (keyboardist and vocalist), John McVie (bass guitarist), Danny Kirwan (guitarist and vocalist) and Bob Welch (guitarist and vocalist).
Reception: Fleetwood Mac's sixth studio album Bare Trees was the last to feature Danny Kirwan before he was fired during their tour for the LP. While the album wasn't a huge commercial success, it still gathered positive reviews from critics. In a four-star review from AllMusic, Stewart Mason argued that Bare Trees is the first "consistently strong" album by the band. Kirwin remains prominent on the whole record while Welch and McVie have their time to shine on each of the songs they wrote. In a less-than-ecstatic review from Robert Christagu for Creem, he insisted that the album sounds "A lot less muddled than Future Games and occasionally as distinctive as Kiln House, but so thoroughly homogenized that it's hard to remember exactly how the cream tasted once it's gone down."
Standout Song: “Bare Trees" for its excellent use of guitars.
Underrated Song: “Spare Me a Little of Your Love” - Christine's voice isn't talked about enough.
- Photo: Warner Bros.8247 VOTES
The Band: Lindsay Buckingham (guitarist, vocalist, and keyboardist), Stevie Nicks (vocalist and tambourinist), Christine McVie (keyboardist and vocalist), John McVie (bassist), Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist).
Reception: Following their Tusk Tour, Fleetwood Mac decided to take a year-long hiatus before releasing Mirage in 1982. The album took a more pop, soft-rock approach and became another chart-topping album for Fleetwood Mac on the US Billboard 200. In a four-star review from Rolling Stone, John Milward said the album showcases “five distinct personalities merg[ing] into a sound that is unmistakably Mac.” The Guardian's review from 2016 saw Tim Jonze refer to Mirage as “an unfairly overlooked Mac album.”
Standout Song: “Gypsy” sounds like an instant classic.
Underrated Song: “Oh Diane” for Buckingham's mesmerizing vocal delivery.
- Photo: Blue Horizon9139 VOTES
The Band: Mick Fleetwood (drummer), Peter Green (guitarist, vocalist, and harmonica), Jeremy Spencer (vocalist, guitarist, and pianist), John McVie (bassist), and Bob Brunning (bassist).
Reception: Fleetwood Mac, often referred to as Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, is the debut album that kicked everything off. The album is a mix of blues covers as well as originals. It is the only studio album where Christine McVie has no involvement. In a four-and-a-half review by Richie Unterberger for AllMusic, Fleetwood Mac was described as "a highlight of the late-'60s British blues boom." While the album only peaked at No. 198 on the US Billboard 200, it performed much better in the UK, reaching No. 4.
Standout Song: “Looking For Somebody” is a Green classic. The harmonica never gets old.
Underrated Song: “Long Grey Mare” for never failing to brighten up the mood.
- Photo: Reprise10169 VOTES
The Band: Danny Kirwan (vocalist and guitarist), John McVie (bass guitarist), Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist), Bob Welch (guitarist and vocalist), and Christine McVie (keyboardist and vocalist).
Reception: After Jeremy Spencer quit the band in 1971 to join Children of God, Bob Welch was selected as a replacement and made his debut appearance on Future Games. Following their previous Chicago blues sound, the album took on a more psychedelic rock approach. On the album, Christine stepped forward as more of a vocalist and songwriter. The album only peaked at No. 91 on the US Billboard 200 but did receive a gold certification for selling over 500,000 copies. William Ruhlmann for AllMusic gave a 3-and-a-half star rating and declared that the band's new sound was "almost nothing like Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac."
Standout Song: “Future Games" for Bob's haunting melodies.
Underrated Song: “Show Me a Smile” is one of Christine's most low-key ballads.
- Photo: Reprise11131 VOTES
The Band: Jeremy Spencer (guitarist, pianist, and vocalist), Danny Kirwan (guitarist and vocalist), John McVie (bassist), and Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist).
Reception: After only appearing on one track of the previous album, Then Play On, Spencer had a more prominent role on 1970's Kiln House, their first album without Peter Green. For the material, he took influence from rockabilly and music from independent Memphis label Sun Records. Not an official member of the band yet, Christine McVie drew the artwork and provided backing vocals. In Bruce Eder's review for AllMusic, he gave the album 3-and-a-half stars, expressing: “None of this may be as intense as the music they cut with Peter Green running the show, but in its relaxed way Kiln House represents the same virtuoso blues-rock outfit having a little fun while making a record.” On the charts, the album performed just ok, appearing in the top 40 in the UK and at No. 69 on the US Billboard 200.
Standout Song: “Station Man" for its infectious groove.
Underrated Song: “Blood on the Floor” for its unusual, yet fascinating nature.
- Photo: Reprise12155 VOTES
The Band: Lindsey Buckingham (vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist), Stevie Nicks (vocalist, keyboardist), John McVie (bassist and black keys), and Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist).
Reception: Say You Will became Fleetwood Mac's first studio album release in eight years and so far, their final to date. It also marked their first album since 1970 without Christine McVie as a full-time member. However, she made a guest appearance on two tracks on the keyboard and backing vocals. It was also the first record in 16 years in which Buckingham had written songs for the band. Nevertheless, reviews were mixed across the board. Entertainment Weekly argued that the album, which was released as a double CD, was “way too long” while Rolling Stones's slightly more positive review declared Say You Will as “a randomly sequenced display of Fleetwood Mac's best instincts.”
Standout Song: “Say You Will" is a classic Fleetwood Mac jam.
Underrated Song: “Peacekeeper” for not being regarded as one of their career-defining songs.
- Photo: Warner Bros.13137 VOTES
The Band: Stevie Nicks (vocalist), John McVie (bassist), Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist), Rick Vito (guitarist and vocalist), and Billy Burnette (guitarist and vocalist).
Reception: Following the runaway success of Tango in the Night, Lindsey Buckingham left the band and was replaced by Billy Burnette and Rick Vito. However, on the follow-up release, Behind the Mask, Buckingham still played acoustic guitar on the album's title track. The album commercially didn't compare to Tango in the Night and failed to achieve any hit songs. In the UK, on the other hand, the LP did peak at No. 1 and is certified platinum. Critically, the album received a mixed reception. AllMusic gave a low score of 1-and-a-half stars, writing, “Behind The Mask was never less than pleasant, but never of the caliber of the work of the previous lineup, either.” Rolling Stone much preferred the album, giving it four stars, and insisted the addition of Vito and Burnette “is the best thing to ever happen to Fleetwood Mac.”
Standout Song: “Save Me” since it's the most recognizable and standout single from the overlooked release.
Underrated Song: “In the Back of My Mind” is a spooky, hidden gem.
- Photo: Reprise14108 VOTES
The Band: Bob Welch (guitarist, vocalist, bassist), Bob Weston (guitarist, banjo, and harmonica), Christine McVie (keyboardist and vocalist), Dave Walker (vocalist and harmonica), John McVie (bassist), and Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist).
Reception: Released in 1973, Pengiun became Fleetwood Mac's highest-charting album in the US at the time, peaking at No. 49 on the US Billboard 200. It was the band's first album released since the departure of Danny Kirwan. The album title came to life after John developed a fascination with the birds during the early days of being married to Christine when he lived near London Zoo. The album received mixed reviews with AllMusic's William Ruhlmann giving the album only a two-star rating. In a more positive review from Robert Christgau, he said he liked “all of Christine McVie's husky laments. But could [really] do without Bob Welch's ever-mellower musings.”
Standout Song: “Bright Fire” is a mellow Welch classic.
Underrated Song: Their fun cover of Junior Walker & the Allstars' “[I'm A] Road Runner.”
- Photo: Reprise15105 VOTES
The Band: Bob Welch (guitarist and vocalist), Christine McVie (vocalist and keyboardist), John McVie (bassist), and Mick Fleetwood (drummer and percussionist).
Reception: At the time of recording Heroes Are Hard to Find, the band temporarily split after Bob Weston's affair with Mick's wife and legal problems occurred when their manager Clifford Davis sorted a new lineup for the tour. In order to allow them to continue performing and releasing under the band's name, they had to convince and negotiate with Warner Brothers to sign a new contract. Commercially, Heroes Are Hard to Find peaked at No. 34 on the US Billboard 200. Ken Barnes for Rolling Stone believed the album "stacks up as a pleasant album" while Robert Christgau criticized the sound, claiming the horns were “half-a**ed," Welch sounded “bored,” and that McVie “is less than perfect.”
Standout Song: "Heroes Are Hard to Find" for its ability to brighten your mood.
Underrated Song: "Come a Little Bit Closer" should have been a huge hit.
- Photo: Blue Horizon1697 VOTES
The Band: Peter Green (vocalist, guitarist, and harmonica), Jeremy Spencer (vocalist and guitarist), John McVie (bassist), and Mick Fleetwood (drummer).
Reception: Two months after dropping their self-titled debut album, Fleetwood Mac dropped their sophomore release, Mr. Wonderful, which also took on a blues rock sound. The record was a quick turnaround, taking four days to record. Despite getting off to a good start with their first LP, Mr. Wonderful failed to match the same success commercially and critically. In a two-star rating from AllMusic, Richie Unterberger called the album a "disappointment" after their "promising debut." He pointed out that the "limits of Jeremy Spencer's potential for creative contribution were badly exposed, as the tracks that featured his songwriting and/or vocals were basic Elmore James covers or derivations."
Standout Song: “I've Lost My Baby” for Spencer's outstanding slide guitar.
Underrated Song: “Love That Burns” exudes what a brilliant blues track should sound like.
- Photo: Warner Bros.17118 VOTES
The Band: Christine McVie (keyboardist and vocalist), Dave Mason (guitarist and vocalist), Billy Burnette (guitarist and vocalist), John McVie (bassist), Mick Fleetwood (drummer, percussionist, guitarist, and vocalist), and Bekka Bramlett (vocalist).
Reception: On 1995's Time, the band's lineup changed once again. Country singer Bekka Bramlett appeared as a vocalist while Stevie Nicks did not contribute for the first time since 1974's Heroes Are Hard to Find. It also marked the final album Christine was an official member and the second album released after Lindsey Buckingham left. Embracing a more country rock sound, Time was unfavored by critics. AllMusic's William Ruhlmann insisted that the lineup for the band saw them slip down "another notch in terms of quality and attention." He added: “This simply was not the group that made the great blues-rock of the 1960s or the group that made the great pop/rock of the '70s.” Entertainment Weekly described Time as “unimaginative and middle-of-the-road.” The album failed to chart in the US altogether.
Standout Song: “Hollywood (Some Other Kind of Town)” for being so catchy.
Underrated Song: Mason shines all over “Blow by Blow.”
