Mirage (Fleetwood Mac album)
Encyclopedia
Mirage is the 13th studio album by Fleetwood Mac
, released in June 1982
.
Following a hiatus of over a year after the completion of the worldwide Tusk tour, the band temporarily relocated to Château d'Hérouville
in France to record this 12-track collection. By this time Stevie Nicks
and Lindsey Buckingham
had each commenced a solo side-career, the former to multi-platinum #1 success with 1981's Bella Donna
, the latter faring not as well with his first outing Law and Order
(US Billboard
#32).
Mirage found the band venturing further into radio-friendly soft rock
than it had in any of its previous incarnations. It stood in stark contrast to its highly experimental predecessor, 1979's Tusk
. Mirage yielded several hit singles: "Hold Me
" (which peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard
Pop Chart, remaining there for seven weeks), "Love in Store
" (#22 US Pop Chart), "Oh Diane
" (which reached #9 in the UK), and finally, "Can't Go Back
" (issued on 7" and 12" in the UK).
The Stevie Nicks composition "Gypsy
" (#12 Pop, #4 Rock, and a #1 hit in Canada) was the second single from the album and was accompanied by a lengthy video, the highest-budget music video ever produced at the time, directed by Russell Mulcahy
, and was the very first "World Premiere Video" on MTV
in 1982. The single and album edit of "Gypsy" ran for only 4:24, but a 5½-minute version had been originally recorded and it was this version used for the video. This full-length version was not made available on CD until 1992's retrospective box set 25 Years – The Chain.
Of the other two compositions from Nicks on the album, "That's Alright" dated back to the Buckingham/Nicks days of 1974, whilst "Straight Back" was written in the winter of 1981 and referred to her separation from (then) lover, producer Jimmy Iovine
, and the huge wrench she experienced having to leave her newly established and highly successful solo career to re-join Fleetwood Mac for the 1982 project (Nicks refers to this on the DVD commentary to her 2008 retrospective Crystal Visions – The Very Best of Stevie Nicks). "Straight Back" was also a US radio hit in winter 1982.
The album was certified double platinum for shipping two million copies in the US and returned the group to the top of the U.S. charts for the first time since their 1977 hit album Rumours, spending five weeks at the top. It also reached #5 in the UK, and #2 in Australia.
Setlist:
videodisc
in 1983, many tracks were edited out, with the loss of "Second Hand News", "Don't Stop", "Dreams", "Brown Eyes", "Oh Well", "Never Going Back Again", "Landslide", "Sara", and "Hold Me", reducing the 135 minute show to just 80 minutes on cassette. The running order was also completely rearranged so that Nicks' "Gypsy" followed "The Chain", whilst "You Make Loving Fun" and "Blue Letter" were moved to the first half of the edited show.
The performance also includes what is often referred to as the 'speaking in tongues' version of "Sisters of the Moon", in which Nicks delivers the song's coda in such intense gravelly vibratos that her words are rendered mysteriously indecipherable.
The concert was not released on DVD until 2003, but this was limited to Brazil on the Studio Gaba label, and featured an unmastered soundtrack.
In 2006 a good quality release was issued in Australia, with an added special feature comprising six Stevie Nicks
solo promotional videos for some of her singles released between 1981 and 1986. This collection had previously been issued separately on VHS in 1986 under the title Stevie Nicks – I Can't Wait, and exclusively includes a live solo version of her top ten hit "Leather and Lace
" (a duet with Don Henley
), which was recorded on the final night of Nicks' 1981 Bella Donna tour. The clip was not included in the 9-track edit of Nicks' "White Wing Dove" live concert VHS release in 1982, and neither was it included in the DVD supplement to her 2008 retrospective Crystal Visions – The Very Best of Stevie Nicks. To date, this is therefore the only DVD availability of this live performance.
In 2009, another DVD incarnation of the Mirage concert was released under the title Fleetwood Mac – In Performance by the Showline label on a region-free disc.
Additional personnel:
Singles
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
, released in June 1982
1982 in music
This is a list of notable events in music from 1982. 1982 was a big year in music with Madonna making her debut as well as the year that Michael Jackson released Thriller which became the world's best selling album and it still holds that title today....
.
Following a hiatus of over a year after the completion of the worldwide Tusk tour, the band temporarily relocated to Château d'Hérouville
Château d'Hérouville
The Château d'Hérouville is a French château of the 18th century located in the village of Hérouville, in the Oise valley near Paris. The castle was built in 1740 by Gaudot, an architect of the school of Rome. In the 19th century, it was used as courier relay station and stabled a hundred...
in France to record this 12-track collection. By this time Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
and Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American guitarist, singer, composer and producer, most notable for being the guitarist and male lead singer of the musical group Fleetwood Mac. Aside from his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has also released six solo albums and a live album...
had each commenced a solo side-career, the former to multi-platinum #1 success with 1981's Bella Donna
Bella Donna (album)
-The Band:* Stevie Nicks – vocals* Lori Perry – backup vocals* Sharon Celani – backup vocals*Tom Petty – vocals, guitar *Michael Campbell – guitar *Don Felder – guitar *Benmont Tench – organ, piano...
, the latter faring not as well with his first outing Law and Order
Law and Order (album)
Law and Order is the first solo album by Fleetwood Mac guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Lindsey Buckingham, released in 1981. "Trouble", featuring drumming by Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood, reached #9 on the U.S...
(US Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
#32).
Mirage found the band venturing further into radio-friendly soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
than it had in any of its previous incarnations. It stood in stark contrast to its highly experimental predecessor, 1979's Tusk
Tusk (album)
Tusk is the 12th album by the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Released in 1979, it is considered experimental, primarily due to Lindsey Buckingham's sparser songwriting arrangements and the influence of punk rock and New Wave on his production techniques...
. Mirage yielded several hit singles: "Hold Me
Hold Me (Fleetwood Mac song)
"Hold Me" is a single by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. The song was the first track to be released from the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth album by the band with Lindsey Buckingham acting as main producer with Richard Dashut and Ken Caillat....
" (which peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Pop Chart, remaining there for seven weeks), "Love in Store
Love in Store
"Love in Store" is a song by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. The song is the opening track on the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth album by the band with Lindsey Buckingham acting as main producer with Richard Dashut and Ken Caillat. "Love in Store" was written by Christine McVie and Jim...
" (#22 US Pop Chart), "Oh Diane
Oh Diane
"Oh Diane" is a song by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. It was written and performed by guitarist Lindsey Buckingham for the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth album by the band with Lindsey Buckingham as producer....
" (which reached #9 in the UK), and finally, "Can't Go Back
Can't Go Back (Fleetwood Mac song)
"Can't Go Back" is a song by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. It was written and performed by guitarist Lindsey Buckingham for the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth issued by the band with Buckingham as main producer....
" (issued on 7" and 12" in the UK).
The Stevie Nicks composition "Gypsy
Gypsy (Fleetwood Mac song)
"Gypsy" is a song by the rock group Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks wrote the song originally circa 1979, and the earliest demo recordings were recorded in early 1980 with Tom Moncrieff for possible inclusion on her solo debut Bella Donna. However, when Nicks' friend Robin Anderson died of leukemia,...
" (#12 Pop, #4 Rock, and a #1 hit in Canada) was the second single from the album and was accompanied by a lengthy video, the highest-budget music video ever produced at the time, directed by Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy is an Australian film director. His work is easily recognized by his use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights.- Music videos :...
, and was the very first "World Premiere Video" on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in 1982. The single and album edit of "Gypsy" ran for only 4:24, but a 5½-minute version had been originally recorded and it was this version used for the video. This full-length version was not made available on CD until 1992's retrospective box set 25 Years – The Chain.
Of the other two compositions from Nicks on the album, "That's Alright" dated back to the Buckingham/Nicks days of 1974, whilst "Straight Back" was written in the winter of 1981 and referred to her separation from (then) lover, producer Jimmy Iovine
Jimmy Iovine
James "Jimmy" Iovine is an American music producer, entrepreneur and chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M.-Biography:...
, and the huge wrench she experienced having to leave her newly established and highly successful solo career to re-join Fleetwood Mac for the 1982 project (Nicks refers to this on the DVD commentary to her 2008 retrospective Crystal Visions – The Very Best of Stevie Nicks). "Straight Back" was also a US radio hit in winter 1982.
The album was certified double platinum for shipping two million copies in the US and returned the group to the top of the U.S. charts for the first time since their 1977 hit album Rumours, spending five weeks at the top. It also reached #5 in the UK, and #2 in Australia.
Track listing
- "Love in StoreLove in Store"Love in Store" is a song by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. The song is the opening track on the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth album by the band with Lindsey Buckingham acting as main producer with Richard Dashut and Ken Caillat. "Love in Store" was written by Christine McVie and Jim...
" (Christine McVieChristine McVieChristine McVie is an English rock singer, keyboardist, and songwriter. Her primary fame came as a member of the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac, though she has also released three solo albums...
, Jim Recor) – 3:14 - "Can't Go BackCan't Go Back (Fleetwood Mac song)"Can't Go Back" is a song by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. It was written and performed by guitarist Lindsey Buckingham for the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth issued by the band with Buckingham as main producer....
" (Lindsey BuckinghamLindsey BuckinghamLindsey Adams Buckingham is an American guitarist, singer, composer and producer, most notable for being the guitarist and male lead singer of the musical group Fleetwood Mac. Aside from his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has also released six solo albums and a live album...
) – 2:42 - "That's Alright" (Stevie NicksStevie NicksStephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
) – 3:09 - "Book of Love" (Buckingham, Richard DashutRichard DashutRichard Charles Dashut is a record producer who produced several Fleetwood Mac albums including their popular Rumours and Tusk, and later an album by Matthew Sweet, Altered Beast. Dashut also co-wrote several songs with Lindsey Buckingham during his time with Fleetwood Mac...
) – 3:21 - "GypsyGypsy (Fleetwood Mac song)"Gypsy" is a song by the rock group Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks wrote the song originally circa 1979, and the earliest demo recordings were recorded in early 1980 with Tom Moncrieff for possible inclusion on her solo debut Bella Donna. However, when Nicks' friend Robin Anderson died of leukemia,...
" (Nicks) – 4:24 - "Only Over You" (C. McVie) – 4:08
- "Empire State" (Buckingham, Dashut) – 2:51
- "Straight Back" (Nicks) – 4:17
- "Hold MeHold Me (Fleetwood Mac song)"Hold Me" is a single by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. The song was the first track to be released from the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth album by the band with Lindsey Buckingham acting as main producer with Richard Dashut and Ken Caillat....
" (C. McVie, Robbie PattonRobbie PattonRobbie Patton is an English singer-songwriter. His first major exposure came in 1979 when he was selected as the opening act for a Fleetwood Mac tour. Mac member Christine McVie would go on to produce both of Patton's solo albums and played keyboards on them; Lindsey Buckingham played guitar on...
) – 3:44 - "Oh DianeOh Diane"Oh Diane" is a song by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. It was written and performed by guitarist Lindsey Buckingham for the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth album by the band with Lindsey Buckingham as producer....
" (Buckingham, Dashut) – 2:33 - "Eyes of the World" (Buckingham) – 3:44
- "Wish You Were Here" (C. McVie, Colin Allen) – 4:45
Tour
The Mirage Tour in Autumn 1982 only lasted for a few weeks and was confined to US dates in 29 cities only.Setlist:
- "Second Hand News"
- "The Chain"
- "Don't Stop"
- "Dreams"
- "Oh Well"
- "Rhiannon"
- "Brown Eyes"
- "Eyes of the World"
- "Gypsy"
- "Love in Store"
- "Not That Funny"
- "Never Going Back Again"
- "Landslide"
- "Tusk"
- "Sara"
- "Hold Me"
- "You Make Loving Fun"
- "I'm So Afraid"
- "Go Your Own Way"
- "Blue Letter"
- "Sisters of the Moon"
- "Songbird"
Mirage Tour Video/DVD
Two of the final shows of the Mirage tour were filmed in Los Angeles in 1982. Originally released on VHS and CEDCED
CED may stand for:*The UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design*Capacitance Electronic Disc, a playback-only video medium*Classical electrodynamics*Community economic development*Collective Earth Defense from the video game Descent³...
videodisc
Videodisc
Videodisc is a general term for a laser- or stylus-readable random-access circular disc that contains both audio and analog video signals recorded in an analog form...
in 1983, many tracks were edited out, with the loss of "Second Hand News", "Don't Stop", "Dreams", "Brown Eyes", "Oh Well", "Never Going Back Again", "Landslide", "Sara", and "Hold Me", reducing the 135 minute show to just 80 minutes on cassette. The running order was also completely rearranged so that Nicks' "Gypsy" followed "The Chain", whilst "You Make Loving Fun" and "Blue Letter" were moved to the first half of the edited show.
The performance also includes what is often referred to as the 'speaking in tongues' version of "Sisters of the Moon", in which Nicks delivers the song's coda in such intense gravelly vibratos that her words are rendered mysteriously indecipherable.
The concert was not released on DVD until 2003, but this was limited to Brazil on the Studio Gaba label, and featured an unmastered soundtrack.
In 2006 a good quality release was issued in Australia, with an added special feature comprising six Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
solo promotional videos for some of her singles released between 1981 and 1986. This collection had previously been issued separately on VHS in 1986 under the title Stevie Nicks – I Can't Wait, and exclusively includes a live solo version of her top ten hit "Leather and Lace
Leather and Lace (song)
"Leather and Lace" is a song performed by American singers Stevie Nicks and Don Henley. It was released in October 1981 as the second single from Nicks' 1981 solo debut album Bella Donna....
" (a duet with Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
), which was recorded on the final night of Nicks' 1981 Bella Donna tour. The clip was not included in the 9-track edit of Nicks' "White Wing Dove" live concert VHS release in 1982, and neither was it included in the DVD supplement to her 2008 retrospective Crystal Visions – The Very Best of Stevie Nicks. To date, this is therefore the only DVD availability of this live performance.
In 2009, another DVD incarnation of the Mirage concert was released under the title Fleetwood Mac – In Performance by the Showline label on a region-free disc.
Credits
Fleetwood Mac- Stevie NicksStevie NicksStephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Lindsey BuckinghamLindsey BuckinghamLindsey Adams Buckingham is an American guitarist, singer, composer and producer, most notable for being the guitarist and male lead singer of the musical group Fleetwood Mac. Aside from his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has also released six solo albums and a live album...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Christine McVieChristine McVieChristine McVie is an English rock singer, keyboardist, and songwriter. Her primary fame came as a member of the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac, though she has also released three solo albums...
– keyboards, vocals - John McVieJohn McVieJohn Graham McVie is a British bass guitarist best known as a member of the rock group Fleetwood Mac. His surname, combined with that of Mick Fleetwood, was the inspiration for the band's name...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Mick FleetwoodMick FleetwoodMichael John Kells "Mick" Fleetwood is a British musician and actor best known for his role as the drummer and namesake of the blues/rock and roll band Fleetwood Mac. His surname, combined with that of John McVie, was the inspiration for the name of the originally Peter Green-led Fleetwood Mac...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Additional personnel:
- Ray Lindsey – additional guitar on "Straight Back"
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | US | 1 |
| 1982 | UK | 5 |
| 1982 | AUS | 2 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "Gypsy" | Adult Contemporary | 9 |
| 1982 | "Gypsy" | Mainstream Rock | 4 |
| 1982 | "Gypsy" | Pop Singles | 12 |
| 1982 | "Gypsy Gypsy (Fleetwood Mac song) "Gypsy" is a song by the rock group Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks wrote the song originally circa 1979, and the earliest demo recordings were recorded in early 1980 with Tom Moncrieff for possible inclusion on her solo debut Bella Donna. However, when Nicks' friend Robin Anderson died of leukemia,... " |
UK | 46 |
| 1982 | "Hold Me Hold Me (Fleetwood Mac song) "Hold Me" is a single by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. The song was the first track to be released from the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth album by the band with Lindsey Buckingham acting as main producer with Richard Dashut and Ken Caillat.... " |
Adult Contemporary | 7 |
| 1982 | "Hold Me" | Mainstream Rock | 3 |
| 1982 | "Hold Me" | Pop Singles | 4 |
| 1982 | "Straight Back" | Mainstream Rock | 36 |
| 1983 | "Love in Store" | Adult Contemporary | 11 |
| 1983 | "Love in Store" | Pop Singles | 22 |
| 1983 | "Oh Diane" | Adult Contemporary | 35 |
| 1983 | "Oh Diane Oh Diane "Oh Diane" is a song by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. It was written and performed by guitarist Lindsey Buckingham for the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth album by the band with Lindsey Buckingham as producer.... " |
UK | 9 |
| 1983 | "Can't Go Back Can't Go Back (Fleetwood Mac song) "Can't Go Back" is a song by British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. It was written and performed by guitarist Lindsey Buckingham for the 1982 album Mirage, the fourth issued by the band with Buckingham as main producer.... " |
UK | 83 |