The Analog Kid

The Analog Kid blog has been featuring out-of-print ’80s albums on “The Lost Boys” series for quite a while, and now it’s time for the ’70s to join the party! “Lost In The Flood: Hard-To-Find ’70s Albums” will give you the chance to listen to some great music from the ’70s that can no longer be easily acquired on-line or at your local record store (especially since many of you probably no longer even HAVE a local record store!).

First of all, please allow me to apologize for the lack of a blog post yesterday. After the exhausting two hours I spent switching back and forth between the U.S-Germany and Portugal-Ghana games, I was simply too worn out to even contemplate a blog. Also, the two super-strong margaritas that I had for breakfast may have slightly contributed to my day of slack. I don’t usually consume tequila before noon, but it was a necessary evil yesterday in order to keep my systolic level under 200. I promise that I will prepare blog entries in advance for the remaining four days on which the Yanks will play in this World Cup! (Do you see what I did there?)

Speaking of 200, today’s post is my 200th entry on the Analog Kid Blog! And they said it wouldn’t last…

Since it is an anniversary of sorts and I owe you one for blowing off yesterday’s entry, the Analog Kid has a very special post for you today: a brand-new vinyl rip of 1973’s Buckingham Nicks album, truly one of the most famous albums never to have been released digitally (CD or download).

Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had been playing music together for years, starting in the San Francisco-based band Fritz. After the duo relocated to Los Angeles, their high-quality demos landed them a deal with Polydor Records. Keith Olsen produced the Buckingham Nicks album at the now-legendary Sound City Studios, and Lindsey and Stevie felt like they were about to hit the big time. Unfortunately, Polydor didn’t promote the record and sales were very poor– as were Lindsey and Stevie. So poor, in fact, that Nicks had just about made up her mind to quit music and return home to go back to school.

Fleetwood Mac was a band used to personnel changes, so Bob Welch’s surprise departure in late 1974 simply meant that the group had to once again find a new guitar player. Mick Fleetwood was at Sound City Studios to check the place out as a possible recording option, and Olsen played him Buckingham Nicks’ “Frozen Love” as an example of what the studio could do. Mick was blown away by Lindsey’s guitar on the track, and immediately asked him to join the band. Buckingham agreed, but on one condition: he and Stevie were a package deal.

Lindsey and Stevie officially joined Fleetwood Mac on New Year’s Eve, 1974. The new five-piece lineup immediately went into the studio and recorded the classic Fleetwood Mac album, which included a remake of the Buckingham Nicks track “Crystal.” When the new band hit the road for the first time, two Buckingham Nicks tracks occasionally made appearances in the set: “Frozen Love,” and the insanely catchy “Don’t Let Me Down Again.” Constant touring slowly built up album and 45 sales, and Fleetwood Mac finally hit #1 on the Billboard album charts more than a year after its initial release. The album also spawned three Top 20 singles in the U.S. for the band: “Over My Head” (#20), “Rhiannon” (#11), and “Say You Love Me” (#11). It was an amazing feat for a band that had scored only one Top 100 U.S. hit during its previous six years of existence (“Oh Well” had reached #55 in 1969).

Considering the important place it holds in rock and roll history, it really is hard to understand why Buckingham Nicks has never been released on CD. Both Lindsey and Stevie are justifiably proud of the record, and have often expressed an interest in a reissue of their one and only album as a duo. It seems bound to happen someday, but until then we’ll just have to make do with high-quality vinyl rips. I created the new rip featured below earlier this week, and I think it sounds pretty damn great. There are some clicks and pops present (especially on side two), but I think they only add additional charm to one of the most underrated albums of the ’70s.

 

Buckingham Nicks: Buckingham Nicks

Polydor Records, 1973

320 kbps vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid*

 

1. “Crying In The Night” (Nicks)

Crying In The Night

2. “Stephanie” (Buckingham)

Stephanie

3. “Without A Leg To Stand On” (Buckingham)

Without A Leg To Stand On

4. “Crystal” (Nicks)

Crystal

5. “Long Distance Winner” (Nicks)

Long Distance Winner

6. “Don’t Let Me Down Again” (Buckingham)

Don’t Let Me Down Again

7. “Django” (Lewis)

Django

8. “Races Are Run” (Nicks)

Races Are Run

9. “Lola (My Love)” (Buckingham)

Lola (My Love)

10. “Frozen Love” (Buckingham/Nicks)

Frozen Love

*  Note from The Analog Kid: I replaced the original 192 kbps rip on this post with a brand-new 320 kbps rip on 9/2/2015. This rip fixes a slight speed issue, and also incorporates better noise removal software. Enjoy!

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Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

 

Fleetwood Mac: “Crystal” (Nicks)

From the album Fleetwood Mac

Reprise Records, 1975

Crystal

 

Fleetwood Mac: “Don’t Let Me Down Again [Live]” (Buckingham)

Don’t Let Me Down Again

Fleetwood Mac: “Oh Well [Live]” (Green)

Oh Well

Both taken from the album Fleetwood Mac Live

Warner Brothers Records, 1980

Vinyl rips courtesy of the Analog Kid

 

Fleetwood Mac: “Over My Head [Single Version]” (McVie)

Original version from the album Fleetwood Mac

Reprise Records, 1975

Over My Head [Single Version]

 

Fleetwood Mac: “Say You Love Me [Single Version]” (McVie)

Original version from the album Fleetwood Mac

Reprise Records, 1975

Say You Love Me [Single Version]

 

Fleetwood Mac: “Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win) [Single Version]” (Nicks)

Original version from the album Fleetwood Mac

Reprise Records, 1976

Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win) [Single Version]