Ticket 2 Ride

The Fleetwood Mac album was climbing the charts, as the band, with new members Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, toured to support what would become a mega-hit.

Everyone knows the story of Buckingham and Nicks being recruited to join Fleetwood Mac and the success that followed. This album was drawn from two concerts: the Capitol Theatre (Passaic, NJ, 10/17/75) & Jorgensen Auditorium (University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 10/25/75).

What struck me about this album was how tight the band sounded. Fleetwood Mac was not yet the superstar band it would soon become, they had been a working band with middling success and frequent lineup changes. There were no extra musicians or backup singers, no fancy stage design or outrageous touring demands. That would come later. For now, it was just these five singer/musicians trying to sell tickets and get their songs on the radio.

Christine McVie seemed the band spokesperson on stage, introducing the songs, although there isn’t much stage chatter here. She provides skillful piano and organ playing to shape these old and new songs, while John McVie and Mick Fleetwood deliver the beat and forward thrust. Stevie Nicks premiered several songs that would become classics, and even though the listener cannot see the stage persona she would become legendary for, you certainly sense it. Her husky lead vocals and haunting background voicing gave this band a rich, new vocal soundscape to enjoy. Lindsey Buckingham may not fill the legendary blues shoes of Peter Green as a guitar hero, but he brings a whole game. His guitar playing is versatile, a necessity in a one guitarist band, he is able to perform an interesting combination of rhythm and lead, and when he does shift into a searing solo, it’s mesmerizing. Buckingham also brings songwriting skills and strong vocals to balance the triad with McVie and Nicks.

This set is a mixture of the old and new: Fleetwood Mac classics, new Mac tunes, a song from the Buckingham-Nicks album, and a Chicken Shack tune. Regardless of where the songs came from, the band sinks their teeth into them, as if they’ve been playing them for years. That’s one of many special things about this band that you know from this live set.

The songs…

“Get Like You Used to Be” (Capitol Theatre) Written by Christine McVie and Stan Webb, first recorded by Chicken Shack. A bluesy rocker.

“Station Man” (Jorgenson Auditorium) From the 1970 Fleetwood Mac album Kiln House. Credited to Danny Kirwin, Jeremy Spencer and John McVie. Sung by Buckingham and Nicks. A staple in Mac concerts for years. A grungy guitar by Buckingham.

“Spare Me a Little” (Jorgenson Auditorium) Written by C. McVie from Bare Trees (1972). Lead vocals by C. McVie, harmony by Nicks. Rousing finish to the song.

“Rhiannon” (Jorgenson Auditorium) Written by Nicks, a big hit from Fleetwood Mac. Killer guitar from Buckingham on this explosive version.

“Why” (Jorgenson Auditorium) Written by C. McVie, from Mystery to Me (1973). Slowing it down, a ballad. More soulful picking from Buckingham.

“Landslide” (Jorgenson Auditorium) From Fleetwood Mac. Nicks singing, accompanied by Buckingham on guitar, C. McVie on electric piano.

“I’m So Afraid” (Capitol Theatre) From Fleetwood Mac. Written and sung by Buckingham. Very intense, Buckingham shreds on this smoking performance.

“Oh Well” (Capitol Theatre) From Then Play On (1969). Written by Peter Green. Buckingham sings and sizzles on the guitar. The song stayed in the setlist for many years.

“The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)” (Capitol Theatre) Released as a single in 1970. Written by Peter Green. An example of British Blues, heavy guitar, haunting effect. Sung by Buckingham, background vocals by Nicks.

“World Turning” (Capitol Theatre) From Fleetwood Mac. Written and sung by C. McVie and Buckingham. Of all the versions of this song, I believe this may be the best.

“Blue Letter” (Capitol Theatre) From Fleetwood Mac. Written by Richard and Michael Curtis. Sung by Buckingham, Nicks and C. McVie backing vocals.

“Don’t Let Me Down Again” (Jorgenson Auditorium) From Buckingham Nicks (1973), written by Buckingham. Sung by Buckingham with Nicks.

“Hypnotized” (Jorgenson Auditorium) From Mystery to Me (1973). Written by Bob Welch. Sung by Buckingham. This is a decent version of this song. C. McVie’s organ conveys a sense of psychological chill.