Tusk

by Fleetwood Mac

Overview

More than any other Fleetwood Mac album, Tusk is born of a particular time and place -- it could only have been created in the aftermath of Rumours, which shattered sales records, which in turn gave the group a blank check for its next album. But if they were falling apart during the making of Rumours, they were officially broken and shattered during the making of Tusk, and that disconnect between bandmembers resulted in a sprawling, incoherent, and utterly brilliant 20-track double album. At the time of its release, it was a flop, never reaching the top of the charts and never spawning a true hit single, despite two well-received Top Ten hits. Coming after the monumental Rumours, this was a huge disappointment, but the truth of the matter is that Fleetwood Mac couldn't top that success no matter how hard they tried, so it was better for them to indulge themselves and come up with something as unique as Tusk. Lindsey Buckingham directed both Fleetwood Mac and Rumours, but he dominates here, composing nearly half the album, and giving Christine McVie's and Stevie Nicks' songs an ethereal, floating quality that turns them into welcome respites from the seriously twisted immersions into Buckingham's id. This is the ultimate cocaine album -- it's mellow for long stretches, and then bursts wide open in manic, frantic explosions, such as the mounting tension on "The Ledge" or the rampaging "That's Enough for Me," or the marching band-driven paranoia of the title track, all of which are relieved by smooth, reflective work from all three songwriters. While McVie and Nicks contribute some excellent songs, Buckingham owns this record with his nervous energy and obsessive production, winding up with a fussily detailed yet wildly messy record unlike any other. This is mainstream madness, crazier than Buckingham's idol Brian Wilson and weirder than any number of cult classics. Of course, that's why it bombed upon its original release, but Tusk is a bracing, weirdly affecting work that may not be as universal or immediate as Rumours, but is every bit as classic. As a piece of pop art, it's peerless. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	05/31/2024
Label:	Wea Int'l
UPC:	0081227815653
Rank:	134873

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Fleetwood Mac   Primary Artist,Vocals
John McVie   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Bass)
Christine McVie   Piano,Vocals,Keyboards,Percussion,Lead Vocals,Synthesizer,Organ (Hammond)
USC Marching Band   Horn,Percussion
Lindsey Buckingham   Guitar,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Featured Artist
Mick Fleetwood   Drums,Congas,Percussion
Peter Green   Guitar,Featured Artist
Stevie Nicks   Vocals,Percussion,Tambourine,Lead Vocals
U.S.C. Trojan Marching Band   Ensemble
Jeffrey Sova   Keyboards
Tony Todaro   Percussion
Ray Lindsey   Guitar

Technical Credits

Ken Caillat   Mixing Engineer,Engineer,Producer,Audio Engineer
Bob Welch   Composer
Biff Dawes   Engineer
Bill Inglot   Engineer,Producer,Issue Producer,Mixing Engineer,Reissue Producer,Associate Reissue Producer
Ken Perry   Engineer,Mastering,Mastering Engineer
John McVie   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Group Member
Christine McVie   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Group Member
Carla Frederick   Assistant Engineer
Fleetwood Mac   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Steve Woolard   Producer,Reissue Producer,Associate Reissue Producer
Jorge Calderon   Composer
John Strother   Project Assistant
Lindsey Buckingham   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Group Member,Track Engineer
Richard Dashut   Engineer,Producer,Audio Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Mick Fleetwood   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Group Member
Mike Love   Composer
Jason Day   Project Supervisor
Brian Kehew   Engineer,Mixing Engineer,Remastering Engineer
Brian Wilson   Composer
David Ahlert   Assistant Engineer
Keith Olsen   Producer
Vincent Herring   Composer
Peter Green   Composer
Stevie Nicks   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Group Member
Jim Irvin   Liner Notes
Hernan Rojas   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Sheryl Farber   Project Assistant
Peter Beard   Photography
Tim Fraser-Harding   Project Supervisor
Mike Johnson   Project Assistant
Vigon Nahas Vigon   Design,Art Direction
Norman Seeff   Photography
Jayne Odgers   Photography
Daniel Hersch   Engineer,Remastering,Reissue Producer,Mastering Engineer,Remastering Engineer
Lisa Glines   Project Assistant
Dave Brolan   Project Assistant
Matt Smyth   Project Assistant
Kate Dear   Project Supervisor
Rory Wilson   Reissue Design
Olivia Thomas   Product Manager
Amanda J. Smith   Repackaging Supervison
Greg Thomason   Crew
Rich Feldman   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Raymond Lindsey   Crew
Mike Wilson   Project Assistant
Patrick Byrne   Crew
Trip Khalaf   Engineer