Review: Fleetwood Mac Opens Up Vaults For ‘Mirage Tour ’82’ – Not Essential, But Still A Great Listen

I saw that Fleetwood Mac has once again opened the vaults and released another live album. This time it was from the Mirage Tour ’82, recorded in Los Angeles. This was preceded last year by the release of Rumours Live, taken from the 1977 tour for that iconic album. And if you’re really keeping score, that was preceded in 2021 by the (re) release of an extended version of their 1980 double-live album from the Tusk tour, Fleetwood Mac Live. I believe much of this music on the new live album was available before on a DVD released back in the 80s. And a few of these songs from the Mirage tour were on that aforementioned extended edition of Fleetwood Mac Live. But other than all that, this is a newly available audio version of the live album and for the first time they’ve released the complete show in the correct running order of the actual performance. With all those live albums celebrating tours past, one might think this is overkill but any time you can hear these world class musicians play together it’s going to be a treat.

After singer/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and singer Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac’s then remaining members – John McVie (bass), Christine McVie (vocals/keyboards), and Mick Fleetwood (drums) – the chemistry just clicked. Actually they originally wanted to hire only Lindsey but he insisted that he and Stevie were a package deal. Their 1975 self-titled album, (aka their White Album) and of course Rumours (1977) were enormously successful albums. Following up an album like Rumours is an impossible task and so Lindsey Buckingham decided to take the band in a more experimental direction for the follow-up, Tusk. Punk rock was hitting the scene and a lot of bands reacted to that and Lindsey was no exception. Tusk did relatively well for a double-studio album but it didn’t sell in the numbers the preceding two albums sold. No follow-up would top Rumours. Personally, I loved Tusk, and recall fondly going into my brother’s room to listen to his copy of it.

The rest of the band were rather peeved at Lindsey who had kind of taken over and dominated the sessions for Tusk. He recorded a lot of stuff at home, including some vocals in his bathroom. Mick drove over to his house when the album was released and said something to the point of, “Lindsey, you blew it.” You’d have thought the two principle romantic relationships (the McVie marriage/Buckingham & Nicks) ending would have caused a ripple in the band. No, it was the failure of Tusk that destabilized the band. Stevie launched her solo career in ’81 with Bella Donna which was a huge success. Lindsey, realizing he was never going to be allowed to do the “weird” stuff in Fleetwood Mac again also released the impenetrable Law And Order, also in ’81. It sounds like it was thrown together over a weekend… although I always liked the single “Trouble.”

When the Mac reconvened in ’81/’82 to record the follow up, there was a tacit agreement to do a more “commerical,” less experimental album. Power dynamics had shifted in the band and Buckingham’s total control had slipped a bit due to Tusk’s perceived failure. Also, Stevie was coming off a very successful album and had more pull in the band. I guess that’s how she convinced them to record their first ever country-rock song, “That’s Alright.” I love that track and included it on my Country Rock Songs Playlist. While a band pulling back on the creativity sounds like a recipe for disaster, and Mirage is a very safe album, it had a lot of hits. Christine McVie’s “Hold Me” was a big hit – I remember seeing the video on MTV all the time – and of course Steve Nick’s song “Gypsy” was the biggest hit from the record. The calculation of making a more commercial album didn’t really work as Mirage sold fewer copies than Tusk. I love the record, it made my “Dirty Dozen” list of albums only I like, but again even I’ll admit, it was very safe.

I was intrigued by this document from the Mirage Tour ’82. Looking at the album cover I guess this was the tour I used to refer to as the Buckingham “Silly Hat” tour. For some reason I thought the Tusk tour was when he wore the stupid hat. They didn’t play anywhere near where I live so I didn’t see them and I sure wish I had. This may not be Fleetwood Mac when they were on top of the world, but it’s still pretty damn good. Lindsey Buckingham plays his ass off. His guitar playing is not only melodic but muscular. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Of course we get another version of the always 9-minute long, laborious “Not That Funny” which boggles the mind… how do you stretch that song out that long? The late Christine McVie sounds her usual, wonderful, dependable self on this record. Stevie Nicks sounds virtually unhinged. On her version of “Sisters Of The Moon” here, towards the end, she starts speaking in tongues. I figured she was trying to turn Buckingham into a newt. She gave him a verse to sing in that song which also surprised me. The rhythm section is just pure bedrock.

The set is strikingly similar to the setlist on the Fleetwood Mac Live album. The band clearly knows what’s popular and start off with a string of Rumours songs. “Second Hand News” was an odd start, but it works. “The Chain” is as rocking as you would expect. “Dreams” is a song I never tire of hearing. They then go back to that great Peter Green era with a version of “Oh, Well.” I saw Lindsey interviewed years later saying he hated singing “other people’s songs.” Compare that with how willing and eager Mike Campbell was to play those old blues songs when he briefly joined the Mac. No wonder they fired Lindsey. I do love that the new Mirage tracks are represented here. “Love In Store,” “Hold Me,” and “Gypsy” all get a spin. I love hearing fresh material live. I’d have loved to have heard the slinky, sexy “Straight Back” from Stevie, but oh well.

Lindsey does “Never Going Back Again” and Stevie does “Landslide” which was a nice acoustic kick off to the second disc. The end of the show is when things really kick in. “I’m So Afraid” just rocks. From there they light up “Go Your Own Way,” and an unexpected “Blue Letter.” “Sisters of the Moon” ends the main set and I’m telling you, that song is worth the price of admission here. They probably had to throw buckets of water on Stevie when she was done. The encore is the beautiful “Songbird” which is the perfect ending to a great, very enthusiastic show. Again, not peak Fleetwood Mac, but still pretty damn good.

The original band would only record one more album, the more successful Tango In The Night in 1987 right before Buckingham’s first departure. I enjoyed Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie, but would have loved Nicks to contribute for a full-on Mac album on that one. Hindsight is 20/20. For now, let’s just enjoy these fabulous live, vault releases…

Cheers!