Buckingham Nicks is the self-titled 1973 album recorded by the duo of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, just a few short years before they attained mega-stardom as members of Fleetwood Mac. They didn't know it at the time, but Buckingham Nicks served as their audition tape for the Mac. In 1974, Fleetwood Mac's lineup was down to Mick Fleetwood and John and Christine McVie, and the trio were looking for replacements for ex-members Bob Welch and Bob Weston. When they came across the Buckingham Nicks recording and heard Lindsey's guitar playing, they knew right away that they wanted him in the band. After Fleetwood contacted him and asked him to join, he decided he would come aboard if his then-girlfriend Stevie did. The rest, as they say, is history. The reconstituted quintet soon recorded their self-titled 1975 album Fleetwood Mac, which outsold the band's previous records; their next album, 1977's Rumours, is one of the best-selling albums of all time.
The Buckingham Nicks album was out of print for many decades, and for obvious reasons was a much-sought-after (not to mention much-bootlegged) collector's item. The reasons for the long-term unavailability of the album were never clear, but the often-given reason was that Buckingham did not want it to be reissued. Whatever the reasons actually were, the album was finally given an official reissue in September 2025, in CD and digital formats. Also, a limited edition vinyl issue was sold through the Rhino website, limited to 5,000 copies, as well as another limited edition which contained two bonus 7-inch singles, limited to 2,000 copies.
Buckingham Nicks is not exactly a solid album. It was a commercial failure at the time of its release, and was not well received by critics, who probably lumped it in with the countless folk-rock and singer-songwriter offerings of its day. But time has been kind to the album, as its importance to music history has helped it gain more recognition. Buckingham has always been an impressive guitarist, and his playing on this album shows him in respectable form. Nicks' now-famous voice is likable and heartfelt here. The songs are more than a little interesting. The album includes an early version of the song "Crystal", which was re-done on the duo's first album with Fleetwood Mac. Some of the tunes (like the opening track "Crying In The Night" and the up-tempo "Don't Let Me Down Again") sound similar to songs the pair would later create with Fleetwood Mac, making it clear what ingredients they brought to that band. Other tracks (like the Southern-flavored "Lola (My Love)") sound notably different from the better-known work of the two performers. Buckingham Nicks is a decent record on its own merits, but its true value comes from its historical significance, and the sense of mystery that was maintained during its many years of unavailability.
(Notes: "Crying In The Night" was released as a single in '73, with the instrumental "Stephanie" as its B-side (Polydor PD 14428). The single version of "Crying In The Night" had a heavier guitar sound than the album version, but the alternate sound mix was technically awkward. The limited Singles Edition of the album, issued in 2025, contained two 7-inch vinyl singles with the single edits of those two tracks, as well as the single edits of the songs “Don't Let Me Down Again” and “Races Are Run”. The track "Long Distance Winner" was included on the 1998 Stevie Nicks box set Enchanted. Before 2025, countless unauthorized Buckingham Nicks releases appeared, including CD's issued in South Korea in 2016 and in Japan in 2017 by the Big Pink label. Although the Big Pink CD's are unofficial, they have been given high marks for sound quality).
Track Listing:
1. Crying in the Night -- (Nicks)
2. Stephanie -- (Buckingham)
3. Without A Leg To Stand On -- (Buckingham)
4. Crystal -- (Nicks)
5. Long Distance Winner -- (Nicks)
6. Don't Let Me Down Again -- (Buckingham)
7. Django -- (Lewis)
8. Races Are Run -- (Nicks)
9. Lola (My Love) -- (Buckingham)
10. Frozen Love -- (Nicks / Buckingham)
See also Cunningham Bird
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