Rumours

Nothing has ever been simple about Rumours and the same can be said about the vinyl reissues from this year, of which there are three. First, there is the gold-standard, 2LP/45RPM, issue mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray. Next is the single LP/33RPM, again mastered by Hoffman and Gray. These two issues were designated for the United States, will always indicate they were mastered at Pallas, which is in Germany and, for those who really want to get down and dirty, will have this etched in the dead wax: "KG + SH @ ATM". To simplify matters, it is pretty much universally agreed the 45RPM version sounds better than the 33RPM version, and based on the nature of the manufacturing of LP's this makes sense even though both products were made from the same master-tape created by Hoffman and Gray. Finally, there is a rather mysterious, 2LP/45RPM issue designated for distribution outside of the US which was not mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray and, questions of the nature of the sound aside, DOES NOT represent Rumours as it came out of the box in 1977. What I just wrote is factual, and based on comments from Steve Hoffman on his web site concerning these releases. In the comment section below, I will provide many pertinent hyperlinks. Now let's break down what I have just written a bit more, beginning with matter of trueness to the original and then moving on to the sound (although the two do overlap some).In the process of preparing this reissue Hoffman and Gray were confronted with a myriad of puzzles. Many centered around the final track to this album, Gold Dust Woman. There exist at least three different endings to this song that can be found, even at the earliest stage of vinyl release. There exist at least two different beginnings to the song as well. Over time, Hoffman and Gray figured out the first vinyls pressed contained a countdown at the beginning of the song, not the fade-in that many are familiar with, and a certain progressing loud dynamic structure at the end. So this is what you will be getting on the Hoffman and Gray masters. As a side note, just to give two examples, the fade-in came into existence because, over time, the intro to this song on the master-tape used for most of the issues deteriorated and the solution chosen was to simply use a fade-in for this song to cover-up the deteriorated intro. As for the ending of this song, the dynamics proved too challenging for mastering techniques at the time so, very shortly after release, the dynamics of the song's end had to be dampened so that mass production of vinyl could occur without Warner Bros. having a bunch of albums returned because record players skipped, distorted, etc., the end of the song. Only the Hoffman and Gray masters contain the correct intro, e.g. the European issue has the fade-in, so the Hoffman and Gray issue is the truest to the original issue (Without much elaboration, there have been different versions of Second Hand News over the years, even beginning in 1977. The Hoffman and Gray issue contains the version found on the earliest vinyl issue.). Now let's move on to the sound.The objective part is to write that if what you want is the best sound, there is pretty much universal agreement the Hoffman/Gray 2LP/45RPM version trumps the Hoffman/Gray 1LP/33RPM version. There is some debate out there on the relative sound quality between the US and European 2LP/45RPM versions. As I have not heard the European version, I will not comment on this. But remember, the European version does not contain the truest-to-the-original version of Gold Dust Woman. What I feel comfortable in saying is this: If one takes the time to read the relevant threads on Steve Hoffman's web site concerning Rumours it is quite easy to have a fair number of questions about the European issue. So, in the words of former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld: with Hoffman and Gray we have a known known, with the European issue we have unknown unknowns.The subjective part is to comment on the sound of the Hoffman/Gray 2LP/45RMP issue. Personally, I think it is wonderful, but it may not be what you are used to. The reason for this is the sound of Rumours, even when it was selling millions of copies in 1977 and 1978, kept changing with different pressings. Again, this is documented in Ken Perry's notes, Ken did the original mastering, and these notes were used by Hoffman and Gray to prepare their issue. As nearly always, Hoffman did some tweaking, using tubes at times to master, adding a decibel or two of EQ here and there (this is not a lot). But what is most important is the work done by Hoffman and Gray did not damage the dynamic range of the material. There is always a certain amount of art that goes into a reissue, and this (the art) is one factor that can make a reissue more appealing to some and less to others. Another factor that can contribute, and this might play a larger role with this reissue, is the fact the vast majority of people who have heard Rumours have not have heard the content of the songs, in that which was their original state, until this issue. So familiarity, or lack of familiarity, will play a role. Finally, the quality of one's sound system will play a role as well (On that note, my system's front end is a Rega P324 with a Dynavector 20X2H cartridge and the back end is comprised of a pair of Quad 988's with a Rel Britannia B2 Sub-bass.).In conclusion, no one knows what the future will bring. A very compelling case can be made that if one's goal is to own something that is closest to what Ken Perry heard when he finished the first mastering of Rumours, and one owns a sound system that can do justice to a true audiophile recording, then you should strongly consider purchasing the Hoffman/Gray 2LP/45RPM edition given the combination of the improvements in record mastering techniques since 1977 (being able to get the dynamics of Gold Dust Woman right now when it couldn't be done in 1977 is an example), and the natural deterioration that takes place with magnetic tape. Finally, given what Hoffman and Gray had to go through to put this project together, again best explained by Hoffman himself on his web site, don't expect high-resolution files of Rumours that will rival this release any time soon unless they originate from the work done by Hoffman and Gray. And, come to think of it, even if you presently do not have the ability to make high-quality high-resolution files, or a fine conventional CD burn of an LP, purchasing this album now will at least give you the ability to do so down the line and, therefore, have a definitive high-resolution digital version of this album.Again, some time after posting this, I will add a comment with hyperlinks that will aid those who wish more information on the mastering process and the foundations for my conclusions.

A favorite

The shipping packaging was very good for a change - I've received LPs from Amazon that were shipped in bubble envelopes. This one arrived in an LP mailer that was in another box. The sound on this pressing was extremely clean - I ran felt cleaner over it before playing and it was crisp and artifact free. I've received MoFi LPs that didn't sound this clean out of the sleeve. Very pleased with this purchase.

The music industry used to refer to a bands best album as their "Sgt.Peppers" which I find particularly ludicrous considering how well loved every album the Beatles put out is among individuals! But none the less "Rumours" is considered Fleetwood Mac's "Sgt.Peppers" or best album as I prefer saying! Now that is saying a lot considering Fleetwood Mac had huge success in the U.K. as a powerhouse blues band, this earlier stage of the band is often referred to as "Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac" You might remember there hit song that got some U.S. radio airplay called "Oh Well", if you don't remember the songs title you might remember the songs opening lines ( Can't help it Bout the shape I'm in, can't sing I aint pretty & my legs are thin). The newly formed Fleetwood Mac with founding members Mick Fleetwood & John McVie, with new comers John's wife Christine McVie & the package deal of guitarist Lindsey Buckingham & Stevie Nicks. Veterans Mick & John really wanted Buckinghams guitar skills but didn't think Stevie had much to offer...BOY we're they mistaken! Luckily for the Band Lindsey stood firm stating they were a packaged deal!!! And well he should have as they were all but married! The new line up secured Fleetwood Mac hit the charts with there debut album being a great success, but no one was expecting there follow up album to be a giant!!! Especially the band itself as during the recording of what was to become "Rumours" John & Christine were going through a divorce & Lindsey & Stevie were likewise breaking up!!!! Knowing this, song's like "Go Your Own Way" & " You Make Loving Fun" begin to take on new meanings! Can you imagine John having to come up with great bass lines when his ex is singing about her new lover making love fun?!?! Talk about pressure!!! Its easy to hear the passion in "Go Your Own Way" when Lindsey & Stevie are literally Singing these stinging lines into one another's faces! Incredibly it would be the lanky maniacal drummer Mick Fleetwood that finding himself in the middle of all of this would be the glue that held them all together which Christine penned her gratitude to Mick in the song " Oh Daddy" Mick literally being the only father in the group. Now all the personal drama aside The album "Rumours" is one of those albums that should be in any serious Rock & Roll lovers collection! It is just that damned good & that's not just my personal opinion as it happens to be high on the list of Rolling Stones Top 100 album's of all time! Amazingly the band survived not only the relationship break ups but they would also be ridding themselves of some personal habits that not many survive to go on to make more great music together as well as some pretty powerful tours that would satisfy many a fan who saw them live on stage. The fact that they carried on as long as they did is miraculous as anyone who has ever had to work with an ex lover would understand immediately, wounds of the heart take the longest to heal, & sometimes the scar left behind never stops aching...ever! I think every song off this album received radio airplay & many are stables for classic rock stations today! In fact it was my wife who recently heard the opening track from Rumours on the radio & asked me what song it was, I asked how does it go & she sang me the lyrics " When times go bad. When times get rough. Won't you lay me down in the tall grass and let me do my stuff."& in stereo we both started mimicking Lindsey Buckingham's singing of the classic guitar riff instead of playing it. After laughing I said yeh I know that song its called "Second Hand News" from Fleetwood Mac's best album "Rumours"! I went upstairs & looked through my old vinyl collection & decided it was time to get on Amazon.com & replace that old gem onto C.D. Whether you have Fleetwood Mac's Greatest hits or not there are just some albums you want in your collection. Like Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak" or Blackfoots "Strikes" Paul Simon's "Graceland" Guns & Roses "Appetite for Destruction" I am sure if your a lover of classic rock you know exactly what I'm talking about! Music is a personal thing & everyone's taste differ but every memorable band has one of those albums & for Fleetwood Mac its "Rumours", some bands are so prolific they may have many. If you are a lover of classic rock you can't go wrong adding this album to your collection & this is coming from a casual Fleetwood Mac fan , not a die hard fan.

Good quality