A$# 023 Buckingham Nicks | Buckingham Nicks

This album did not sell all that many copies when it was released in 1973, and it did not get much notice at first. But one person who noticed was Mick Fleetwood. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Buckingham Nicks is, of course, the debut album put out by the musical duo and lovers at the time) Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks (or Stevi Nicks, as she spelled it then). When Mick heard the album, he asked them to join the evolving Fleetwood Mac - which set the stages for the superstardom and mega-success that group would enjoy throughout the second half of the 1970s and beyond.

So one might argue that in a way BN was a very influential album. It was the tipping point for bringing a creative duo together with a more established group, and the former infused the latter with the extra boost it needed to fly to the top. (That's not to ignore the huge talent of fellow Maccer Chrisinte McVie, though.)

Certainly you can hear the influences that the two would bring to bear on the Mac. These songs sound like the artistic (and logical) precursors to the work that Stevie and Lindsey would do later on. In fact, one of the tracks, Crystal, would be remade on the self-titled Mac album of 1975.

The album gets off to a strong start with Stevie's Crying In The Night, and continues on from there. There is not a weak track in the bunch. Two instrumentals, Stephanie and Django, showcase Lindsey's skill on the guitar, and the other songs show the knack the two have for exploring relationships within the confines of a pop song. There's only one cowrite, Froven Love. Stevie contributes four of her songs (thought Lindsey sings on Crystal), and Lindsey has five, including his two instrumentals.

The standout track for me is Without A Leg To Stand On:

There's so many fine people
That I believe in
They don't care where I'm going
It's not their show
I got nothin' but time
No time for living
I used to be somebody
But that was so long ago

Look around but you won't see me
Just a picture of what I used to be
There ain't nothin' to set me free
Without a leg to stand on

The big question is: Why can't we buy this great album on CD? There are some unofficial pressings around (recorded from vinyl), but for some reason, it's never had an official release in a digital medium (but for one track, Long Distance Winner, which is on Stevie's box set).

I don't know the answer to that. Try to find a copy on vinyl if you can. I bought mine in 1979 when Fleetwood Mac were in the stratosphere.

Track listing:

Side 1:
1. Crying In The Night
2. Stephanie
3. Without A Leg To Stand On
4. Crystal
5. Long Distance Winner

Side 2:
1. Don't Let Me Down Again
2. Django
3. Races Are Run
4. Lola (My Love)
5. Frozen Love