Mirage --- Fleetwood Mac --- 1982 (Warner Bros)
A more radio-friendly outing for a Fleetwood Mac which was already splitting, "Mirage" was a huge commercial success, with several hit singles. With Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham back in the fold, albeit one temporarily, it was the last album the band would put out for five years, before their smash comeback, the multi-platinum "Tango in the night". There are some great tracks on it --- "Gypsy", "Eyes of the world", "Wish you were here", "Only over you" --- but some weak ones too.
As usual the girls take the spotlight, Christine and Stevie singing the best tracks on the album, but you can hear the cracks widening as the discomfort in particular Stevie and Lindsey feel at being back together show. Five years later they seemed more reconciled, but here there's definite tension. Didn't hurt the sales of the album though, and five years apart seemed to have rejuvenated and revitalised the band, who came back in 1987 with an album that blew away just about everything they'd ever done, bar "Rumours".
Perhaps there was something in the title: though you don't hear it in the music, much of the cameraderie here has less substance than that mirage.
TRACKLISTING
1. Love in store
2. Can't go back
3. That's alright
4. Book of love
5. Gypsy
6. Only over you
7. Empire State
8. Straight back
9. Hold me
10. Oh Diane
11. Eyes of the world
12. Wish you were here