Back to Buckingham Nicks: The Album That Started It All
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham are notoriously the situationship of a generation. They have experienced both highs and lows throughout their careers and shared their true, raw feelings through their art in ways that exceed many other artists. Their history dates back to the 1960s when they met in high school and their relationship was thrust into the spotlight after joining Fleetwood Mac in 1975.
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Before joining the band, they released their debut album Buckingham Nicks on September 5, 1973 and received little to no promotion from their label. Nicks recalls going into record stores and never finding her album on the shelves. Although the album was not a market success, it changed their lives forever when Mick Fleetwood heard their song “Frozen Love” and invited the duo to join his band. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks continued their careers along with Fleetwood Mac and never released their debut album on CD or digital. Very few official vinyls exist and many copies are bootlegs including additional songs by the duo. Some songs such as “Crystal” and “Long Distance Winner” were released years later on Stevie Nicks Box Sets or revamped for Fleetwood Mac albums.
Their distinct sound and unique talents really stand out on this record and highlight exactly what kind of magic they brought to Fleetwood Mac. The record explores themes that still resonate today and give listeners a glimpse into the early days of their relationship. For fans of Fleetwood Mac, it acts as a perfect prequel to the stories they share throughout future Fleetwood Mac albums.
Throughout their decades-long career, Nicks and Buckingham have been open about their personal struggles and strained, sometimes toxic, relationship. It came as a shock in 2025 when the duo joined forces and took a page from Taylor Swift’s book, dropping easter eggs to tease the remastered version of their album in July 2025. In an Instagram post, Nicks wrote “and if you go forward…” and Buckingham wrote “I’ll meet you there”. Days later, a Buckingham Nicks billboard appeared on the sunset strip and the release of their lead single “Crying in the Night” surprised and delighted fans.
The album features ten tracks, each one offering something a little different and allowing both Nicks and Buckingham to shine in their own ways.
“Crying in the Night” opens the album and explores the struggle of being in an unsteady relationship. One where you know the ending but continue to let yourself get invested anyway. “Say, you needed someone to depend on, you're all alone/ She's the only one who come take you far away/ Take your breath away/ But she'll leave you crying in the night”. The classic guitar and harmonies between the duo creates a strong feeling of nostalgia and feels like a classic.
“Stephanie” is 2 minutes of instrumental, a testament to Lindsey Buckingham’s ability to tell a story with just his guitar. It is soft, optimistic, and bright, reminiscent of his work on Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Never Going Back Again’. “Django”, another instrumental only track, is much sharper and conveys a completely different message. Buckingham’s talent and expertise shine throughout the record and highlight how much he brought to the table.
“Long Distance Winner” was written by Nicks about Buckingham and explores the themes of living with a “difficult musician”. The duo has always been extremely vulnerable when sharing their relationships and using their art as a way to communicate with one another. This is a common theme throughout their discographies and this song gives audiences a look into the start of these musical conversations. In a 1998 interview with Billboard Magazine, Stevie Nicks said she wrote the lyrics “Sunflowers and your face fascinates me” about Buckingham stating that “[his] beauty fascinates me, but I still have trouble dealing with [him] – and I still stay”. Throughout the song, she expresses that, despite this difficulty, she will always be there and declares him the winner. Their harmonies throughout the song feel like a conversation between the two and creates an intense and vulnerable feeling.
“Frozen love” was the song that changed everything for Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. It is a seven minute declaration that, no matter how difficult relationships can be, they will always be there for each other.
“And if you go forward (You go forward), I'll meet you there/ And if you climb up through the cold freezing air/ Look down below you, search out above/ Cry out to life for a frozen love/ Cry, love”
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Listening to this song in 2025 allows it to take on a whole new meaning and emphasizes the extremely special bond shared between the duo. From meeting in high school to becoming some of the most successful artists of their generation, they have endured both high highs and low lows but they continue to come back together. The lyrics beautifully foreshadow this surprise reunion and explains their deep and unbreakable bond.
“It may be hard to keep up with me/ I'll always, yes, I'll always going to be able to reach you”.
Their harmonies and strong guitar and drums makes this feel like a passionate and powerful declaration between two people who have each other’s back through thick and thin.
After 52 years, Buckingham Nicks still stands as a classic rock and roll album. It acts almost as a prequel to the success and artistry that both Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham achieved throughout their careers. As a fan of Fleetwood Mac, I feel very lucky to experience this record and gain a better understanding of the value and particular genius that this duo brought to Fleetwood Mac. It is also very special to hear their stories from before they found commercial success and notice common themes between Buckingham Nicks and their future projects. This album offers something for everybody and is truly a testament to the undeniable talent of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. 50 years was long enough, Buckingham Nicks is streaming now! Time to go listen!!!
