By ANNIE ZALESKI
April 2, 2017
Salon.com

Lindsey Buckingham’s producer and engineer toiled day and night for 18 months to make the triple platinum album

On March 31, Rhino Records released a deluxe edition of Fleetwood Mac‘s “Tango in the Night.” First released in 1987, the LP embodies the era’s glossy combinations of flashy rock ‘n’ roll and airy synth-pop. Layers of gauzy harmonies envelop Christine McVie compositions “Little Lies” and “Everywhere;” glittering keyboards add melancholy to the Stevie Nicks-helmed “Seven Wonders;” and jagged, lightning-bolt guitar riffs cut through “Isn’t It Midnight” and the title track.

Despite its effortless sound, the record took 18 months to make. Nicks was absent for most of the proceedings, owing to a packed tour schedule for her 1985 solo record “Rock a Little” and then a trip to Betty Ford to get sober from cocaine (the “Tango in the Night” song “Welcome to the Room. . . Sara,” in fact, is about this rehab visit). Prior to the launch of Fleetwood Mac’s tour in support of the record, Buckingham left the band. The core group of Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood wouldn’t reunite and play together until 1997.

Despite the rocky genesis, “Tango in the Night” became one of the band’s biggest-selling studio records: The record is certified triple platinum, trailing only ’70s juggernaut “Rumours” in terms of sales, and spawned multiple Top 20 Billboard singles, including the Top 5 hits “Big Love” and “Little Lies.”

For a certain segment of Fleetwood Mac fans, this album is as important as “Rumours.” In fact, the LP is a sonic touchstone for modern production, particularly in the way pop-leaning acts seamlessly combine electro and rock influences. HAIM’s soft-glow synth-rock, Best Coast’s lush production and the plush approach of countless electropop acts all nod to “Tango in the Night.” On the cover tip, synthesizer-heavy act Hot Chip has performed “Everywhere” live, while Hilary Duff did an EDM-influenced studio version of of “Little Lies.” Continue reading “He could be brash; he could be harsh. He was very motivated”: The real story behind Fleetwood Mac’s “Tango in the Night” | Salon →