Just because the 40 million people who own a copy of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours dig “Go Your Own Way” and “Second Hand News,” it doesn’t mean that Lindsey Buckingham’s cover of Skip & Flip’s early-‘60s ballad “It Was I” (from 1981’s Law And Order) and the mile-a-minute “One Take” (a track from new solo album Seeds We Sow, whose hyper pace could lead one to the conclusion that Buckingham is once again using that white stuff Fleetwood Mac was once synonymous with) are for them. Buckingham’s solo records—mostly D.I.Y. affairs that are alternately polished and primal, soft rock in style and punk rock in spirit—aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But the six studio albums (in addition to a live album and his various soundtrack contributions) the singer/guitarist/songwriter/producer has released independent of Fleetwood Mac do merit the cult-like fanaticism they’ve inspired.
Don’t have time to sample them all? We’ve taken the liberty of making you a mix featuring the choicest tracks.
“Seeds We Sow” (download):
“Trouble,” Law And Order, 1981
This early MTV staple is soft-rock bliss, as Buckingham pays homage to his roots with an Elvis-like vocal delivery and wicked, dreamy Beach Boys harmonies. And that finger-picked acoustic solo is as powerful as a Les Paul cranked through 100 Marshalls. Video
“Mary Lee Jones,” Law And Order, 1981
Law And Order is definitely the most playful of Buckingham’s solo albums. Nothing typifies that playfulness quite like this track, which answers the musical question, ‘What would Roy Wood have sounded like making records in 1957?’ Audio
“Love From Here, Love From There,” Law And Order, 1981
More playful stuff on this Les Paul-style jitterbug, where Buckingham’s one-man-band approach is fine-tuned. Dig that crazy snare drumming! That quirky symphony of guitar parts! Audio
“Holiday Road,” National Lampoon’s Vacation, 1983
The first of a handful of soundtrack contributions Buckingham made while in and out of Fleetwood Mac was his best. It sounds like he crawled into Brian Wilson’s sandbox with one of those weird Rick Turner guitars and a drum machine and had fun, fun, fun. Video
“Go Insane,” Go Insane, 1984
A glimpse into where Buckingham’s head was at during Mac’s most fractious period (“I lost my power in this world/’Cause I did not use it”). With its now pleasingly dated synth and drum-machine sound, the slick pop of “Go Insane” was the sharpest left solo turn he’d taken up to that point. Video
“Countdown,” Out Of The Cradle, 1992
The canned guitar and drum sounds only enhance the infectiousness of “Countdown.” The ubiquitous-ness of “Don’t Stop” during Bill Clinton’s ‘92 presidential campaign—and Buckingham’s reunion with Mac for the inauguration—cast this single to the margins. But it’s a summery gem, which Buckingham caps with a signature searing solo. Video
“Say We’ll Meet Again,” Out Of The Cradle, 1992
Buckingham’s Beach Boys/Les Paul & Mary Ford fascination manifests itself on this spare and breezy ballad, which closes Out Of The Cradle in most gentle fashion. If not for the sparkling production, you’d think it was some deep cut on an oldies station. Audio
“Under The Skin,” Under The Skin, 2006
The family Buckingham had started in the 14 years between solo albums heavily informed the mood of his 2006 comeback, especially on this quiet emotional storm of a title track, where Buckingham whisper-sings over a bed of drum loop tick-tock and acoustic-guitar jangle. Video
“Shut Us Down,” Under The Skin, 2006
Ever wondered what Iron And Wine would sound like if Sam Beam had gone to Berklee? If so, check out this acoustic track, in which Buckingham’s heated whisper tangles with some virtuoso finger-picking in a loose time signature. Video
“Time Precious Time,” Gift Of Screws, 2008
Buckingham builds this track around swells of multi-tracked acoustics, upon which he finger-picks a speedy triplet pattern. Yeah, it’s a little show-offy. But anyone who can shred like that and fit a heavenly melody on top should feel free to do so. Video
“Gift Of Screws,” Gift Of Screws, 2008
Proving he still had some Tusk oddness in him, “Gift Of Screws” stands out like a sore thumb on the album of the same name. That figurative sore thumb might’ve been attained by slamming it in the door of the rubber room where Buckingham (with help from Mick Fleetwood) probably tracked the tune’s caveman drums and batshit-crazy yelps. Video
“Illumination,” Seeds We Sow, 2011
Blending the lunatic fringe feel of Tusk with the grabby hooks and harmonies of “Go Insane,” “Illumination” is a short-and-sweet dose of simple pop, decorated with random overdubbed drum fills and fancy acoustic-guitar filigree. It’s as if Buckingham is letting us know that at 61, the madness hasn’t faded. Video
—Patrick Berkery
