^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
The Los Angeles Times gave the album 3.5/5 stars, commenting that "ithout Buckingham's obsessively unique vision, the group has embraced an all-for-one, one-for-all attitude for what sounds like the most truly group effort since Rumours, or perhaps even since 1972's Bare Trees." Rolling Stone rated it as 4/5 stars, claiming that "the addition of Rick Vito and Billy Burnette is the best thing to ever happen to Fleetwood Mac" and that "ot since Rumours has Fleetwood Mac recorded pain so unwaveringly and sounded this together." Track listing No. AllMusic retrospectively gave the album 1.5/5 stars, their lowest rating of any Fleetwood Mac album, calling Buckingham's departure "a severe blow" for the band and saying that "the songs are among the least inspired the band ever recorded." Other critics, however, praised the new line-up.
So it therefore did not seem to take nearly as long." Critical reception Professional ratings Review scores "It's not that we didn't take as much time, it's more that the time that we did take was quality time. As noted by Nicks, the album was easier to record compared to their other work. Although Buckingham did play acoustic guitar on the title track, Behind the Mask deviated from the ornate production found on earlier Fleetwood Mac albums in favor of adult oriented rock. In need of a new producer, the band hired Greg Ladanyi, who had worked on some of Don Henley's solo albums.
The new members got the opportunity to record a full album in 1989 when the band began the Behind the Mask sessions. Once the tour wrapped up, Fleetwood Mac went into the studio to record two new songs for their Greatest Hits compilation album, released in 1988. For the accompanying tour, the band recruited Billy Burnette and Rick Vito to replace him. In 1987, shortly after the release of Tango in the Night, long-time guitarist/vocalist/producer Lindsey Buckingham had left the band.
The original CD release for the album was one of the first to be encoded with the CD+G format, which allows graphics to be shown on a TV screen in time with the music, such as pictures and lyrics. Campbell would join Fleetwood Mac in 2018. The song "Freedom" was written by Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell. "Stand On the Rock" would be covered a year later by popular CCM group The Imperials on their album Big God with Jonathan Pierce on lead vocals. The album cover earned a Grammy nomination in 1991 for "Best Album Package". He stated that the band did not wish to appear on the front cover of the album and Mick Fleetwood himself suggested that he create an image that "spiritually symbolised" the band instead. The cover for the album was created by photographer Dave Gorton. Following the album's release and subsequent world tour, bandmembers Stevie Nicks and Rick Vito left the band, though Nicks would rejoin in 1997. Though it barely reached the US Top 20, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 and achieved platinum status there. "Save Me" and "Skies the Limit" were much more successful in Canada, where they both reached the Top 30.
The album was not as successful as its predecessor, Tango in the Night, nor did it spawn any big hit singles although " Save Me" made the US Top 40, while " Love Is Dangerous" and " Skies the Limit" enjoyed some airplay. Fleetwood Mac thus became a six-piece band with four singer/songwriters.
He was replaced by Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, both guitar players, singers and songwriters. It was the first album released by the band after the departure of guitarist Lindsey Buckingham (although he did play acoustic guitar on the album's title track). The Complex (Los Angeles, California) Vintage Recorders ( Phoenix, Arizona).īehind the Mask is the fifteenth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 9 April 1990.