<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3YFOCx_0vxEVcPw00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3YFOCx_0vxEVcPw00" width="396" height="396" ></figure>By 1982, one might say Fleetwood Mac was past its prime. Its best recorded material, bookended by 1975’s self-titled album and 1979’s Tusk, was already behind it. The age of ‘70s excess was passed and a new musical era was dawning. The group’s 1982 album, Mirage, was something of a return after the experimental Tusk; however, it was also to some degree a paler imitation of past album glories. Mirage Tour ‘82 captures the band live promoting their latest album, rendered here in a three-LP set taken from two nights at The Forum in Inglewood, CA. First off, 12 of the tracks here were part of the 2016 Mirage (Deluxe Edition) release, and an additional three were previously released on the Fleetwood Mac Live (Deluxe Edition) from 2021. But six additional tracks (“Don’t Stop,” “Dreams,” “Oh Well,” Never Going Back Again,” Landslide,” and “Sara,” if you’re keeping track) are original to this set. And apart from the quality of these six unique tracks, all part and parcel of the Fleetwood Mac 1982 live experience presented here, the whole show as presented is a terrific document of a band that sounds intent on proving its best days were in fact not behind it.The set begins with fun harmony-laced interplay between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham on the opener, “Second Hand News,” and continues with Buckingham sounding at his most unhinged on a fiery version of “The Chain.” “Don’t Stop” sounds played out, which I suppose it was, and “Dreams” sounds uninspired, which again I suppose by 1982 it was. But by the time the show really gets moving though, things pick up nicely. Buckingham plays the heck out of “Oh Well.” Christine McVie’s “Brown Eyes” stands out for its detached cool. Buckingham’s terrifically jumpy, yelp-filled “Not That Funny” also features some nice sputtering bass work by John McVie. A slowed down “Never Going Back Again” highlights Buckingham’s fingerpicked guitar. “Landslide” is sublime perfection, and “I’m So Afraid” is a highlight for its slow-burn intensity. By the time Mirage Tour ‘82 closes with the trio of “Blue Letter,” “Sisters of the Moon,” and McVie’s gem “Songbird,” it’s clear that, despite Fleetwood Mac’s best recorded material being in the rearview, its live show was still a juggernaut. (www.rhino.com)Author rating: 7.5/10 </div></body>

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Mirage Tour ‘82

By 1982, one might say Fleetwood Mac was past its prime. Its best recorded material, bookended by 1975’s self-titled album and 1979’s Tusk, was already behind it. The age of ‘70s excess was passed and a new musical era was dawning. The group’s 1982 album, Mirage, was something of a return after the experimental Tusk; however, it was also to some degree a paler imitation of past album glories.

Mirage Tour ‘82

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