Behind the Mask (album)
Encyclopedia
Behind the Mask is the 15th studio album
by British
/American
rock
band Fleetwood Mac
, released in 1990
. It was the first album released by the band after the departure of guitarist
Lindsey Buckingham
. He was replaced by Billy Burnette
and Rick Vito
, both guitar players, singers and songwriters. Fleetwood Mac thus became a six-piece band with four singer/songwriters. 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. Though it barely reached the US Top 20, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 and achieved platinum status there.
The cover for the album was created by photographer, Dave Gorton. He stated that the band did not wish to appear on the front cover of the album and Fleetwood himself suggested that he create an image that spiritually symbolised the band instead.
Additional personnel
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
/American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
, released in 1990
1990 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
. It was the first album released by the band after the departure of guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American guitarist, singer, composer and producer, most notable for being the guitarist and male lead singer of the musical group Fleetwood Mac. Aside from his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has also released six solo albums and a live album...
. He was replaced by Billy Burnette
Billy Burnette
William Beau "Billy" Burnette III is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter who was part of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1995. Burnette also had a brief career in acting.-Family background:...
and Rick Vito
Rick Vito
Rick Vito is a guitarist and singer. He was part of the band Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991.Vito and Billy Burnette took over as guitarists after Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac....
, both guitar players, singers and songwriters. Fleetwood Mac thus became a six-piece band with four singer/songwriters. The album was not as successful as its predecessor, Tango in the Night
Tango in the Night
Tango in the Night is the 14th studio album by the British-American band Fleetwood Mac. Released in April 1987, it is the fifth and final studio album from the line-up of Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood....
, nor did it spawn any big hit singles although "Save Me
Save Me (Fleetwood Mac Song)
"Save Me" is a single released by British-American band Fleetwood Mac from their album Behind the Mask. It was the group's last top 40 hit in the U.S.- Credits :Fleetwood Mac* Christine McVie – keyboards, synthesizer, Lead vocals...
" made the US Top 40, while "Love Is Dangerous" and "Skies the Limit" enjoyed some airplay. Though it barely reached the US Top 20, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 and achieved platinum status there.
The cover for the album was created by photographer, Dave Gorton. He stated that the band did not wish to appear on the front cover of the album and Fleetwood himself suggested that he create an image that spiritually symbolised the band instead.
Track listing
- "Skies the Limit" (Christine McVieChristine McVieChristine McVie is an English rock singer, keyboardist, and songwriter. Her primary fame came as a member of the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac, though she has also released three solo albums...
, Eddy Quintela) – 3:45 - "Love Is Dangerous" (Stevie NicksStevie NicksStephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
, Rick VitoRick VitoRick Vito is a guitarist and singer. He was part of the band Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991.Vito and Billy Burnette took over as guitarists after Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac....
) – 3:18 - "In the Back of My Mind" (Billy BurnetteBilly BurnetteWilliam Beau "Billy" Burnette III is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter who was part of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1995. Burnette also had a brief career in acting.-Family background:...
, David E. Malloy) – 7:02 - "Do You Know" (C. McVie, Burnette) – 4:19
- "Save MeSave Me (Fleetwood Mac Song)"Save Me" is a single released by British-American band Fleetwood Mac from their album Behind the Mask. It was the group's last top 40 hit in the U.S.- Credits :Fleetwood Mac* Christine McVie – keyboards, synthesizer, Lead vocals...
" (C. McVie, Quintela) – 4:15 - "Affairs of the Heart" (Nicks) – 4:22
- "When the Sun Goes Down" (Burnette, Vito) – 3:18
- "Behind the Mask" (C. McVie) – 4:18
- "Stand on the Rock" (Vito) – 3:59
- "Hard Feelings" (Burnette, Jeff Silbar) – 4:54
- "Freedom" (Nicks, Mike Campbell) – 4:12
- "When It Comes to Love" (Burnette, Simon ClimieSimon ClimieSimon Climie is a songwriter/producer and the former lead singer of the UK pop duo Climie Fisher, who had hits with "Love Changes " and "Rise to the Occasion"....
, Dennis Morgan) – 4:08 - "The Second Time" (Nicks, Vito) – 2:31
Credits
Fleetwood Mac- Stevie NicksStevie NicksStephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Billy BurnetteBilly BurnetteWilliam Beau "Billy" Burnette III is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter who was part of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1995. Burnette also had a brief career in acting.-Family background:...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Rick VitoRick VitoRick Vito is a guitarist and singer. He was part of the band Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991.Vito and Billy Burnette took over as guitarists after Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac....
– guitar, vocals - Christine McVieChristine McVieChristine McVie is an English rock singer, keyboardist, and songwriter. Her primary fame came as a member of the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac, though she has also released three solo albums...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, vocals - John McVieJohn McVieJohn Graham McVie is a British bass guitarist best known as a member of the rock group Fleetwood Mac. His surname, combined with that of Mick Fleetwood, was the inspiration for the band's name...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Mick FleetwoodMick FleetwoodMichael John Kells "Mick" Fleetwood is a British musician and actor best known for his role as the drummer and namesake of the blues/rock and roll band Fleetwood Mac. His surname, combined with that of John McVie, was the inspiration for the name of the originally Peter Green-led Fleetwood Mac...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Additional personnel
- Lindsey BuckinghamLindsey BuckinghamLindsey Adams Buckingham is an American guitarist, singer, composer and producer, most notable for being the guitarist and male lead singer of the musical group Fleetwood Mac. Aside from his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has also released six solo albums and a live album...
– acoustic guitar on "Behind the Mask" - Asanté – percussion on "Freedom"
- Stephen Croes – synthesizer, keyboards
Production
- Producers: Greg Ladanyi and Fleetwood Mac
- Engineer: Greg Ladanyi, Bob Levy, Dennis Mays
- Assistant Engineers: Craig Porteils, Duane Seykora, Brett Swain, Paula Wolak
- Photography: Dave Gorton
- Mixing: Greg Ladanyi
- Mastering: Stephen Marcussen
- Programming: Stephen Croes, Dan Garfield
- Art Direction: Jeri Heiden
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | 1 |
| US | 18 |
Certifications
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Save Me Save Me (Fleetwood Mac Song) "Save Me" is a single released by British-American band Fleetwood Mac from their album Behind the Mask. It was the group's last top 40 hit in the U.S.- Credits :Fleetwood Mac* Christine McVie – keyboards, synthesizer, Lead vocals... " |
US Adult Contemporary | 6 |
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 3 | ||
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 33 | ||
| UK Singles Chart | 53 | ||
| "Skies the Limit" | US Adult Contemporary | 10 | |
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 40 | ||
| "In The Back Of My Mind" | UK Singles Chart | 53 | |
| "Hard Feelings" | US Adult Contemporary | - | |
| "Love Is Dangerous" | US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 7 | |