Album Review — Tusk (1979) — Fleetwood Mac
Tusk is the twelfth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on October 19, 1979, via Warner Bros. Records. Serving as the highly anticipated follow-up to the massively successful Rumours (1977), Tusk represents one of the most ambitious and experimental projects in Fleetwood Mac’s career.
While Rumours epitomized polished soft rock, Tusk pushed boundaries with avant-garde production, unconventional song structures, and experimental sounds, largely driven by Lindsey Buckingham’s creative vision. The album is a double LP, blending rock, pop, new wave, and experimental textures, showcasing the band’s fearless willingness to innovate at the height of their fame.
🎶 Tracklist
Side One
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Over & Over – 4:39
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The Ledge – 4:35
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Think About Me – 3:39
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Save Me a Place – 3:55
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Sara – 6:23
Side Two
6. What Makes You Think You’re the One – 3:39
7. Storms – 4:40
8. That’s Enough for Me – 2:35
9. Not That Funny – 4:15
10. Brown Eyes – 4:50
Side Three
11. Never Make Me Cry – 3:43
12. I Know I’m Not Wrong – 5:12
13. Honey Hi – 3:12
14. Beautiful Child – 5:36
Side Four
15. Walk a Thin Line – 3:19
16. Tusk – 10:45
Total length: ~75:12
Hit singles / standout tracks:
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Tusk – experimental title track featuring the USC Trojan Marching Band, a daring 10-minute single
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Sara – epic Christine McVie ballad blending soft rock with complex arrangements
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Think About Me – upbeat pop-rock single with Christine McVie’s vocals
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Not That Funny – edgy, experimental Lindsey Buckingham track highlighting his avant-garde tendencies
🧑🎤 Album Credits
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Artist: Fleetwood Mac
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Title: Tusk
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Released: October 19, 1979
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Label: Warner Bros. Records
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Producer: Fleetwood Mac & Richard Dashut, Ken Caillat
Band Members:
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Lindsey Buckingham – guitar, vocals, producer, experimental instrumentation
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Stevie Nicks – vocals
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Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals
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John McVie – bass
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Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion
Additional Musicians:
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USC Trojan Marching Band – featured on Tusk (title track)
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Various studio contributors – percussion and backing elements
🎸 Musical Style & Highlights
Tusk is widely regarded as a boundary-pushing rock/pop experiment, featuring:
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Avant-garde and experimental rock: Lindsey Buckingham employed non-traditional recording techniques, layered instrumentation, and unconventional rhythms.
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Pop-rock sensibilities: Christine McVie’s tracks like Think About Me and Sara provided catchy melodies and radio-ready hooks, balancing the album’s experimental edge.
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Folk-rock and ballads: Tracks like Storms and Brown Eyes highlight softer, introspective songwriting.
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Epic arrangements: The title track, Tusk, merges rock with marching band instrumentation, creating a 10-minute progressive masterpiece.
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Vocal harmonies: Nicks, McVie, and Buckingham maintain lush harmonies, keeping the experimental tracks cohesive and melodic.
Standout tracks include:
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Tusk – ambitious title track with USC Marching Band, symbolizing the album’s experimental nature
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Sara – Christine McVie’s beautifully layered ballad, inspired by her personal relationships
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Think About Me – radio-friendly Christine McVie track with upbeat pop-rock hooks
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Not That Funny – edgy, distorted Lindsey Buckingham track showcasing his avant-garde approach
📈 Reception & Commercial Performance
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Upon release, Tusk received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its innovation and others comparing it unfavorably to Rumours.
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Commercially, the album was a major success despite its experimental nature:
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US Billboard 200: #4
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UK Albums Chart: #1
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US Sales: Over 3 million copies, certified triple platinum
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Worldwide sales: ~4 million copies
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Singles like Sara and Tusk charted successfully, and the album solidified Fleetwood Mac’s status as innovative and fearless artists at the height of fame.
🎉 Fun Facts & Trivia
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Title track uniqueness: Tusk features the USC Trojan Marching Band, recorded in 1978, creating a rock-marching band fusion that was unprecedented for a mainstream album.
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Buckingham’s obsession: Lindsey Buckingham reportedly recorded over 100 takes of some tracks, experimenting with sound and effects to achieve perfection.
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Sara’s inspiration: Christine McVie wrote Sara about her personal relationships, creating one of Fleetwood Mac’s most enduring ballads.
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Double album ambition: Tusk was a risk at a time when double albums were expensive, showing the band’s commitment to artistic experimentation.
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Album cover: The iconic black-and-white photograph was a deliberate contrast to the polished, commercial image of Rumours, signaling a new artistic direction.
💡 Did You Know?
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Tusk is often cited as an early influence on alternative and indie rock, with its experimental production and daring arrangements inspiring future generations of musicians.
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Lindsey Buckingham used found sounds, tape loops, and layered vocals extensively on this album, a precursor to later studio experimentation in pop and rock.
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Despite the album’s experimental reputation, Christine McVie’s tracks ensured it remained accessible to mainstream audiences.
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The album was later reissued as a deluxe edition in 2004, featuring alternate takes and demos, revealing the band’s creative process.
Conclusion
Tusk stands as one of Fleetwood Mac’s most daring and innovative albums, balancing radio-friendly pop-rock with avant-garde experimentation. Tracks like Tusk, Sara, Think About Me, and Not That Funny demonstrate the band’s willingness to take risks, pushing the boundaries of mainstream rock at the peak of their fame.
For fans of Fleetwood Mac, experimental rock, or boundary-pushing pop, Tusk is an essential listen, representing a bold artistic statement that still resonates over 40 years later.
