That Eric Alper

 Buckingham Nicks, the only studio album by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks as a duo, will be reissued for the first time on September 19. Originally released in 1973 and unavailable for decades, the album has been sourced from the original analog master tapes for its long-awaited return to vinyl, as well as hi-res digital files for its CD and digital release. 

Released on September 5, 1973, Buckingham Nicks quickly faded from commercial view but never disappeared from the cultural conversation. Recorded at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles and produced by Keith Olsen, the album introduced Nicks and Buckingham’s tightly wound harmonies and sharply contrasting songwriting voices across 10 tracks—ranging from the folk-rock shimmer of “Crystal” to the sunbaked strut of “Don’t Let Me Down Again.” 

Its legend only grew with time. In late 1974, Mick Fleetwood visited Sound City while scouting studios to record Fleetwood Mac’s next album. To showcase both his production work and the studio’s sound, Olsen blasted “Frozen Love” for Fleetwood in Studio A. The song reflected the full scope of the album’s ambition and chemistry—and immediately caught the drummer’s attention.

Soon after, when Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch left the band, Fleetwood reached out to offer Buckingham the spot. Instead of agreeing, Buckingham insisted that he and Nicks were a package deal. Fleetwood agreed, and on New Year’s Eve 1974, the two officially joined Fleetwood Mac—launching one of the most celebrated chapters in the band’s history.

Though their work with Fleetwood Mac would eclipse it commercially, Buckingham Nicks endures as a testament to what came just before: a partnership in full creative bloom. “[We] knew what we had as a duo, two songwriters that sang really well together. And it was a very natural thing, from the beginning,” Nicks recalls in the Rhino High Fidelity liner notes, written by longtime music journalist David Fricke. 

They may have been inexperienced when they made the album, Buckingham says, “but it stands up in a way you hope it would, by these two kids who were pretty young to be doing that work.”

Buckingham Nicks (Rhino High Fidelity) was cut by Kevin Gray from the original masters and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal. Available exclusively at Rhino.com and internationally at select Warner Music Group stores, the album is limited to 5,000 individually numbered copies. A special version (limited to 2,000 copies) includes two replica 7-inch singles featuring the original single mixes of “Crying In The Night” b/w “Stephanie” and “Don’t Let Me Down Again” b/w “Races Are Run.” 

The record opens with a Nicks original, “Crying In The Night, “an earthy preview of what was coming for Fleetwood Mac with cascading harmonies.” The track is available digitally today ahead of the full release. 

Buckingham Nicks will be available from Rhino on CD and digitally with remastered sound by Chris Bellman, who also cut lacquers for several 1LP color vinyl variants: Custard (Amazon), Baby Pink (indie stores), Violet (Books A Million, and Baby Blue (general retail).

BUCKINGHAM NICKS (RHINO HIGH FIDELITY) 

LP Track Listing

Side One

1. “Crying In The Night”
2. “Stephanie”
3. “Without A Leg To Stand On”
4. “Crystal”
5. “Long Distance Winner”

Side Two

1. “Don’t Let Me Down Again”
2. “Django”
3. “Races Are Run”
4. “Lola (My Love)”
5. “Frozen Love”

BUCKINGHAM NICKS SINGLES

1. “Crying In The Night” (Single Version)
2. “Stephanie” (Single Version)

1. “Don’t Let Me Down Again” (Single Version)
2. “Races Are Run” (Single Version)