Tonight I’m going with one of my favorite, and, in my
opinion, most underrated guitarists on the music scene. Lindsey Adams Buckingham was born October 3, 1949 in Palo Alto,
CA. the youngest his parent’s three boys. As a child, all three were
competitive swimmers and although Lindsey gave it up for music, his brother
Greg won a silver medal at the 1968 Olympics.
He started out
playing a $35 Harmony guitar copying the music of guitarists like Chet Atkins,
the Beach Boys, and the Kingston Trio. In 1972, he and his then-girlfriend,
Stevie Nicks cut seven demos on a 4-track machine and headed off to Los Angeles
to find a record deal. A year later, Polydor signed them to a contract and
their first album, Buckingham Nicks,
was released in September of 1973. While the album was critically acclaimed, it
sold poorly and Polydor dropped them.
They continued
playing Los Angeles and did some limited touring with a variety of bands to
make ends meet. But in mid-1974, while visiting Sound City Recording Studios,
Mick Fleetwood heard “Frozen Love” from the Buckingham
Nicks album and was impressed by the guitarist. Coincidentally, Buckingham
and Nicks were in the studio and they were introduced. In December, when Bob
Welch left Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham was offered a slot in the band. Lindsey
told Mick he and Stevie were a team and he wouldn’t join without her. Both were
hired without an audition.
Lindsey was
with the group from 1975 to 1987 and although their eponymously titled 1975
album reached number one on the American charts, it was their second album, Rumors, that propelled the band to
super stardom when it became one of the best selling albums of all time and
featured Lindsey’s song, “Go Your Own Way.” Unfortunately, after Rumors, Stevie
split from the band and the overall chemistry of the group went sour. Yet in
1997, after Buckingham and Fleetwood finished a separate collaboration on some
of Lindsey’s solo work, the band got back together, including Nicks, and
embarked a reunion tour entitled, “The Dance.”
Buckingham is
strictly a fingerpicker and was ranked 100th in Rolling Stone’s 2011
list of the 100 greatest guitarists. He uses a variety of guitars, but is most
frequently seen playing a custom guitar designed by Rick Turner, the owner of
Renaissance Guitars. His picking style is distinctive and instantly
recognizable and coupled with his songwriting and vocals, especially in duets
with Nicks, represents some darn fine music. Enjoy!
Never going back again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHyQS9blvIc
Big Love & Landslide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSwyhc4gA3k
Go insane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o_YI_PgK0o
Bleed to love her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhYq3FVTzZk
Go your own way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OhwNAB7O5w
Here comes the sun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg8xaRADDa4
Shut us down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-27F8EcJ1SQ
Say goodbye: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtxoHDAeJ6s
Stars are crazy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffjMs6azMAM
So afraid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGyJ8CITZGQ
Rock away blind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V19nw5UXKc0
Lindsey’s music often conjures ups a dark brooding
mood and I can think of no more appropriate wine than a 2010 Stolpman Syrah
($24.00). This is one of my favorite Syrah’s with aromas of black raspberry,
chocolate, coffee, and spices. The flavors follow the nose balanced between
dark fruitiness and excellent minerality with a touch of black pepper on the
finish. It’s a juicy wine, but not a fruit bomb like some Syrahs. It’s an
excellent match for listening to the music of one of the all time great
guitarist-singer-composers.
Cheers!
