Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

The group had two couples going through turmoil, and you had Stevie cheat with Mick, while still being with Lindsay, who I would call the musical director/leader.

I'm sure many albums have been made during strife, and the example I'm thinking of is mild, compared to some who have to keep working while dying to support themselves financially, or to lose ones' self with the music to avoid a living hell, but you can be the judge.

Please describe the conflicts, since we don't all know the possible band's history. And don't hesitate to mention prog-rock; I just wanted a more broad discussion.

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Allan Holdsworth Road Games. Eddie Van Halen got Allan a record deal with Warner Bros., Ted Templeman, exeuctive producer. They wouldn't let Allan do what he wanted, and they dropped him after that album. The record was never finished, had only six tracks, released as an EP. They were trying to get Allan to be more commercial and he said no.

They should have known who they were getting, especially with Eddie's help.

I wonder how exactly they wanted him to be more commercial? No instrumentals? More happy choruses in the key of 'G' and 'D'? Popular singers?

Thanks for the mention, I think I'll listen to that today.

The last (and best) Abba album was made when both couples were already separated or in the process of splitting up.

A favourite Abba song of mine is "One Of Us", and I find the professionality mind-boggling with which Agnetha sings this song about regretting a split up and even confessing that it was she who provoked it written for her by her ex-husband. (Probably in reality it wasn't quite like that, but anyway... maybe that was because she could deliver it.)

Portnoy especially complained about Kevin Moore being difficult to work with and later the story repeated while working on OSI's second album Free, Kevin annoyed Mike again. 

the only "conflict" was with the label which forced them to make an album, contractual obligations. 

they weren't the poster children of VH1's Behind the Music for nothing.. nor for just one album.  Mick Fleetwood earned every single dollar he put up his nose keeping that group together as it seemed to fall apart after each album between religous freaks, drunks, martial affairs, and fake Mac bands...

Well, at least I love the Beach Gees album, even if no one else around here does. 

The recording of this album was fuelled with conflicts between Sebastian and his musicians about its direction. I guess this is what shapes its intensity. It is clearly one of his best.

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Allan Holdsworth Road Games. Eddie Van Halen got Allan a record deal with Warner Bros., Ted Templeman, exeuctive producer. They wouldn't let Allan do what he wanted, and they dropped him after that album. The record was never finished, had only six tracks, released as an EP. They were trying to get Allan to be more commercial and he said no.

And yet, as with many albums full of conflict and tension, it's one of his best releases.

I was gonna say Vol. lV, but I think Sabbotage is more apropos.

There's a reason Bruford peaced lol.

true, and even worse conflict on The Final Cut. 

Camel was contractually obliged to make two more albums, Andy Ward attempted suicide after years of drug addiction and bi-polar disorder and couldn't drum as a result of a self inflicted injury. Camel was essentially reduced to just Andy Latimer so pretty much every song has a different lineup including Anthony Phillips, a guest appearance from Peter Bardens and a good chunk of the Alan Parsons Project.

Honestly though, it's not a terrible record, it's just very "okay" front to back in my opinion. Some pretty good cuts in there. Stationary Traveler, now that's a great record!

I did not know that about Andy Ward. I know (there are videos fortunately) he briefly drummed for Marillion, in 1983, before Mosley joined. 

Yeah he struggled for years, this live video kinda sums up the really bad condition and mental state he was in. He looks completely out of it in this clip

agreed!

Must also mention The Police's Synchronicity, which had literal fistfights between Sting and Stewart Copeland.

Well, when you know Let It Be is their second-last album (Abbey Road) was recorded after, but released before), that would make two of them in a row.

CCR also had a very tense album (Pendulum) that lead to bother Tom leaving the band - the tensions were the same as for The Police - about songwriting space.

And let's not count on the Davies brothers (Kinks) or the Gallagher brats (Oasis) physically fighting during their best (ahem ) albums.

And all of G'nR's albums were done under extreme tensions... though none could be called good (let alone great)

MortSahlFan wrote: Fleetwood Mac - Rumours The group had two couples going through turmoil, and you had Stevie cheat with Mick, while still being with Lindsay, who I would call the musical director/leader.

You missed the other half of it, with Christine McVie cheating on John and sleeping with the road manager and writing You Make Loving Fun about him and have the cuckold play bass on it.

Cristi wrote: Umeda wrote: The Wall, maybe? Obvious one though true, and even worse conflict on The Final Cut.

Not sure the tensions were worse on TFC.

Nick Mason left before the album was done, Gilmour was treated like a session musician. Like many people say, TFC was a Roger Waters solo album with the Pink Floyd's name on it. 

Mason has left the band?? that's the first time I hear this. He wasn't very interested in playing drums at the time (busier racing his collection of vintage cars). Which is why there is an additional drummer.

Having spent all of his ideas on his first solo albums and the leftovers used on The Wall (Run Like Hell, Young Lust  and Numb), Gilmour had nothing to propose so he went along with Roger's whims.

As far as I know, he still had something to say and Waters did ask him for advice.

So I'm not sure there were all that many bad feelings during the time of recording TFC, but they might've surfaced when TFC sold poorly (compared to The Wall)

And more strife than during the elaboration of The Wall??

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