Feature Photo: Dana Nalbandian / Shutterstock.com
Our Top 10 Fleetwood Mac Album Covers list will look at a legendary rock band from the 60s. Fleetwood Mac is one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time. The band has sold over 120 million albums worldwide. The band has numerous hit singles throughout their career. They have one of the best-selling albums in history with Rumours. The album sold over 40 million copies worldwide. They have won two Grammy Awards. They have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The band has had their ups and downs because of their personal demons but it didn’t stop them from being one of the most successful bands of all time.
Fleetwood Mac has a variety of images for their album covers. The band appeared on some of the album covers because they were a pretty good-looking group of musicians; they also use imagery for their album covers. The album covers aren’t dull. No matter what the band uses for the album covers, they will give you a great impression of the band. The photographers did an excellent job creating the album covers. They didn’t steer the band wrong. Fleetwood Mac’s music is memorable, and so are their album covers. Our Top 10 Fleetwood Mac Album Covers list will pay homage to one of the greatest bands in music.
# 10 – Tusk
The first pick on our Top 10 Fleetwood Mac Album Covers list is Tusk. Tusk is Fleetwood Mac‘s 12th studio album. This was an expensive album at the time. The album was more experimental than their previous albums. Lindsey Buckingham didn’t want this album to be anything like Rumours. The album cover is a black and white picture of a dog tugging at the pants leg of its owner. The owner is the band’s producer Ken Caillat. He is wearing dark pants and black socks. He is wearing a black and white sneaker. The picture is a snapshot of the two. The snapshot is on a beige background. There are colorful dots in the background. The band’s name is written on two split borders. Fleetwood is written in white letters while Mac is written in black letters on top of the cover. The album title is written in the beige background. The title is written in red letters.
The initial album cover was supposed to be of the band, but they disagreed about the picture. They wouldn’t pose together for the cover. Designer Jayme Odgers had a hard time getting the shot of the band. He went in a different direction. He took a picture of their producer’s dog tugging at his pant leg. Fleetwood Mac loved the idea, and it became their album cover. It doesn’t fit with the album, but it is a playful-looking picture. It is a realistic picture that you would have in your house. You can smile at This type of album cover while listening to the music.
Jayme Odgers is a graphic designer who has worked with Fleetwood Mac, Gary Wright, Ian Matthews, Marc Jordan, The Floaters, Crusaders, Johnny Rivers, Marilyn Scott, Oingo Boingo, Ry Cooder, and others. Tusk was released in October 1979. The album peaked at number four on Billboard 200. Tusk features the singles “Tusk,” “Sara,” “Not That Funny,” “Think About Me,” “Sisters of the Moon” and “Angel.” The album sold over two million copies.
# 9 – Fleetwood Mac: Live in Boston
The next pick on our Top 10 Fleetwood Mac Album Covers list is Fleetwood Mac: Live in Boston. Fleetwood Mac: Live in Boston is their eighth live album. This is a cd/dvd collection of Fleetwood Mac’s concert. The album cover features a picture of the band on stage. Stevie Nicks is in the back. She is wearing a black dress. She has something draped on her shoulders. Her hair is in her face. Her head is turned to the left. Her arms are stretched out. Lindsey Buckingham is in the middle of the picture. He is wearing a white shirt. He is holding a guitar. He is looking down.
John McVie is to the left of the cover. He is wearing a white hat. He is wearing a white shirt with a black vest. His head is turned to the right. He is playing the bass guitar. Mick Fleetwood is on the right side of the cover. His picture is taken from the left side. He is wearing a microphone on the left side of his face. He is wearing a white shirt with a black vest. He is wearing a red scarf around his neck. There are white bands around his wrist. His hands are on his stomach. His mouth is open as if he is in the middle of singing. There is a light behind Stevie Nicks. The band’s name is in red letters, while the album title is in blue letters.
Photographers Neal Preston and Karen Johnston took candid pictures of the band. They are all in the middle of performing on stage. The image is dark. The band’s white shirts give the picture light. They look as if they are enjoying themselves while they are performing. Neal Preston and Karen Johnston did a great job photoshopping the picture to make it look as if the band was together in the shot. The photographers paid particular attention to Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham because their pictures are more prominent than John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. We will leave that one alone.
There is no imagery or special effects in the picture. It wasn’t needed because the band was all the cover needed. Neal Preston has worked with Fleetwood Mac, Heart, Jim Capaldi, Eddie Harris, Alice Cooper, Robert Klein, Stray Dog, The Crusaders, Paul Williams, ZZ Top, The Who, Captain & Tennille, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, Kiss, as well as others. Karen Johnston has worked with Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, Wasted Youth, Azymuth, and others. Fleetwood Mac: Live in Boston was released in June 2004.
# 8 – Fleetwood Mac (1968)
The eighth pick on our Top 10 Fleetwood Mac Album Covers list is Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac (1968) is Fleetwood Mac’s debut studio album. The album was also called Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac. This album is a blend of covers and original songs. The album did well in the UK. The album cover features a stray dog in a back alley. The alley has garbage cans. Two of the garbage cans have writing on them. There is trash on the ground. There are sides of buildings in the alley. The band’s name is written in bold white letters on the wall of the building. The other title of the album is featured at the bottom of the album cover in white letters.
The album cover is a picture of a lonely dog. The lonely dog was a symbol of the blues. Fleetwood Mac wanted the listeners to see what was happening in the world. The band wasn’t shy about expressing their concern about social issues. The picture looks like what you would see in an alley. The album cover doesn’t match the album’s theme, but it will give you something to think about while listening to their music. This doesn’t look like a typical album cover. It is a conversation piece that may have you thinking about life. It is a nice shot. The picture is crisp and clear. It looks like a picture you would see in a portfolio. Fleetwood Mac (1968) was released in February 1968. The album peaked at number 198 on Billboard 200 and number four on the U.K. charts. The album sold over 150,000 copies.
# 7 – Say You Will
The seventh pick on our list is Say You Will. Say You Will is Fleetwood Mac’s 17th studio album. This is the first album the band recorded without Christine McVie being a full member since the 70s. This is the last album Lindsey Buckingham participated in before he left the band. The album cover features a black and white picture of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. They are lying down in the picture. They are on opposite sides. Stevie Nicks is lying down with her head towards the top of the album cover. She is wearing a black lacy outfit. The picture is taken from her left side. Her body is turned to the right. Her hair is wavy. Her right arm is lifted while her left hand is on her hip. Her knees are bent.
Lindsey Buckingham is lying down with his head towards the bottom of the album cover. He is wearing a black shirt and pants. The shirt is open. The picture is taken from his left side. His left hand is on his stomach, while his right hand is lifted above his head. His right knee is bent. There is an alternate cover where he is on the left, and she is on the right. You can see shots of John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, but they are cut out. The band’s name is in red, and the title is written in white.
Karen Johnston, Neal Preston, and Herbert W. Worthington III worked together to create this cover. There was tension in the band, especially with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. The photographers give a nod to the rocky relationship between the stars by having them in opposite directions. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham may have been separate, but they need each other to be whole. This is a clever way to have the stars on the cover without being near each other. The image is a nod to the movie poster Double Suicide.
The characters on the poster are posed in a similar way to this cover. Choosing a black-and-white photo makes the picture more dramatic. Herbert W. Worthington III was a photographer who has worked with Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, The Buddy Miles Band, White Chocolate, Shawn Phillips, Rory Block, Dirty Angels, Matthew Moore, Arthur Lee, Lita Ford, Air Supply, Tom Petty, as well as others. Say You Will was released in April 2003. The album peaked at number three on Billboard 200. Say You Will features the singles “Peacekeeper,” “Say You Will,” “Murrow Turning Over in His Grave” and “Miranda.” The album sold over 500,000 copies.
# 6 – Mystery to Me
Mystery to Me is Fleetwood Mac’s eighth studio album. The band recorded radio friendly music for the album. The album cover features a vibrant picture of a baboon on a beach. The baboon is eating a cake. It has the frosting from the cake on its mouth and right finger. The baboon has a tear coming out of its left eye. The frosting from the cake is on the sand. There is a book on the sand that has a bite mark on it. The sky is blue so it must be a sunny day. There is a shot of the ocean. Some of the water from the ocean is on the sand. The band’s name and album title are on the top left of the album cover. The letters are dark blue.
This is a unique picture. It is not everyday you see a baboon on the beach eating cake. It represents the fact that anything, even baboons, can have its cake and eat it too. Modula designed an interesting way to show that anything is possible. The cover is interpretive because it could be about wanting the cake and not wanting to read. The baboon could be crying because the book wasn’t good. The illustration doesn’t match the theme of the album cover, but it can go with the album title. The meaning of the cover is a mystery to the fans.
Modula used a mix of bright and dark colors for the illustration. It looks like a perfect day to be on the beach with a book or cake. We wouldn’t recommend being on the beach with the baboon. Modula has worked with Fleetwood Mac, Curved Air and Camel. Mystery to Me was released in October 1973. The album peaked at number 67 on the Billboard 200. Mystery to Me features the singles “Hypnotized,” “For Your Love,” “Emerald Eyes,” and “Believe Me.” The album sold over 500,000 copies.
# 5 – Kiln House
The next pick on our Top 10 Fleetwood Mac Album Covers list is Kiln House. Kiln House is Fleetwood Mac’s fourth studio album. The album title was taken from where the band was staying at the time. The album cover is an animated picture of two girls in the woods. They look like they are on their way somewhere. The girl on the left is pointing ahead of her. She is wearing a green, red and black dress. She is wearing green socks and red shoes. She has her hair in a braid.
The girl on the right is wearing a red and white striped shirt with blue shorts. She is wearing red socks and blue shoes. She has her left hand on the other girl’s shoulder. There is a dog behind the girls. There is a stuffed animal and a bird on the ground. Two birds are flying in the air. There are colorful trees with figures in them. The band’s name and album title are on a tree. They are written as if they are directions.
Christine McVie illustrated the artwork for the album cover. She proved that she was a talented artist in addition to being a talented singer, songwriter, and musician. She found a creative way to pay homage to the place where the band used to live. The picture has psychedelic vibes to it. Christine McVie had an active imagination because she had things in trees that wouldn’t usually be there. The colors on the album cover are eye-catching. She used every color possible for the picture. She captured a simple and playful time between two girls. Kiln House was released in September 1970. The album peaked at number 69 on the Billboard 200. Kiln House features the singles “Hi Ho Silver,” “Station Man,” “This Is the Rock,” and “Buddy’s Song.”
# 4 – Tango in the Night
Tango in the Night is Fleetwood Mac’s 14th studio album. This is the final album to feature the successful line up of Fleetwood Mac. The band went through drama during the recording of the album. Despite the drama, the album went on to be a success. It is the second hoggest-selling album from the band. The album cover is an homage to painter Henri Rousseau. The album cover features a picture of a jungle. There are trees in the picture. There is a pond in the jungle. There are animals in the jungle. There is a moon in the sky. The sky has a yellow haze. There are stars in the sky. There is a black border around the picture. The band’s name is on the top left of the album cover. The album title is on the top right of the album cover.
Artist Brett-Livingstone Strong painted a romantic and elegant picture. He did an excellent job interpreting Henri Rousseau’s painting The Snake Charmer. Brett-Livingstone Strong put his own spin on the painting. He made the picture appropriate for the band. It is the perfect companion with the album’s theme. He managed to make a jungle look romantic. Fleetwood Mac chose a painting to represent the album instead of using their picture. Brett-Livingstone Strong mixed dark and bright colors for the picture. The painting looks lifelike. It looks like something that would be hanging in a museum. Brett-Livingstone Strong has worked with Fleetwood Mac, Air Supply and Michael Jackson. Tango in the Night was released in April 1987. The album peaked at number seven on Billboard 200. Tango in the Night features the singles “Big Love,” “Seven Wonders,” “Little Lies,” “Everywhere,” “Family Man” and “Isn’t It Midnight.” The album sold over 15 million copies.
# 3 – Fleetwood Mac (1975)
Coming in at number three on our list is Fleetwood Mac (1975). Fleetwood Mac (1975) is Fleetwood Mac‘s 10th studio album. The album is sometimes called the White album by fans. This is the album where Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks made their debut. There was drama behind the scenes while they were recording this album. The album cover is black and white. The entire band isn’t featured on the cover. The cover features a picture of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie.
Mick Fleetwood is standing with a cane. He is dressed in a black suit. He is holding the cane in his right hand. He is drinking champagne. It is a profile picture taken from his right side. John McVie is kneeling in the picture. His knees are in his shoes. He is wearing a white shirt and black pants. There is a crystal ball in the air. Their reflection is in the crystal ball. They are standing in a white doorway. The background is white. The band’s name is written in black letters on top of the cover.
Herbert W. Worthington III allowed Mick Fleetwood and John McVie to dress up on the cover. The cover gave them a chance to be seen. Herbert W. Worthington III wanted to focus on the rhythm section for the album cover. The album cover is different because there is a crystal ball in it. The crystal ball and doorway add to the intrigue of the picture. This is a captivating cover. Mick Fleetwood and John McVie strategically stand by their names on the cover. We are curious as to why John McVie has his knees in his shoes. The use of black and white adds class to the picture. Fleetwood Mac was released in July 1975. The album peaked at number one on Billboard 200. Fleetwood Mac features the singles “Over My Head,” “Warm Ways,” “Rhiannon,” and “Say You Love Me.” The album sold over seven million copies.
# 2 – Mirage
Mirage is Fleetwood Mac’s 13th studio album. This album had a softer rock sound than their previous album Tusk. The album cover is a picture of Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Christine McVie is standing behind Lindsey Buckingham on the left side of the cover. She is wearing a black and white dress. She is wearing a hat on her head.
The picture is taken from her right side. Lindsey Buckingham is looking to his right. His picture is taken from the left side of his face. He is wearing all black. He is holding Stevie Nicks as if they are dancing with each other. Stevie Nicks is on the right side of the cover. She is wearing a black dress. Her head is leaning back. Her picture is taken from her left side. She has her left hand on Lindsey Buckingham’s shoulder and the other in his hand. The background is black. The band’s name and album title are written in white letters on the top right.
This is another album cover that doesn’t feature the entire band. George Hurrell took a seductive picture of Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks look like they are in the middle of dancing. Christine McVie looks as if she is waiting for her turn. If you notice, Lindsey Buckingham looks as if he is being distracted from the dance. He is not paying attention to Stevie Nicks in the picture. She looks as if she is lost in the dance. She is feeling the moment while he looks distracted.
George Hurrell captured what was going on between the couple. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks may have been going through problems, but their chemistry shined in the picture. The picture is amazing and looks like a love triangle from a movie or soap opera. George Hurrell was a photographer who liked to take pictures of Hollywood stars in the 30s and 40s. He worked with Fleetwood Mac, Cass Elliot, Keith Carradine, Donny & Marie, Tom Waits, Bette Midler, Melissa Manchester, Aretha Franklin, Minnie Riperton, Barry Manilow, Tom Snow, Helen Reddy, Freddie Mercury, Queen, Paul McCartney, Talking Heads, as well as others. Mirage was released in June 1982. The album peaked at number one on Billboard 200. Mirage features the singles “Hold Me,” “Gypsy,” “Love in Store,” “Oh Diane” and “Can’t Go Back.” The album sold over two million copies.
# 1 – Rumours
Rumors is the number one pick on our Top 10 Fleetwood Mack Album Covers list. Rumours is Fleetwood Mac’s 11th studio album. This is the band’s best-selling album. The album was done during breakups of relationships within the band. Band members were battling addictions. The drama of both situations was incorporated into the music. The album cover is black and white. It is a similar picture to their self-titled album Fleetwood Mac (1975). This time around, Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks are in the picture together. He is on the left of the cover. He is wearing a black and white outfit. He has his foot on a footstool.
The picture is taken from his right side. His hair is in a ponytail. He is holding a crystal ball in his left hand. Stevie Nicks is on the right side. Her picture is taken from her left side. She is wearing a black dress with a cape. She is in a ballerina pose. Her leg is draped on Mick Fleetwood’s leg. Her hair is draped over her shoulders. Their reflections are in the crystal ball. The background is cream colored. The band’s name and album title are written in black letters on the right of the cover.
Herbert W. Worthington III recreated the same picture he did for their self-titled album. The album cover reflects the band’s problems during this time. The album cover has a lush soap opera feel. He took a dramatic picture of Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks. Herbert W. Worthington III is inviting the listeners into Fleetwood Mac’s world.
The crystal ball was a metaphoric look into what was happening behind the scenes. This is one of the band’s iconic album covers. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this one is telling us everything we need to know. Rumours was released in February 1977. The album peaked at number one on Billboard 200. Rumours features the singles “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “Don’t Stop” and “You Make Loving Fun.” The album sold over 40 million copies worldwide.
Updated February 11. 2024
Top 10 Fleetwood Mac Album Covers article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
