Buckingham Nicks Album Gets First Official Reissue After 52 Years

Feature Photo: Bumperke, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

The legendary 1973 recording that introduced the world to the duo before they joined Fleetwood Mac made its CD and streaming debut in September 2025.

After more than half a century out of print, one of rock music’s most sought-after albums finally returned to store shelves. The self-titled Buckingham Nicks album, recorded by Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham two years before they became household names with Fleetwood Mac, received its first comprehensive reissue on September 19, 2025, through Rhino Records.

I can’t tell you how many times I have bought and sold the original vinyl LP on eBay over the years. When I needed money, I’d sell it. When I had extra money, I would buy another one. It was always priced high, but it was always worth it.

The announcement ended what many collectors had long considered the most glaring omission in music reissue history. After disappearing from U.S. retail in the early 1980s, the album had been available primarily through the secondary market, where original pressings commanded premium prices and bootleg copies filled the void left by its absence.

A Digital Debut Decades in the Making

Perhaps most remarkably, the September 2025 release marked the album’s first official appearance on CD, as well as its debut on streaming services and digital download platforms. The reissue was prepared from the original analog master recordings for vinyl editions, while high-resolution digital transfers served the CD and digital releases.

Music journalist David Fricke contributed new liner notes featuring interviews with both artists. In excerpts released by Rhino, Nicks reflected on their early partnership: “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.” Buckingham added that the work “stands up in a way you hope it would, by these two kids who were pretty young to be doing that work.”

Multiple Formats for Devoted Fans

Rhino planned an extensive rollout across various formats. A premium 180-gram vinyl pressing on the Rhino High Fidelity imprint, cut by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, was limited to 5,000 numbered copies sold through Rhino.com and select international retailers.

An even more exclusive edition, capped at 2,000 copies, included reproductions of two original 7-inch singles: “Crying In The Night” backed with “Stephanie,” and “Don’t Let Me Down Again” paired with “Races Are Run.” These singles featured the original single mixes from the 1970s.

Beyond these limited offerings, standard vinyl versions were issued in multiple color variants. Amazon carried a custard-colored pressing, independent record stores stocked baby pink editions, brick-and-mortar retailers offered violet vinyl, and general retailers had baby blue variants.

The Album That Changed Everything

The timing of this reissue carried special significance, as “Buckingham Nicks” was directly responsible for the duo’s recruitment into Fleetwood Mac. Originally released in September 1973 to modest commercial reception, the album caught the attention of Mick Fleetwood over a year later during a studio visit to Sound City. Producer Keith Olsen played the record to demonstrate the facility’s capabilities, leading Fleetwood to offer Buckingham the frontman position vacated by Bob Welch.

Crucially, Buckingham insisted that Nicks be included in any deal, resulting in both artists joining Fleetwood Mac at the end of 1974. Some material originally intended for a second Buckingham Nicks album eventually found its way onto Fleetwood Mac’s breakthrough 1975 self-titled release.

Social Media Teasers and Fan Speculation

The announcement followed a clever social media campaign that had fans speculating about potential new collaborations. Nicks posted “And if you go forward…” on her accounts, while Buckingham completed the thought with “I’ll meet you there.” Sharp-eyed followers recognized these lyrics from the album track “Frozen Love,” correctly deducing that a reissue was imminent rather than new material.

A Long-Awaited Return

The album’s extended absence from print had puzzled industry observers for decades. Both artists had previously indicated in early 2010s interviews that a reissue was imminent, yet milestone anniversaries came and went without resolution. The 40th anniversary passed in 2013, followed by the 50th in 2023, making this 52-year gap particularly notable.

Despite the iconic album cover featuring both artists topless, shot by photographer Jimmy Wachtel, there were no indications that imagery concerns factored into the delay. The reissue retained the original artwork, putting to rest fan speculation about potential alternative packaging.

For longtime admirers and newcomers alike, September 19, 2025, marked the end of an era when one of rock’s most influential albums had remained frustratingly out of reach.