Behind the Mask (album)
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Released 9 April 1990
Recorded 1989–90
Studio The Complex, Los Angeles, Vintage Recorders, Phoenix, Arizona
Genre Pop rock, rock
Length 54:26
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Greg Ladanyi
Fleetwood Mac
Behind the Mask (album)
Behind the Mask is the 15th studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released in 1990. It was the first album released by the band after the departure of guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. He was replaced by Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, both guitar players, singers and songwriters. Fleetwood Mac thus became a six-piece band with four singer/songwriters. The album was not as successful as its predecessor, Tango in the Night, nor did it spawn any big hit singles although “Save Me” made the US Top 40, while “Love Is Dangerous” and “Skies the Limit” enjoyed some airplay. “Save Me” and “Skies the Limit” were much more successful in Canada, where they both reached the Top 30. Though it barely reached the US Top 20, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 and achieved platinum status there. Following the album’s release and subsequent world tour, bandmembers Stevie Nicks and Rick Vito left the band, though Nicks would rejoin in 1997.
The cover for the album was created by photographer Dave Gorton. He stated that the band did not wish to appear on the front cover of the album and Mick Fleetwood himself suggested that he create an image that “spiritually symbolised” the band instead. The album cover earned a Grammy nomination in 1991 for “Best Album Package”.
Track listing
Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
1. “Skies the Limit” Christine McVie, Eddy Quintela C. McVie 3:45
2. “Love Is Dangerous” Rick Vito, Stevie Nicks Nicks, Vito 3:18
3. “In the Back of My Mind” Billy Burnette, David Malloy Burnette, Nicks, C. McVie 7:02
4. “Do You Know” Burnette, C. McVie Burnette, C. McVie 4:19
5. “Save Me” C. McVie, Quintela C. McVie 4:15
6. “Affairs of the Heart” Nicks Nicks 4:22
7. “When the Sun Goes Down” Vito, Burnette Burnette, Vito 3:18
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
1. “Behind the Mask” C. McVie C. McVie 4:18
2. “Stand on the Rock” Vito Vito 3:59
3. “Hard Feelings” Burnette, Jeff Silbar Burnette 4:54
4. “Freedom” Nicks, Mike Campbell Nicks 4:12
5. “When It Comes to Love” Burnette, Dennis Morgan, Simon Climie Burnette, C. McVie 4:08
6. “The Second Time” Nicks, Vito Nicks 2:31
Personnel
Fleetwood Mac
Stevie Nicks – vocals
Billy Burnette – guitar, vocals
Rick Vito – guitar, vocals
Christine McVie – keyboards, synthesizer, vocals
John McVie – bass guitar
Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion, spoken word on “In the Back of My Mind”
Additional musicians
Lindsey Buckingham – acoustic guitar on “Behind the Mask”
Asanté – percussion on “Freedom”
Stephen Croes – Synclavier, synthesizer, keyboards, percussion
Production
Producers: Greg Ladanyi and Fleetwood Mac
Engineer: Greg Ladanyi, Bob Levy, Dennis Mays
Assistant engineers: Craig Porteils, Duane Seykora, Brett Swain, Paula Wolak
Photography: Dave Gorton
Mixing: Greg Ladanyi
Mastering: Stephen Marcussen
Programming: Stephen Croes, Dan Garfield
Art direction: Jeri Heiden