Fleetwood Mac’s Iconic Song Written in Five Minutes Turned Into a Classic Hit Years Later

A Buried Track from 1975 That Slowly Gained Recognition

Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled 1975 album gave the band a fresh start with new members Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. One of the most emotional songs on that record was “Landslide,” written by Nicks in just five minutes. While it’s now seen as one of the group’s most important songs, it didn’t get much attention at first. “Landslide” wasn’t released as a single and was overlooked when the album came out in July 1975.

Despite this, the song would eventually find new life. Over time, it became a fan favorite and one of the most covered songs in the band’s history. Although it wasn’t initially seen as a standout, it grew into something special years later.

 

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Stevie Nicks Wrote the Song During a Difficult Time

Nicks wrote “Landslide” before she joined Fleetwood Mac. She and Buckingham were struggling financially, and she was unsure about continuing in music. At the time, she worked as a waitress and cleaned houses to support both of them. Their record deal with Polydor had just ended, and their future was uncertain.

In a 2007 interview with The Austin Chronicle, Buckingham said the song reflected the issues between him and Nicks during that time. Their relationship was often rocky, and by the time Rumours was recorded, they were no longer together. Still, Buckingham praised Nicks’s work, saying she deserved full credit for the song.

Critics Didn’t Appreciate “Landslide” Right Away

After it appeared on the 1975 album, “Landslide” didn’t receive much recognition. It was not a single, and early reviews were mixed. Rolling Stone wrote that Nicks sounded “lost and out of place” and called her voice “callow and mannered.” The band moved on with successful albums like Rumours and the experimental Tusk, while “Landslide” remained in the background.

It wasn’t until the 1990s that the song was rediscovered, thanks to another band.

Smashing Pumpkins Helped Bring “Landslide” Back

In 1994, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins recorded a cover of “Landslide” and released it as a B-side to their single “Disarm.” His acoustic version became a surprise hit, reaching number three on Billboard’s modern rock chart. It was the first version of “Landslide” to chart nationally.

Nicks gave her approval of the cover, which led to a friendship between her and Corgan. In 1997, Fleetwood Mac reunited and released a live version of the song on their The Dance album. This version became their 24th Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at number 51 and finally giving “Landslide” the attention it had long deserved.