On This Day in 1976: Fleetwood Mac Release Stevie Nicks’ ‘Rhiannon,’ One of Their Most Enchanting Hits
Photo by SandyMac, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
On March 6, 1976, Fleetwood Mac released Rhiannon as a single in the United States, giving one of their most beloved songs a life of its own on the radio and the charts. Written by Stevie Nicks and first recorded for the band’s 1975 self‑titled album, Rhiannon went on to reach No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming a major hit and a defining track for the group.
From Novel to Classic Song
Stevie Nicks wrote Rhiannon after reading an American novel called Triad by Mary Leader, which featured a character named Rhiannon. She liked the name and the way it sounded so much that she felt compelled to write a song about it. Though the character in the book did not match ancient legends exactly, Nicks later discovered that Rhiannon was also a figure in Welsh myth and that the song’s mood fit that imagery.
The track was recorded with Fleetwood Mac for their 1975 album Fleetwood Mac, which marked a turning point for the band. With Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham as new members, the group’s sound began blending rock, pop, and folk elements that soon attracted worldwide attention. Rhiannon became one of the standout songs from that era.
A Hit on the Charts
After the song gained popularity on radio and in live performances, the band’s label released Rhiannon as a single in early 1976. By June that year, it reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, helping solidify Fleetwood Mac’s growing reputation as a major force in rock music.
The song also had success overseas. When reissued in the United Kingdom in 1978, it briefly climbed into the UK singles chart, proving that its appeal crossed national borders and musical tastes.
Live Performances and Legacy
On stage, Rhiannon took on a life of its own. Nicks often introduced the song in concert by saying it was “a song about an old Welsh witch,” setting a mystical tone that fit the style she brought to the performance. During live shows from 1975 through 1980, her expressive delivery and dramatic movements became a signature part of the band’s act. Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood once said that her performances of the song were “like an exorcism,” reflecting how intense and memorable they were for fans.
Over the years Rhiannon has been recognized not just as a hit single but as a song that helped define Fleetwood Mac’s identity in the late 1970s. It showcased Nicks’ unique songwriting voice and added depth to a band already rising to global fame.
