Primarily a British blues band, Fleetwood Mac scored a UK number one with "Albatross", and had other hits such as the singles "Oh Well" and "Man of the World". All three guitarists left in succession during the early 1970s, to be replaced by guitarists Bob Welch and Bob Weston and vocalist Dave Walker. By 1974, all three of them had either departed or been dismissed, leaving the band without a male lead vocalist or guitarist. In late 1974, while Fleetwood was scouting studios in Los Angeles, he was introduced to American folk-rock duo Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Fleetwood Mac soon asked Buckingham to be their new lead guitarist, and Buckingham agreed on condition that Nicks would also join the band.
The addition of Buckingham and Nicks gave the band a more pop rock sound, and their 1975 self-titled album, Fleetwood Mac, reached No. 1 in the United States. Rumours (1977), Fleetwood Mac's second album after the arrival of Buckingham and Nicks, produced four U.S. Top 10 singles and remained at number one on the American albums chart for 31 weeks. It also reached the top spot in various countries around the world and won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978. Rumours has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums in history. The band went through personal turmoil while recording the album, as both the romantic partnerships in the band (one being John and Christine McVie, and the other being Buckingham and Nicks) separated while continuing to make music together.
The band's personnel remained stable through three more studio albums, but by the late 1980s began to disintegrate. After Buckingham and Nicks each left the band, they were replaced by a number of other guitarists and vocalists. A 1993 one-off performance for the first inauguration of Bill Clinton featured the lineup of Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Nicks, and Buckingham back together for the first time in six years. A full reunion occurred four years later, and the group released their fourth U.S. No. 1 album, The Dance (1997), a live compilation of their hits, also marking the 20th anniversary of Rumours. Christine McVie left the band in 1998, but continued to work with the band in a session capacity. Meanwhile, the group remained together as a four-piece, releasing their most recent studio album, Say You Will, in 2003. Christine McVie rejoined the band full-time in 2014. In 2018, Buckingham was fired from the band and was replaced by Mike Campbell, formerly of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Neil Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House.
Fleetwood Mac has sold more than 120 million records worldwide, making them one of the world's best-selling bands. In 1979, the group was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1998 the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
Danny Kirwan, guitarist, songwriter and early member of Fleetwood Mac (1968–1972) died in London, England, on 8 June 2018, aged 68. An obituary in The New York Times said he had died in his sleep after contracting pneumonia earlier in the year. The British music magazine Mojo quoted Christine McVie as saying: "Danny Kirwan was the white English blues guy. Nobody else could play like him. He was a one-off ... Danny and Peter [Green] gelled so well together. Danny had a very precise, piercing vibrato – a unique sound ... He was a perfectionist; a fantastic musician and a fantastic writer." One of Kirwan's songs, "Tell Me All the Things You Do" from the 1970 album Kiln House, was included in the set of the 2018–19 An Evening with Fleetwood Mac tour.
On 28 May 2020 Neil Finn, featuring Nicks and McVie, with Campbell on guitar, released the song “Find Your Way Back Home” for the Auckland, New Zealand homeless shelter Auckland City Mission.
Founding member Peter Green died on 25 July 2020 at the age of 73. In October 2020, Rumours again entered the Billboard top 10. The album received 30.6 million plays on streaming platforms the week of October 15, after a TikTok video of the song "Dreams" went viral.
On 30 November 2022, it was announced that band member Christine McVie died at the age of 79, after a short illness.
Doctor Brown
Fleetwood Mac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They call me that lovin' man
Oh, they call me Doctor Brown
They call me that lovin' man
And if you got some trouble
Come around and see what you can
You don't have no prescription
You don't have no prescription
And baby don't have to take no pills
If you come to see me
Doctor Brown will cure your ills
Oh ask any woman in my neighborhood
You just ask any woman in my neighborhood
You just ask any woman
In my neighborhood
You just ask any woman
In my neighborhood
If Doctor Brown don't cure you
Nobody can do you no good
Yes, you don't have no prescription
And baby you don't have to take no pills
You don't have no prescription
And baby you don't have to take no pills
You just come around to see me
And Doctor Brown will cure your ills
In the song "Doctor Brown," Fleetwood Mac sings about a man who is known as Dr. Brown, a "lovin' man" who is willing to cure the troubles of women who come to him. He is confident of his abilities and claims that he does not need any prescription or pills to cure his patients. Moreover, he invites anyone who needs his help to come and see what he can do.
The lyrics of this song can be interpreted in many ways but at its core, "Doctor Brown" is a blues song about a man who exudes confidence and charisma. It depicts a figure who is revered in his community for his ability to heal people with his love and sexual prowess. The song also highlights the sexual undertones that are a recurring theme in many blues songs.
Overall, "Doctor Brown" is a fun and upbeat song that showcases traditional blues elements such as slide guitar and harmonica. The lyrics are simple and easy to follow, yet they leave a lasting impression on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh they call me Doctor Brown
The singer’s name is Doctor Brown and is referred to as such.
They call me that lovin' man
Doctor Brown is known for giving love and affection to those who need it.
And if you got some trouble
If someone is experiencing any kind of trouble or issue in their life.
Come around and see what you can
They should visit Doctor Brown and find out what he can do for them.
You don't have no prescription
There is no need for a written note to receive treatment from Doctor Brown.
You don't have to take no pills
There is no requirement for taking medication to feel better.
And baby don't have to take no pills
The singer addresses a woman and reassures her that she won't need to take any medication.
If you come to see me
If someone comes to visit Doctor Brown.
Doctor Brown will cure your ills
Doctor Brown will make the person feel better and remedy any health issues.
Oh ask any woman in my neighborhood
The artist suggests that anyone curious about his abilities should ask women who live near him.
You just ask any woman in my neighborhood
The singer reiterates that women in the area can vouch for his skills.
If Doctor Brown don't cure you
If Doctor Brown is unable to cure a person’s ailment.
Nobody can do you no good
No one else will be able to help or provide a solution.
Yes, you don't have no prescription
The singer reminds the person that no prescription is required for his services.
And baby you don't have to take no pills
The singer addresses a woman and assures her again that she won't need any medication.
You just come around to see me
If someone wants to feel better, they should stop by to see Doctor Brown.
And Doctor Brown will cure your ills
Doctor Brown will be able to completely rid a person of their health issues.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WAYMON GLASCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Henri Hudson
on Tusk
Why don't you ask him if he's going to stay?
Why don't you ask him if he's going away?