PLEASE NOTE: This is a DVD-Audio disc which is playable on most DVD players as well as all DVD-Audio players. A DVD-Audio player will make all sound options on this disc available for listening.

The DVD
Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"
Region 0
Advanced Resolution Six-Channel Surround Sound - DVD Audio Players.
Advanced Resolution Stereo (96kHz) - DVD Audio Players.
Dolby Digital & DTS 5.1 Surround Sound - DVD Video Players.
Bonus Material: "Making Of " audio-only interviews and image gallery.

Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours," is one of the biggest-selling albums in music history, the most celebrated album from one of the most popular rock groups of all time. It was originally released in 1977, a time when the trials and tribulations of the band and their emotions spilled over into the music.

On this DVD-Audio disc, comes a new multi-channel remix involving many members of the original production team including Ken Caillat, James Stone, Rich Fowler, and Bob Ludwig. This conversion from 24-track analog format has been remixed with care and precision to get the most possible from the limited source material. The result is sound that is remarkably better than that of the CD, due in part to the leaps in digital audio technology since the 1980's. The guess is that the 24-track original was pulled directly from the multitrack into a high-end Analog/Digital conversion system and processed and mixed digitally thereafter. The end product was mastered by the expertise of Bob Ludwig, from which many great-sounding DVD-music discs result. Good mastering is an art in itself.

Added to the album lineup is the previously unreleased studio track "Silver Springs," recorded during the "Rumours" sessions but not included on the original album due to time constraints.

The disc's only bonus material is the "Making Of" section, an audio-only presentation with a few still images. The members of the band discuss each track while the songs, without vocals, play in the background.

I didn't hear too much to be concerned with. There are some spots where the vocals are a bit weak and the instrumentals a bit too strong. A couple instances where the compression was moderately apparent, but overall the album is very solid and a good addition to a DVD-Audio collection.

The format of DVD-A hasn't to this point, included a lot of video on these offerings. The same is true in this case and is really an enhanced CD with a still shot during each one of the songs. No video footage present.

1. Second Hand News
2. Dreams
3. Never Going Back Again
4. Don't Stop
5. Go Your Own Way
6. Silver Springs
7. The Chain
8. You Make Loving Fun
9. I Don't Want To Know
10. Oh Daddy
11. Gold Dust Woman
12. Songbird

The subject of countless books and documentaries, 1977 Grammy Album of the Year, "Rumours" is the 6th most successful recording of all time, selling more than 30 million copies and riding for 30 weeks at #1 on the U.S. album charts. It contained the international hits "Don't Stop", "Dreams", "Go Your Own Way and "The Chain".

The Sound
The 24-track masters of this extremely popular album were given to the engineers who originally recorded the album. With these, they remixed it for 5.1 and asked the band for a contribution to the project, resulting in a wonderful example of a DVD Audio album by Ken Caillat and folks at 5.1 Entertainment in Los Angeles.

The disc includes Dolby Digital surround on the DVD-V area, plus stereo and surround 96 kHz, 24-bit mixes in the DVD-Audio section.

Appearing on track 6 is an song not included on the first CD by Stevie Nicks' composition called "Silver Springs". It's a wonderful track and fits nicely with the other compositions on the DVD. One song of the entire set had to be dropped from the vinyl album due to time limitations of that format and "Silver Springs" was that song. Luckily we now have it on the DVD-A. "Songbird," originally in track 6, was moved to track 12. Other than those two changes, the play order is the same as the original.

The stereo 96kHz remixes are full of life and detail with clarity of the top end, power in the bass and a low noise floor. The surround front mixes are as wonderful and natural as the stereo versions. It is simply presented without any undue added effects.

The disc starts the playlist on insertion without the need of navigating menus for those of you who prefer to listen with the video off.

The Menu
Playlist
Unique static sepia pic for each track selection listing title and author.

Making of Rumours
Commentary, over each track where background music is present but not the vocals, of band members musing over its conception and development, through to the final production. Viewable are static sepia pics of lyric and track sheets for each track selection along with a list of the instruments used.

Credits

Summary
A great addition to any collection. Better than the original due to the wonderful job of the original crew in remixing and mastering of this classic album. Fleetwood Mac is a great group and if you haven't already, don't forget to check out other albums by them and their various artists including, Spencer/Kirwan, Green (1968-1969); Kirwan/McVie/Welch (1971-1972) and Welch and McVie (1973-1974).