| "World Turning" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Fleetwood Mac | |
| from the album Fleetwood Mac | |
| Released | 1975 |
| Recorded | 1975 |
| Genre | Blues rock, country rock |
| Length | 4:25 |
| Label | Reprise |
| Songwriter(s) | Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham |
| Producer(s) | Fleetwood Mac Keith Olsen |
"World Turning" is a song written by Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham for the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac's tenth album, Fleetwood Mac.[1]
Background
[edit]While the song was written in 1975, its roots date back to 1968. Fleetwood Mac's first album, which was also titled Fleetwood Mac, contained a track titled "The World Keep on Turning", written by founding member Peter Green. The band reworked the song, and the title was later truncated to "World Turning".[2]
Unlike other songs on the album, "World Turning" was a collaboration with two Fleetwood Mac members: keyboardist Christine McVie, and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.[3] Producer Keith Olsen claimed that Stevie Nicks was initially jealous over her lack of involvement in the writing process, but eventually "got over it".[4]
Buckingham used two guitars on the track: a Fender Telecaster electric guitar and a Dobro, a resonator guitar that produces sound through one or more metal cones.[5] He also had his low E string tuned down to a D.[6]
Both the studio and live recordings make use of a talking drum, which was given to Mick Fleetwood by a Nigerian musician named Speedy. The instrument has appeared onstage for every Fleetwood Mac tour since 1969.[7]
"World Turning" has appeared in every concert tour from the Fleetwood Mac tour onwards. Starting in 1987, on their Shake the Cage Tour, the band performed an extended live version that showcased Fleetwood's drumming.[8] Up until the Say You Will Tour, he also played a solo on a "drum vest" utilising MIDI. The vest, which was connected to an amplifier, had five touch-activated pads that produced various sampled noises such as bells, screams, horns, and shattering glass.[9]
Personnel
[edit]- Lindsey Buckingham – Telecaster, Dobro, lead and backing vocals
- Christine McVie – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
- Stevie Nicks – backing vocals
- Mick Fleetwood – drums, talking drum, tambourine
- John McVie – bass guitar
Covers
[edit]- The song was covered by former Fleetwood Mac member Bob Welch on his 2006 album His Fleetwood Mac Years and Beyond, Vol. 2.
- Tony Trischka covered this song on his 1993 album World Turning featuring Alison Krauss on vocals.
- Leo Kottke covered this song on his 1997 album Standing in My Shoes.
References
[edit]- ^ Evans, Mike (2011). Fleetwood Mac: The Definitive History. New York: Sterling. p. 124. ISBN 978-1-4027-8630-3.
- ^ Fleetwood, Mick; Bozza, Anthony (October 2014). Play On: Now Then & Fleetwood Mac (First ed.). New York: Little Brown and Company. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-316-40342-9.
- ^ "Mac:'Everybody was pretty weirded out' - the story of Rumours". Uncut. 29 January 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ^ "Keith Olsen Question and Answer Session". Fleetwoodmac.net. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ Levitin, Dan. "Recording-Engineering-Production (08/1992), Interview with Lindsey Buckingham". The Blue Letter Archives. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ^ Forte, Dan. "Guitar Player (01/1977), Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham". The Blue Letter Archives. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ^ Fleetwood, Mick (1 June 2014). "Mick Fleetwood goes his own way: 'My red African talking drum is my voice". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
- ^ Fleetwood, Mick; Davis, Stephen (1990). Fleetwood: My Life and Adventures with Fleetwood Mac. New York: William Morrow and Company. p. 278. ISBN 0-688-06647-X.
- ^ Naman, Mard. "Making Tracks with MIDI: Mick Fleetwood". atarimagazines. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
