Say You Will (album)

''Say You Will'' is the seventeenth and, to date, last studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 15 April 2003. It followed 1995's ''Time'' and was their first album since 1970 without vocalist/keyboardist Christine McVie as a full member following her departure in 1998, though she participated in some songs as a guest musician; it would be her last time being involved with the band in a studio capacity before her death in 2022. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks shared primary keyboard duties throughout the album.

This would also be the band's last full album with Buckingham before his dismissal from the group in 2018, although he would participate in their 2013 extended play.

''Say You Will'' was the first studio Fleetwood Mac album to peak in the top three in the US since 1982's ''Mirage''. The album debuted at No. 3 with sales of 218,000, spent two months within the top 40, and was certified Gold by the RIAA in July 2003 for 500,000 copies shipped in the US.

A limited edition version of the album was issued at the same time, featuring two live tracks (" Peacekeeper" and " Say You Will"), two additional studio tracks (Nicks' "Not Make Believe" and Buckingham's cover of Bob Dylan's "Love Minus Zero/No Limit"), an expanded booklet and poster.

Background

Soon after the release of ''Time'', Billy Burnette and Bekka Bramlett departed to form the country duo Bekka & Billy. Rather than continuing, Fleetwood Mac chose to disband. By 1997, the ''Rumours'' lineup agreed to perform again for an MTV Unplugged special. Following the successful reunion album, '' The Dance'', which included a live performance of "Bleed to Love Her", Christine McVie left the group, citing her fear of flying as the primary reason for her departure.

In the early 2000s, Buckingham was finishing up a solo album but got a call from Warner Bros to work on a Fleetwood Mac record instead. Buckingham agreed and set aside a large portion of his songs for ''Say You Will'', with Mick Fleetwood and John McVie on drums and bass, respectively. To round out the album, Nicks brought in some new material, along with leftovers from previous albums. One of those songs, "Smile at You", dates back to the '' Tusk'' sessions in 1979 but was never recorded by the full band until ''Say You Will''.

Track listing

Note
*"Bleed to Love Her" was previously available on '' The Dance'' as a live version.

Personnel

Fleetwood Mac
* Lindsey Buckingham – vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass guitar, percussion, programming
* Stevie Nicks – vocals, additional keyboards
* John McVie – bass guitar, black keys
* Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion

Additional musicians
* John Shanks – additional keyboards (1), additional guitars (8)
* Sheryl Crow – Hammond organ (7, 12), backing vocals (7, 12)
* Jamie Muhoberac – Hammond organ (9)
* Christine McVie – Hammond organ, keyboards (13), backing vocals (13, 14)
* Dave Palmer – acoustic piano (13)
* John Pierce – bass guitar erses(13)
* Madelyne Felsch, Molly McVie and Jessica James Nicks – backing vocals (7)

Production

* Lindsey Buckingham – producer, engineer
* Rob Cavallo – producer (5, 6, 9, 13, 14), A&R
* John Shanks – producer (1, 8)
* Ken Allardyce – engineer
* Ken Koroshetz – engineer
* Ray Lindsey – engineer, band technician
* Mark Needham – engineer, mixing (1-15, 17, 18)
* Chris Lord-Alge – mixing (16)
* Bernie Grundman – mastering
* Joe Bozzi – mastering assistant
* Mike Fasano – band technician
* Bruce Jaccoby – band technician
* Garner Knutsen – band technician
* Mike Zablow – band technician
* Stephen Walker – art direction
* Keith Carter – "Hands 1991" photography
* Karen Johnston – photography
* Neal Preston – photography
* Herbert W. Worthington – photography

Studios
* Recorded at The Bellagio House; Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California); Lindsey's garage (Los Angeles, California); Cornerstone Studios (Chatsworth, California).
* Mixed at Cornerstone Studios; Conway Studios (Hollywood, California); Image Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California).
* Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California).

Management
* Tony Dimitriades and Robert Richards at East End Management – management for Lindsey Buckingham
* Howard Kaufman and Sheryl Lewis at HK Management – management for Stevie Nicks
* Carl Stubner at Immortal Management – management for Mick Fleetwood

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Music promo videos

Music videos were shot for "Peacekeeper" and "Say You Will", both of these videos were stage performances of both songs. Neither of these videos are commercially available.

References

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Fleetwood Mac albums
2003 albums
Albums produced by John Shanks
Albums produced by Lindsey Buckingham
Albums produced by Rob Cavallo
Reprise Records albums
Albums recorded at United Western Recorders