Memories of Childhood: Rumours

I remember listening to this when I was very young, 5, 6, 7 years old. Or maybe it was just playing in the background while I played with lego or drew pictures.

I remember looking at the cover art. The front cover, with the man's balls obviously represented by the two balls, being evident to me even then. The the ball he was holding and his pose, which looked noble. Her pose was that of a faerie or elf. Very delicate and graceful. Mysterious and maybe a bit scary, in black. Bringing to mind Grimm's fairy Tales stories of magic balls, frogs and faerie princesses.

Then the inner album art, as pictured above. I spent more time there. Stevie Nicks, I think, in the forefront. So pretty, innocent and sweet looking to me at that young age. She seemed to be my ideal girl at the time. Then the other woman with the bandana on her head seemed more like my mom. Who or what was she looking at? She looked like she might be mad or worried about something. The two other guys in the band were just like the men who surrounded me at the time, in the way that the bandana woman represented the women, or my mom. They just looked hairy, busy and serious.

Then there was the drummer (I believe). Other than Stevie Nicks, he is the most intriguing character. Obvious from his facial expressions that he was an oddball. Large and hairy like the other men, but somehow childlike. The smaller pictures tell the story of social relationships and I could see that he ended up as the unloved outsider. I always felt sorry for him and wished he got the girl in the pic. He represented me and my crushes of early elementary school.

This was the story of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours", to me. . The music has stuck with me through the years though I am sometimes hesitant to listen to it as it brings back sad reminisces of love and opportunity lost. The album cover has stayed with me too, I like the asceticism of it. Simplicity and a clear representation of human interaction with a touch of paganism. The more complex story of the inner cover is lost to me at all times unless I consciously focus on it.