More than 50 years after nobody bought it, Buckingham Nicks has finally – mercifully – been remastered and re-released on CD and streaming platforms. 

Brighter, with an expanded sonic palette than heard on dusty old vinyl, the long out-of-print 1973 debut from Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks is now easily accessible for those who’d like to explore the pre-mad-genius, pre-chiffon days of music’s most famous ex-couple. 

A curiosity to be sure, Buckingham Nicks is, more importantly, a high-quality county-rock album dedicated to A.J. Nicks – “the grandfather of country music,” per the gatefold – and including an impressive roster of bold-face names including producer Keith Olsen, who went on to work with Fleetwood Mac (self titled) and Grateful Dead (Terrapin Station); drummers Jim Keltner (everyone) and Ronnie Tutt (Elvis Presley, Jerry Garcia Band); bassist Jerry Scheff (Presley); and guitarist Waddy Wachtel, who works with Nicks to this day and co-wrote “Werewolves of London” with Warren Zevon. 

Between the grooves lay 10 tracks, nine original and eight with vocals. Buckingham, as would become one of his defining characteristics, goes it alone on the acoustic instrumentals “Stephanie” and John Lewis’ “Django,” which together nod to the guitarist’s muse and his inspiration. 

Two tracks, the balladic “Crystal” and the grinding ”Don’t Let Me Down Again,” which is a prequel to “Go Your Own Way,” would subsequently enter the Mac lexicon on Fleetwood Mac (1975) and Live (1980), respectively. But these are the definitive versions. 

Like Buckingham, Nicks, too, proved herself an early bloomer. Her “Crying in the Night” and “Long Distance Winner,” while in no way mystical, stand among her strongest compositions. And the jointly written and sung “Frozen Love,” which clocks in at seven dreamy minutes, hints at what could’ve been while showcasing a vocal blend that was eclipsed somewhat, but also enhanced, alongside Christine McVie in Fleetwood Mac.