The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac (2002) 


 

Disc One
  1. Monday Morning
  2. Dreams
  3. You Make Loving Fun
  4. Go Your Own Way
  5. Rhiannon
  6. Say You Love Me
  7. I'm So Afraid
  8. Silver Springs
  9. Over My Head
  10.Never Going Back Again
  11.Sara
  12.Love in Store
  13.Tusk
  14.Landslide
  15.Songbird
  16.Big Love (Live)
  17.Storms
  
Disc Two
  1. The Chain
  2. Don't Stop
  3. What Makes You Think You're the One
  4. Gypsy
  5. Second Hand News
  6. Little Lies
  7. Think About Me
  8. Go Insane (Live)
  9. Gold Dust Woman
  10.Hold Me
  11.Seven Wonders
  12.World Turning
  13.Everywhere
  14.Sisters of the Moon
  15.Family Man
  16.As Long As You Follow
  17.No Questions Asked
  18.Skies the Limit
  19.Paper Doll

 

It’s often said that more isn’t always better, and The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac is a near-perfect case study in that axiom. Released in 2002, this double-disc collection essentially functions as an expanded version of 1988’s Greatest Hits, repackaging the “classic” era (1975 onward) with a broader sweep, a few deeper cuts, and—predictably—a fair amount of filler. While the intent seems to be comprehensiveness, the result is something closer to redundancy.

To be fair, all the heavy-hitters are here. Go Your Own Way, Dreams, Rhiannon, The Chain, You Make Loving Fun—the usual suspects return, sounding as pristine and timeless as ever. For newcomers, this might serve as an efficient introduction, and for longtime fans, it’s an easy way to keep the band’s most recognizable material in one place. But for anyone who already owns Greatest Hits or, better yet, the full run of Fleetwood Mac through Tango in the Night, this set adds very little of real value.

The inclusion of Silver Springs—the long-lost Rumours B-side—is often cited as justification for the collection’s existence, and while it’s a lovely track (and deservedly rescued), its presence here feels less like a revelation and more like a marketing bullet point. Likewise, a smattering of post-1987 material makes an appearance, though it’s hardly the focus. These additions, though appreciated in theory, contribute to the sense that the track list was padded to meet the requirements of a two-disc format, rather than guided by a clear curatorial vision.

And that’s the core issue: The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac is too much of too little. For a band with a catalog as dynamic and shapeshifting as Fleetwood Mac’s, this package chooses to mostly play it safe. It sticks closely to the McVie-Buckingham-Nicks era, and while that period certainly produced the band’s most enduring work, the absence of material from earlier (and even later) chapters only underscores how narrowly this set defines the group’s legacy.

At best, this is a solid—but ultimately unnecessary—expansion of a hits package that already served its purpose. At worst, it’s a reminder that “best of” collections often serve more as placeholders on retail shelves than meaningful contributions to a band’s discography. If you’re looking for the band’s finest work, skip the compilation and just invest in the five studio albums from 1975 to 1987. If you're looking for a deeper understanding of Fleetwood Mac's evolution, this set won't provide it.

In short: yes, it’s all here. But no, you probably don’t need it.


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