Spencer Davis has died age 81 from a heart attack at his home in California.

Well, I cannot tell you what The Spencer Davis Group meant to me. “Gimme Some Lovin'” featuring Stevie Winwood and his brother Muff Winwood is a high point of all of rock and roll. So is “I’m a Man.” There is nothing you can compare this with now. I feel like a part of my childhood died.

Spencer Davis was Welsh, but lived in northern California because when you’re a great rock star, you need sunshine and warmth. Rest in peace. You gave us great gifts.

Want to know what Fleetwood Mac was really like before they were ruined by fame and soap opera?

Up until 1975, they never heard of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. It was Mick Fleetwood, the McVies, Bob Welch, Danny Kirwan, Peter Green. THAT was Fleetwood Mac.

Here are three songs that typified their coolness. Rhino has a box set now from that era that far outshines what came later.

Hynotized:

Bare Trees:

Heroes are Hard to Find:

and I’ll concede “Over My Head” by Christine McVie from the 1975 self titled album. I’d love to know what she thinks of all the changes that went on.

It;s a sign of something, maybe that today’s music is so bad. But Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours,” which I wanted to fling across a backyard in 1977, is back in the top 10. It’s been 43 years.

The album’s success is propelled by the single “Dreams,” which has sold including streaming 1.3 million copies this year. Last week it sold 147,000 copies according to Buzz Angle. So far, on Friday and Saturday of this week it has sold another 34,600 copies. Are you kidding?

“Rumours” year to date has sold 53,800 copies CDs and downloads. Including all the streaming of “Dreams,” the total is 405,400.

In 1977, I was listening to Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, and so on. After 1975’s “Fleetwood Mac” album I was satisfied that easy listening FM rock was over. That album was great, and that was enough. But no, “Rumours” came along and became like the Pet Rock of rock music. Everyone had it. I did like “Go Your Own Way.” But I did stop thinking about tomorrow every time these songs came on the air. The real Fleetwood Mac was dead.

But here it is, it’s all back because of a viral video on TikTok of a guy skateboarding with Cran Raspberry juice. The guy couldn’t have chosen Elvis’s “Sneaky People”? Or the Heads’ “Psycho Killer,” or the Pistols’ “Pretty Vacant”? Also from ’77, Television, Steely Dan’s classic “Aja,” Bob Marley’s “Exodus,” Billy Joel’s “The Stranger,” Ian Dury’s “New Boots and Panties.” It had to be “Rumours”??????? Oy vey. Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life” was number 1 for NINE weeks in 1977. But no. “Rumours.”

Well, there you are. Spam– the edible substance–never goes away.

PS As it happened, “Tusk” came next and was eons better. It didn’t sell 2 copies.