Rumours had only been out for a few weeks when the band embarked on a world tour in February, and they returned home six months later to play three shows at the Forum, drawing nearly 50,000 fans. At the time, Rumours was rapidly climbing the charts and just starting to solidify its future status as one of the most successful albums ever. Ultimately, it would go on to sell over 40 million copies worldwide, achieving a remarkable 21x platinum certification in the U.S., along with 14x Platinum in the U.K., and 13x Platinum in Australia and New Zealand, all while securing the No. 1 spot in these countries.

This nearly 90-minute performance primarily draws from Fleetwood Mac and Rumours, the first two albums recorded by the band's lineup of Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, along with the newest members, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham. The only exception is a performance of "Oh Well," a rock-guitar masterclass written by the band's founder, guitarist Peter Green, and originally released in 1969.

For decades, this remarkable concert remained unreleased until 2021 when a bonus track, "Gold Dust Woman" from that show, was featured in Live: Deluxe Edition, the expanded version of Fleetwood Mac's 1980 concert album. However, the real treasure is found in the other 17 previously unreleased tracks, now unearthed for this collection.

The recording of this historic concert was engineered by Ken Caillat, who played a crucial role in recording Rumours. He captured the band's passionate performance during the peak of the developing Fleetwood Mac mania, delivering powerful renditions of classics like "Landslide," "Never Going Back Again," "Songbird," and "The Chain."

Sam Graham, in the liner notes for Rumours Live, aptly notes, "The songs are familiar, but most of these live versions are more muscular, more ferocious than the album recordings." The concert showcases the powerhouse rhythm section of Fleetwood and John McVie, complemented by Buckingham's fiery guitar work. Rather than simply regurgitating their hits, the band stretches out in the live setting, turning songs like "Rhiannon," "World Turning," and "I'm So Afraid" into exhilarating onstage workouts.

Available as both 2CD and 2LP sets, Rumours Live gives fans an opportunity to relive this historic performance. The classic black-vinyl version, in a gatefold jacket with lacquers cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, truly captures the essence of that unforgettable '70s evening.