In 1977, Fleetwood Mac nearly threw away a song. It became one of their most beloved classics

Fleetwood Mac nearly left ‘The Chain’ off their 1977 album *Rumours*, despite it later becoming one of their best-loved songs. The story matters because the track, credited to all five band members, grew out of a collaborative process during a period of intense personal strain.

The song began as Christine McVie’s composition ‘Keep Me There’ and was reworked over several months, including the addition of John McVie’s bassline. Lindsey Buckingham recalled that the band liked the bridge but not the rest of an early version, so he wrote verses around it. The article describes the finished track as the result of contributions from every member.