25 Years – The Chain

25 Years – The Chain is a box set by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac originally released on 24 November 1992. The set contains four CDs, covering the history of the band from its formation in 1967 to 1992. The set features four new tracks as well as several previously unreleased studio and live tracks from the archives, while some of the classic tracks were included in different and new mixes. The four new songs were "Paper Doll", which was recorded earlier than the others as it was written by and recorded with Stevie Nicks and Rick Vito, both of whom had left the band in 1991, "Love Shines" and "Heart of Stone", both Christine McVie songs, and "Make Me A Mask", contributed by then-former member Lindsey Buckingham. "Love Shines" was released as a single to promote the box set in the UK, whereas "Paper Doll" was the single in the US.

The extended version of Stevie Nicks' "Gypsy" was also included for the first time on a commercial release, and this collection also marked the first time Nicks' "Silver Springs" had appeared on a full-length Fleetwood Mac album. "Silver Springs" was originally intended for inclusion on the international multi-million selling album Rumours, however, it was removed from the track listing at the last minute. Up until its inclusion on The Chain, the only other appearance of "Silver Springs" was on the B-side of "Go Your Own Way". Mick Fleetwood turned down Nicks' request to include "Silver Springs" on her retrospective compilation Timespace: The Best of Stevie Nicks as he had already selected the song for 25 Years – The Chain. The disagreement was ultimately resolved and the song itself was eventually released as a single five years later in 1997, taken from the live album The Dance. The version of "Tusk" included here is a different mix to the standard mix of the track. The track listing erroneously lists the first song on the fourth CD as "I Believe My Time Ain't Long", the band's first single from 1967, but it is actually the very similar "Dust My Broom" from the 1968 Mr. Wonderful album.

A condensed 2-CD box set, titled Selections from 25 Years – The Chain, was also released at the same time. The 2-CD version includes two tracks - "Bermuda Triangle" from 1974's Heroes Are Hard to Find and "Hold Me" from 1982's Mirage - which are not included on the 4-CD version.

On 11 June 2012, the 4-disc version of The Chain was re-released in the UK at a budget price. It peaked at no. 9 on the UK album charts the same week and has since been certified Gold by the BPI. The album reached no. 1 in New Zealand where it has since been certified 2× Platinum.

25 Years – The Chain 4-Disc Edition
Although listed as "I Believe My Time Ain't Long" (non-album single, 1967), the first track on disc 4 is actually "Dust My Broom", the fourth track from Fleetwood Mac's second studio album Mr. Wonderful.

Selections from 25 Years – The Chain 2-Disc Edition
Released alongside the 4-CD box set was a 2-CD box set featuring selected tracks from the main set. This version also includes two tracks which are not included on the 4-CD box set; "Hold Me" and "Bermuda Triangle".

Credits

 * Peter Green – guitars, vocals, banjo, bass guitar
 * Jeremy Spencer – guitars, piano, vocals
 * Danny Kirwan – guitars, vocals
 * Bob Welch – guitars, vocals
 * Bob Weston – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, slide guitar, vocals
 * Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion, harpsichord
 * Stevie Nicks – vocals, tambourine, keyboards
 * Lindsey Buckingham – guitars, banjo, dobro, bass guitar, sitar, keyboards, percussion, lap harp, programming, vocals
 * Billy Burnette – guitars, dobro, vocals
 * Rick Vito – guitars, vocals
 * Christine McVie – keyboards, percussion, vocals
 * John McVie – bass guitar
 * Executive Producers – Mick Fleetwood and John McVie
 * Anthology produced and engineered by Ken Caillat
 * Historical research and co-ordination – Frank Harding