Women Behind the Songs: 'Sara'
From Fleetwood Mac's 'Sara' (1979)
Anyone who thinks Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is a tough game should try a round of with Sara Recor -- the subject of this airily pretty radio staple. Sara, a good pal of Stevie Nicks, actually helped write her own serenade -- a pretty gutsy move since she was on the verge of stealing Nicks' boyfriend, Mick Fleetwood. Recor and the drummer later married and divorced, but her relationship with Nicks survived -- long enough, at least, for Stevie to "borrow" Recor's first name for this song about Nicks' stint in rehab. Listen to 'Sara'
Posted by Spinner Staff
Filed under: The Hit List
Reader Comments(1 of 3)
Mat 8-04-2007
I have always loved this song. Interesting to know the history behind it.
Chinaat 8-04-2007
I know that Stevie Nicks(Singer)was married to Lindey Buckingham(the guitar player)and Christine(the keyboard player) was married to Mick(the drummer) So when did Mick and Stevie start dating? I'm wondering if they didn't get their fact's messed up?
chippyshero2066at 8-11-2008
Actually Christine was married to John McVie.I am not sure if they are still married to eachother or not. Stevie did have a relationship with Mick Fleetwood after her divorce from Lindsay Buckingham. From what I heard it did not last long. Though the band members had broken relationships with other, but still are tight and close with eachother to this day. Btw, the song Go Your Own Way was written by Lindsay for Stevie after him and Stevie broke up.
Here is Fleetwood Mac's official site: http://www.fleetwoodmac.net/fwm/index.php
Jared Vaughnat 8-04-2007
I bet Stevie Nicks would be pissed if she saw this since "NOBODY" knows what her songs are really about. This may be 1/10 of the truth...but I dont put much faith in it.
kevin_goodyat 8-04-2007
I agree with the persons earlier response, everyone loves this song, and if they say they don't, its probably because they are secretly crying when they hear it, both men and women.
chola locaat 8-04-2007
@China's comment:
It's well known Stevie had relationships with Mick & Lindsey.
jim from nyat 8-05-2007
Recor can't be her real name it's rocer(rocker?) spelled backwards. What ever happened to Sara Lightsey does anyone know? The last time I saw her she was about 10 years old.She moved away from Hampton Bays and I never saw her again.
J&Lat 8-05-2007
To China's response:
Stevie was never married to Lindsey, just a very long relationship. And Christine was never married to Mick, she was married to bassist John McVie, hence her last name. Stevie and Mick hooked up after her relationship with Lindsey was over.
Anyway, one of the best songs in history...
Rachel Krollat 8-05-2007
When this song was written Stevie Nicks hadn't been to rehab yet...it is a mixture of different things that happened in her life...The lyric "When you build your house...I'll come by" was inspired by one-time lover Don Henley who was building a home at the time...And a lot of the lyrics are about her brief love affair with Mick Fleetwood.
Rachel Krollat 8-05-2007
Oh also...the actual song about Stevie's stint in rehab is called "Welcome to the room...Sara" from the album "Tango in the Night". She checked into the Betty Ford clinic under the name Sara. You should listen to the words of the song...her record label had forced her to go...and she was very upset about it.
Maureenat 8-05-2007
I loved this song so much that I named my daughter Sara after it. She will turn 26 this month!
Kathyat 8-05-2007
Hey China...Stevie Nicks never married Lindsey Buckingham. Christine was married John the Bass player. Mick was maried to Jenny Boyd-Patty Boyds sister(George Harrisons Wife and temptress for the song Layla) Mick and Stevie did date on and off thru Mick's 3 seperations with first wife Jenny and Mother to his 2 girls.
There is a great book out there I will recomend...My life and Times in Fleetwood Mac..by Mick Fleetwood...yep a Biography....
Get the facts fo yourself and you will be amazed at the history of my favorite band!
PS Stevie and Sara called themselves the TWANG SISTERS!!! LOL it's in the book. The great dark wing was Mick. Love that song ....
Kathyat 8-05-2007
Dear Jim , Recor is the last name ....then again her husbands name at the time she hooked up with Mick was Jim ..are you ???? HAAAAAA anyway....He was a former manager for Loggins and Messina!!!
shteveat 8-05-2007
One of my favorites since way back,ie. Bob Welch and Christine McVie.Man,what a refreshing sound.Then later,good songs,Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. I was definitely always looking forward to their next album. memories
Willowat 8-05-2007
I've been listening to Stevie Nicks for almost 30 years now. Nicks is awesome by herself and with Fleetwood Mac. She is one of the best lyrcists, ever. I've heard a lot of stories behind some of her songs. Like when she was tripping on acid when she wrote one of her songs, only for it to become a #1 hit for several weeks on the list.. I know that Nicks and the drummer, Mick had an outrageous cocaine problem. I think the since cleaned up their act.
john hallat 8-05-2007
Tke first few years of Fleetwood Mac was a gutsy blusey cool musical adventure( Rattle Snake Shake ect.) Lose the good musicians add the girls, fluff,and soap operas,presto change-o--- the most overated lounge band in music.
Aliat 8-06-2007
This song is not about Stevie's stint in rehab. A later song, "Welcome to the Room, Sara" was. This song, although named Sara, was about several different people...Sara, Stevie, Mick, Don Henley, etc. Either way, it's such a beautiful song from one of the most prolific song writers out there.
pattybat 8-19-2007
I read an entirely different story about the song
"Sara". It is said that Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
dated back in the 70's off and on. Stevie had become
pregnant, and because the Eagles were on a world tour and Don could not commit, she had an abortion. The result of her pain and love, was the song "Sara".
Something to do with the line "When you build your house, then call me, call me." It was Stevie saying to Don, because he said "I don't have a house even", I've read this several times. I've never heard about the other Sara.
fgwat 8-21-2007
M.... I think you have your facts mixed up. Christie McVie (Keyboards) is married to John McVie (bass player) of Fleetwood Mac. Back in the 70's Stevie & Mick Fleetwood had a thing going. Lindsey Buckingham was never involved with either of the two women of Fleetwood Mac.
Willowat 8-21-2007
I find this story very interesting and almost humorous b/c Sara, the person whom the song was written for, was Stevie Nick's lesbian lover for several years... In fact, Stevie, Sara and Mick Fleetwood enjoyed many hours of three-somes lol.. Wow!!