Before there was the rock powerhouse, lead singer and guitarist of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham were Buckingham Nicks. The pair released their only studio album, which was self-titled, on Sept. 5, 1973. Until Sept. 19 of this year, the album had never been digitally released or commercially remastered.

Crying in the Night

The album opens with “Crying in the Night,” which uses layered vocals and combines acoustic and electric guitar to embody early ‘70s West Coast rock. The song follows the experience of a woman waking up to the reality that her partner is emotionally checked out. Throughout the course of the song, she reclaims her strength and feels empowered to choose herself. “Whoa, she’s going to leave you / Crying in the night,” Nicks said.

Stephanie

“Stephanie” is the second song on the album, an instrumental presumably named after Nicks, whose full name is Stephanie Lynn Nicks. The instrumental is played entirely on acoustic guitar, needing no words to express the intricacy and tenderness of the pair’s relationship history. Buckingham uses a distinctive finger-picked guitar style on the track, reminiscent of riffs used later in Fleetwood Mac.

Without a Leg to Stand On

“Without a Leg to Stand On” breaks up the softer tone of previous songs with punchier lyrics and more rock influence. Buckingham takes the lead in this track as Nicks does backing vocals. The song describes feeling lost and unsupported, yet still being unable to let go despite having “nothing to show” for it.

Crystal

“Crystal” is one of the more well-known songs on the album thanks to its 1975 re-release with Fleetwood Mac and its feature in 1998 film “Practical Magic.” In the “Buckingham Nicks” version, Buckingham sings lead, though the song was written by Nicks. It expresses a sense of overwhelming and enveloping love. “I turned around and the water was closin’ all around / Like a glove, like the love that had finally, finally found me,” Nicks said. The love she writes about in “Crystal” is deep, spiritual and “ageless.”

Long Distance Winners

Nicks takes lead vocals on “Long Distance Winners,” which appears halfway through the album. The vocals are consistent with the soft rock vibe, but the reverb on the vocals adds a moodier essence to the ballad. It describes the complex nature of their relationship at the time – passionate and adoring, yet frustrating. Nicks expressed feeling like Buckingham was focused on everything in his life except for her, and her acceptance that she will never be able to change who he is.

Don’t Let Me Down Again

“Don’t Let Me Down Again” pulls in a twangy country-blues-rock sound compared to previous songs in the album. The lyrics draw on an emotional vulnerability that contrasts the bright instrumentals, similar to much of Buckingham’s later work. He puts his heart on the line, pleading for his partner not to hurt him. “It’s gonna kill me if you break my heart,” Buckingham sang.

Django

Instrumental “Django” was written by American pianist John Lewis in 1953 as an ode to jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. The song placement acts as a sort of calm within the storm, breaking up the emotional highs and lows from the album’s A-side with a calm ode to Buckingham’s inspirations.

Races Are Run

“Races Are Run” is a tender ballad, led vocally by Nicks, that captures a sense of closure and acceptance after emotional turmoil. “We tried a thousand times before / Rained on reasons kept us believing / That there might still be more,” Buckingham and Nicks harmonize. It expresses their embracing of the cycles of life, at the end of the day, “some people always have to lose.”

Lola (My Love)

“Lola (My Love)” is a bluesy, guitar driven song describing the fantasy of a perfect woman. The lyrics are lustful, discussing how Lola “knows just what [he’s] lookin’ for,” and “knows how to treat her man.” Though not as emotionally deep as the rest of the album, the groovy rhythm allows Buckingham’s musical prowess to stand for itself.

Frozen Love

The closing track and lead single for the album is “Frozen Love.” At seven minutes long, the song embodies musical chemistry of the duo, allowing them to speak at one another. The lyrics expose the difficult aspects of their relationship, but recognize that even when their love is stagnant or frozen in time, their connection will always be present. The album concludes with what is simultaneously a goodbye and a recognition that their connection will always always be a cocktail of conflict and collaboration.

52 years after its initial release, “Buckingham Nicks” reunites rock’s most infamous situationship. The album that was once considered a commercial “flop” in 1973 has become a sought-after collectors item following Fleetwood Mac’s rise to fame. The emotional and literal journey of “Buckingham Nicks” is powerful and, finally, digitally accessible.