The set features four new tracks as well as several previously unreleased studio and live tracks from the archives, with several tracks included in alternate 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. "Make Me a Mask" originated from the recording sessions of Buckingham's third solo album,
Out of the Cradle; Buckingham felt that the song did not fit with the rest of the album and instead gave the song to Fleetwood Mac for inclusion on the box set. "Love Shines" was released as a single to promote the box set in Europe, whereas "Paper Doll" was the single in North America and Australia. 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 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 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. ==Track listing==