Before recording Tusk, Lindsey Buckingham aimed to create an album that differed significantly from Rumours, stating, "I wanted to undermine the idea of following the formula of doing Rumours 2 and Rumours 3," which Warner Bros. preferred. Mick Fleetwood decided early on that Tusk would be a double album. Dennis Wilson, dating Christine McVie at the time, offered to host the band at the Beach Boys' studio, but they later learned they would still have to pay if they didn't use it. Consequently, Fleetwood Mac approached Geordie Hormel, who offered to build a custom studio at The Village Recorder. Producer Ken Caillat recommended purchasing the studio, but Fleetwood's attorney chose to rent it, naming it Studio D.