Fleetwood Mac

Then Play On
$11.98
Yes, that's the saying from which Fleetwood Mac named their third album in 1969. Curious, but play on they did. And in doing so created what is ultimately the masterpiece for the Mark II line up of Fleetwood Mac. This would be the last album to feature founding member and leader Peter Green (though he did make an uncredited appearance on 1973's "Penguin"). Peter went out in style....musically speaking, not personally. No longer content to just play Chicago style blues, Peter was adamant to branch out and try new things. Mick Fleetwood states that "Then Play On" is Fleetwood Mac's first true album and is one of his favorites. The album is missing one member however, guitarist Jeremy Spencer. The band had originally planned to release an E.P. simultaneously with the album by the band's alter ego, Earl Vince and The Valiants, led by Jeremy Spencer. The E.P. was to be a take off on American radio programs featuring Jeremy as "Bill Schlitz," the host. The program featured Jeremy posing as different bands who were supposedly appearing on the radio show (one of them being a San Francisco psychedelic rock band called "The Electric Orange Squitters" followed by a hilarious imitation by Jeremy of British blues rocker John Mayall). The entire E.P. can be heard on "The Vaudeville Years: 1968-1970" double CD set. Jeremy's absence did not hamper the album though. Peter and Daniel Kirwan's material made for a startling, innovative record that was entertaining from start to finish and that only slightly touched on the blues style the band was known for at this point.

However, fans of this album have been deprived of the original layout for "Then Play On" since 1970! The album was released in the U.K in September of 1969 and in October for the U.S. Both releases featured a very different track sequence when originally first issued. For the first U.S. release, Reprise omitted Daniel Kirwan's "One Sunny Day" and "Without You," both of which had already seen American release by Epic Records on "English Rose." The original U.S. track sequence, released October 1969, was as follows:

1. Coming Your Way
2. Closing My Eyes
3. Fighting For Madge
4. When You Say
5. Show-Biz Blues
6. Underway
7. Although The Sun Is Shining
8. Rattlesnake Shake
9. Searching For Madge
10. My Dream
11. Like Crying
12. Before The Beginning

In September/November of 1969, the band released "Oh Well Pt. 1&2" as the A and B side of their non-album single. The song was a hit in both the U.K. and the U.S., so Reprise decided to cash in on the single's success and re-release "Then Play On" with a track sequence to include "Oh Well" sometime in early 1970. Both "When You Say" and the beautiful "My Dream" were cut from the track line up and "Oh Well" was tacked onto the end of side one. "Show-Biz Blues" was now moved up to track 3 on the first side, "Fighting For Madge" was now sequenced directly AFTER "Searching For Madge" on side two. Reprise managed to make a mess of a band's masterpiece by being money hungry. It's a shame because if you've heard the original version of the album, you'll be astounded by how much more evenly it flows and makes sense. For a smoother and more enjoyable ride, program your CD with the original track line up listed above and place "Oh Well" either after "Underway" or at the very end. I prefer it after "Underway" myself.

Green had five songs on the original release, six if you count "Oh Well." Daniel Kirwan also had five songs, with the "Madge" jams being credited one each to John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Both Peter and Daniel's songs gave each a run for their money! Daniel showcased his heavier side with the jungle beat driven "Coming Your Way" but for the most part, Daniel's songs are more gentle in nature. Those being the sad "When You Say," the instrumental "My Dream," the bluesy "Like Crying," and the crooner styled "Although The Sun Is Shining." Peter starts off his songs with the haunting, near the point of death tinged "Closing My Eyes." He follows that with the down home blues of "Show-Biz Blues," the Hendrix like instrumental "Underway," and the re-release features his magnum opus "Oh Well." On side two, he managed one of the first overtly descriptive songs about male masturbation with "Rattlesnake Shake" ("Now I know this guy. His name is Mick. Now he don't care if he ain't got no chick!") and again back to his death bed with the ghostly "Before The Beginning." Both of the "Madge" jams are heavy and spliced into sections for a fun listen (at one point a bizarre orchestra interlude comes barreling forth into the song for no reason at all).

By all accounts "Then Play On" is one of Fleetwood Mac's best and definitely the best album from their early years. No Fleetwood Mac collection is complete without this one so it has my highest recommendation! The Fleetwood Mac Reprise catalog from 1969 to 1974 is long overdue for a proper, updated remastering job with "Then Play On" especially needing some attention! Reprise/Rhino Records....are you reading this?!

Mystery to Me
$11.98
I have to confess 1) that I am only a casual FM fan, and 2) that I bought this album primarily for the incredibly cool cover art, having not heard any of the songs before. That said, M2M is an album that definitely grows in appeal with repeated listening. At the time of M2M's release, FM was clearly a band in transition, as evidenced by their numerous changes in personnel and musical styles. Their musical approach on M2M is spaghetti-like, as in, "Let's throw a bunch of stuff at the wall and see what sticks." The album contains a mix of laid-back West Coast folk rock ("Believe Me"), pre-disco ("Keep On Going"), space rock ("Hypnotized"), fake reggae ("Forever"), blues rock ("The City"), and a nod to British Invasion roots ("For Your Love"). What stands out most is the remarkable quality and consistency of Christine McVie's songwriting, which she would continue through the rest of her FM career. Bob Welch's breathy vocals and jazzy chords are a bit of an acquired taste, and I often find myself skipping Bob's songs in order to get to Christine's. M2M came out during a difficult time not only in the history of FM, but in the history of rock in general (1973: Beatles broken up, Stones too stoned, Kinks and Who with their best work behind them, etc.). Happily, M2M holds up remarkably well not only as a relic of its time, but on its own merits today.

Fleetwood Mac: Greatest Hits
$18.98
Released in 1988, this Fleetwood Mac compilation features all the smash hits and, with the exception of "Rumours," represents the group's finest album. Worth having for the unedited "Rhiannon" and "Sara" - not to mention the always-thrilling "Tusk," "Say You Love Me" and "Go Your Own Way." The CD still omits the U.S. Top 20 singles "Think About Me" and "Seven Wonders," but Christine McVie's "As Long As You Follow" is a keeper. An ideal starting point for the uninitiated listener.

The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac (2CD)
$24.98
This 2-CD collection is awesome and impressive.
The songs are from the first years to recent years.
I wanted songs with Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham.
This collection has all three singers.
The songs took me back a few years.
I am very glad that I found this collection.
Very good deal.
Amazon shipped quickly.