Customer Reviews

Fleetwood Mac

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In its famous 'dog and dustbin' sleeve, Fleetwood Mac's first album was released in February 1968 on Blue Horizon Records in the UK in both MONO (7-63200) and STEREO (S 7-63200) and in August 1968 on Epic Records in the USA in both MONO (LN 24402) and STEREO (BN 26402). In the UK it's referred to by it's label title "Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac" - in the USA simply as "Fleetwood Mac" (which is on both cover and label). And although it's now recognized as a masterpiece of British Blues - this particular reissue of that explosive debut is "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967-1969" version - the one taken from the 6CD box set issued in 1999 - and its jumbled around enough to require an explanation.

The original album track list ran as follows (35:55 minutes):

1. My Heart Beat Like A Hammer (Jeremy Spencer song) [2:59 minutes]

2. Merry Go Round (Peter Green song) [4:20 minutes]

3. Long Grey Mare (Peter Green song) [2:15 minutes]

4. Hellhound On My Trail (Robert Johnson cover) [2:06 minutes]

5. Shake Your Moneymaker (Elmore James cover) [2:57 minutes]

6. Looking For Somebody (Peter Green song) [2:52 minutes] (End of Side 1)

7. No Place To Go (Howlin' Wolf cover) [3:21 minutes]

8. My Baby's Good To Me (Jeremy Spencer song) [2:51 minutes]

9. I Loved Another Woman (Peter Green song) [2:57 minutes]

10. Cold Black Night (Jeremy Spencer song) [3:17 minutes]

11. The World Keep On Turning (Peter Green song) [2:29 minutes]

12. Got To Move (Homesick James Williamson cover) [3:21 minutes] (End of Side 2)

But this "Box Set" version runs to almost twice the length of the ordinary CD reissue (63:39 minutes):

1. My Heart Beat Like A Hammer (Take 2 Master Version with Studio Talk) [3:33 minutes]

2. Merry Go Round (Take 2 Master Version with studio Talk) [4:20 minutes]

3. Long Grey Mare (same as 3 above)

4. Hellhound On My Trail (Take 1 Complete Master Version/Remix) [2:06 minutes]

5. Shake Your Moneymaker (Master Version with Studio Talk) [3:14 minutes]

6. Looking For Somebody (same as 6 above)

7. No Place To Go (same as 7 above)

8. My Baby's Good To Me (same as 8 above)

9. I Loved Another Woman (same as 9 above)

10. Cold Black Night (same as 10 above)

11. The World Keep On Turning (same as 11 above)

12. Got To Move (same as 12 above)

BONUSES

13. My Heart Beat Like A Hammer (Take 1 - Previously Unissued) [3:43 minutes]

14. Merry Go Round (Take 1 - Previously Unissued/Incomplete) [0:57 minutes]

15. I Loved Another Woman (Takes 1, 2, 3 and 4 with False Starts - Previously Unissued - Incomplete) [6:09 minutes]

16. I Loved Another Woman (Takes 5 and 6 - Previously Unissued/Incomplete) [5:10 minutes]

17. Cold Black Night (Takes 1 through to 5 with False Starts - Previously Unreleased - and Take 6 which is the master version) [5:30 minutes]

18. You're So Evil (Take 2 - Previously Unreleased Jeremy Spencer Track) [3:07 minutes]

19. I'm Coming Home To Stay (Jeremy Spencer song, Previously Unreleased Track) [2:29 minutes]

Why so different? In 1999, Sony issued the stunning 6-disc box set "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967-1969" by FLEETWOOD MAC to universal acclaim. Mike Vernon, the label's producer, had taken the unusual decision to re-sequence the track line-ups of ALL 5 UK albums (one was a double) to feature outtakes, studio chatter, false starts and so on. This was of course fine and dandy on a comprehensive box set. But this 2004 singular re-issue mimics that release, when it really should have been reverted to the 12 track original LP run and added the outtakes on as bonuses at the end. It sort of does, of course, but the downside is that when you play "My Heart Beat Like A Hammer" for the first time, the studio chatter and buggering about in the studio is quaint - but when you want to actually hear the track and album proper - it becomes a major pain. You can of course edit it with iTunes to play the 12 tracks as 1st released, but that's more work than should be necessary. On the upside - are the two stunning previously unreleased Jeremy Spencer tracks at the end - "You're So Evil" and especially the raucous Elmore James clone "I'm Coming Home To Stay" - fantastic stuff and genuine bonus tracks. Completeists would have enjoyed this disc having both the MONO and STEREO mix of the album - as initially released - and just the two unreleased on the end - but that's another day's work...

As it stands, their 1968 first album is still one of THE GREAT rocking blues offerings - in any configuration - and only makes you pine for more. I'd say BUY IT anyway and then go for 2 to 5 as well...they're all magicial in their own way.

PS: For those wishing for more, the Blue Horizon label Fleetwood Mac UK albums are:

1. Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac (1968)

(original album, known as "Fleetwood Mac" in the USA)

2. Mr. Wonderful (1968)

(original album)

3. The Pious Bird Of Good Omen (1969)

(compilation of non-album 7" singles, their B-sides, collaborations and other rarities)

4. Blues Jam At Chess (1969)

(original 20-track 2LP set often referred to as a Various Artists compilation.

Its full credit is to: Fleetwood Mac, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, Shakey Horton, J.T. Brown, Guitar Buddy

(Buddy Guy), Honey Boy Edwards, S.P. Leary. Originally a 2LP set on release, it was broken into 2 volumes

for the "Complete" box set and renamed "Blues Jam In Chicago Volume 1" and "Blues Jam In Chicago

Volume 2". It is ONLY these singular re-sequenced releases that are available today.)

5. The Original Fleetwood Mac (1971)

(although released in '71, this LP has recordings from August 1967 through to October 1968, all of which

were previously unreleased at the time)

Peter Green was the best replacement John Mayall could have found for Eric Clapton, and Green continues his emotional guitar playing style with his own group consisting of additional ex-Mayall sidemen Mick Fleetwood and John McVie.

If you are expecting something similar to the classic Fleetwood Mac of the '70's with Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie, then beware--this is totally different music, straight blues. Those three had not appeared in the lineup back when this album came out. The only other member besides the core three from Mayall's band is slide guitar expert Jeremy Spencer.

While Peter Green's vocals are competent in a blues context, I have never been too fond of Spencer's vocals, which appear on the slide guitar-heavy songs. Spencer is an unabashed Elmore James disciple and even does a fair job of mimicking some of the legendary bluesman's vocal nuances and his slide playing is good, but his voice sounds amateurish and boyish. Maybe he improved later on, but here I think Green should have assumed all the vocals.

Well, after you get to a certain age, you are more likely to buy old favorites than to find something new. I've always been a blues fan, but generally the blues I like are Delta blues by singers who are, or sound like, actual old Delta guys. I mean, I appreciate Eric Clapton and others for rediscovering and republicizing these great old songs. But I just don't connect with the British blues singers. And: I regard a number of Fleetwood Mac's songs as rock anthems, songs everybody should own. I was poking around on iTunes deciding which old Fleetwood Mac anthems I loved enough to buy for my iPod, and hadn't heard too many times already, and, of course, the way iTunes' search works, I could hardly miss Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac. It's seldom that iTunes out-obscures Amazon, but here's one. Amazon (at least, as I write this) has no samples of this CD; go to iTunes and listen to some samples. You might actually like it well enough to buy the whole CD. Otherwise, I bet you'll find several cuts you can't do without: particularly, Moneymaker and Cold Black Night. And be sure to check out Tallahassee Lassie. Really outdoes Freddy Cannon.

I remember this album as an original vinyl LP record from the time of the early British blues explosion. Released in February 1968 & originally titled simply "Fleetwood Mac" this was the debut album of the blues-rock band formed after guitarist Peter Green & bassist John McVie left John Mayall's "Bluesbreakers" to unite with drummer Mick Fleetwood & slide guitarist Jeremy Spencer.

This is an historic album & very collectable, with a fine & well balanced selection of rugged & rocking blues tracks written by Green & by Spencer, as well as "Hellhound on My Trail" a Robert Johnson song, "Shake Your Money Maker" originally by Elmore James, & "No Place to Go", a Howlin Wolf song.

The sleeve notes for the CD are very informative & explain how the original tapes were resurrected. There is studio talk on this album but it is not overdone & towards the end there are bonus tracks taken from the recording sessions master tapes, some featuring several takes of one song, which are fun to listen to at times, while at other times the listener can choose to stop play after track 12 to hear the original 1968 release only.

The union of Green & Spencer's guitar styles on this record is quite harmonious, in a rocking sort of manner, & guitar buffs who like twelve-bar type blues will find this enjoyable. But you don't have to be a guitar player to appreciate Peter Green's solo acoustic performance on "the World Keep On Turning", a raw gutsy delta blues number written by Green.

It is possible to obtain many of these tracks from budget priced greatest hits compilations but somehow this album has an "original is best" appeal about it.

I consider this CD to be "a must have" for blues fans, & to be one of the very best British blues albums ever recorded.

If you haven't gotten into Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac for Blues, you have to start here. The energy and urgency of the music included will surprise you. In some ways it reminds me of the Clapton Blues Breakers for a ground breaking blues record. Peter Green absolutely shreds the blues here, much bluesier than Clapton's playing, in my opinion. You won't regret this purchase.

When building an essential Fleetwood Mac collection this is the place to start. After their apprenticeship in John Mayall's Blues Breakers, Peter Green and John McVie hooked up with Mick Fleetwood and Jeremy Spencer to form Fleetwood Mac. Green & the Mac pack are at their leanest and meanest and virtually live through out this session. The extra tracks dont add to much to this already outstanding piece, but the false starts and band banter do give this legendary blues recording a sort of down home feel and the remastering is simply amazing. Lets face it, Clapton, Beck and Page were all important in shaping what would become known as "blues rock", but none of these cats possessed the tons of ethnicity that Green had pouring out of his fingers. B.B. King once said that Peter Green was the only bluesman whose tone could actually make him sweat. Enough said. Listen. Enjoy.

If you want to hear Jeremy Spencer - this your album. If you want to hear Peter Green sing, you'll like this somewhat. If you want to hear Peter Green solo, man are you out of luck! Download Merry Go Round (Take 2-Master Version With Studio Talk/Remix) and I Loved Another Woman (LP Version); also after some stops and starts I Loved Another Woman (Takes 1-4) has a whole version, Take 3?, then stops again!

If you like songs stopping and starting you'll LOVE this! Why didn't they just put all that stuff at the end of the tracks and let you listen first to the album they way it was initially intended?

Mostly a Jeremy Spencer introduction- which ain't bad a-tall- his overdriven slide matches perfectly with his voice while Mick Fleetwood goes berserk with that driving shuffle of his with McVie steady as always. Peter Green is just sublime- his velvety smooth tone with an edge-& at the time this came out -it was PURE BLUES- Pete blows harp- sings just great- even plays a quasi jazz like guitar("I loved Another Woman ")-Greeeny plays an acoustic blues on "World Keeps on Turning"- & this alone is worth the price of admission

"How Many More Years" (H. Wolf tune)is played as if it could have been a Cream song- but retains that Chicago sound- OUTSTANDING-

This is the begining of Fleetwood Mac- THIS is what propelled them to out sell the Beatles & Stones in England- a SUPERB album.

I was prompted to purchase this CD after a BBC TV documentary about Peter Green. Clearly he was a near genius at the art of playing the blues and at the time of this album was streets ahead of the rest of the early Fleetwod Mac, with a distinctive interpretation and sound and a conviction of what would work. This album is the 'uncut' studio tapes with several re-takes for a number of tracks. By 21st century standards it can be a little tedious. But it does reflect Peter Green's talent and its promise of greater things to come. There is enough here to assess how great that talent was and had he not been caught in a cult in Germany which the documentary suggests is where he began his departure from normality via LSD, he would have equalled Eric Clapton and become a BB King exponent in the fullest sense. The much later Me & The Devil a 3 CD set including a Robert Johnson selection and Green's interpretations of Johnson which won him recent acclaim, is a more enjoyable experience, though poignant with the knowledge of what happened to the man along the way.

Fleetwood Mac would spend their first studio time in 1968, this is that album. There's the usual studio chatter and as a bonus you hear the band tuning or messing around between takes. By that I mean before "My Heart Beats Like A Hammer" Peter does a little Hendrix. There is a difference in these songs than the later cuts from other sessions."Merry Go Round" illustrates Peters' "tuned" Les Paul. "Hellhound On My Trail" Spencer sings and plays piano, this was before Christine. "N Place To Go" hints at the Mayall influence. "My Babys Good To Me" shows why they added Jeremy Spencer, he may have been a pain in the rear but he was a good slide guitarist. "Cold Black Night" is a good exchange between Peter and Jeremy. i liked the simplicty of "The World Keep On Turning". All in all I liked this first studio album from a great band. It's a time when they hadn't played these songs over and over.