What’s Your Preference?

Digidave · #1 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 06:10 AM

A lot of people don't realize that there was a Fleetwood Mac long before their self-titled album "Fleetwood Mac". As a matter of fact there were 10 Studio albums before that one.

Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac · Mr. Wonderful · English Rose · Then Play On · Kiln House · Future Games · Bare Trees · Penguin · Mystery to Me · Heroes Are Hard to Find

Peter Green was playing in a band called John Mayall & the Blues Breakers. He had replaced Eric Clapton when Eric had left to join Cream. Peter was thrilled to join the band but wanted his friend Mick Fleetwood to replace Aynsley Dunbar on drums. Mayall went along with it and Mick was in the band. Later that year, John Mayall gave Peter a birthday present -- a few hours of studio time. During that session, he recorded an instrumental song, called Fleetwood Mac. He named the song that way because Mick Fleetwood and John McVie were playing with him on that song and he couldn't think of another title. The explanation was that simple. After a while, Mick Fleetwood was fired by John Mayall for drunkenness. Then, out of nowhere, John Mayall rehired Eric Clapton. At this point, Peter Green felt it was time to leave Mayall and start his own band with the 'previously fired' Mick Fleetwood. Peter decided to name his new band "Fleetwood Mac", after that instrumental he recorded in the studio not long ago. They became one of the hottest blues bands in England. In 1969 they sold more albums than the Beatles & the Rolling Stones. The band went through numerous lineups. Here is a list of the members. They all played some part in the bands history.

Original Members:
Peter Green – vocals, guitar
Jeremy Spencer – vocals, guitar
John McVie – bass
Mick Fleetwood – drums

Other Members:
Bekka Bramlett – vocals
Bob Brunning – bass
Lindsey Buckingham – vocals, guitar
Billy Burnette – vocals, guitar
Danny Kirwan – guitar
Dave Mason – vocals, guitar
Christine McVie – vocals, keyboard
Stevie Nicks – vocals
Rick Vito – vocals, guitar
Dave Walker – vocals
Bob Welch - vocals, guitar
Bob Weston – guitar

So this week in the Classic Rock Challenge I'm going to feature my favorite from those early years. Bare Trees was released in 1972 & was their 7th album. The band included Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Danny Kirwin, & Bob Welch. Two of the highlights of the album were "Sentimental Lady" & "Spare Me a Little of Your Love". "Sentimental Lady" was later re-recorded by its composer Bob Welch (with Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, and Lindsey Buckingham backing him) for his solo album "French Kiss".

Tracks
1.Child of Mine
2.The Ghost
3.Homeward Bound
4.Sunny Side of Heaven
5.Bare Trees
6.Sentimental Lady
7.Danny's Chant
8.Spare Me a Little of Your Love
9.Dust
10.Thoughts on a Grey Day

For any new members out there. The rules are simple. Just take either the title of the album, or the title of any song & interpret it with a photo.