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CD BOX:
The "Then Play On" set is the 'exactly' the same as the August 2013 Expanded Edition CD reissue - Chris Bellman mastering and identical total playing time of 69:53 minutes - so this 2020 issue is nothing new or shall we say improved on that. That last Peter Green line-up album and the singles around it had a staggering convoluted history – so see my detailed separate review on "Then Play On" using Barcode 081227964436 to locate it on Amazon. Six of the original seven studio album CDs here have bonus tracks ("Penguin" is the exception, tracks details are outlined below) and the eight title is new – "Live From The Record Plant – December 15, 1974" – a concert at The Record Plant in Sausalito, California made during their US Tour for the "Heroes Are Hard To Find" LP. Originally the show was a simulcast on the legendary Rock Radio Station KSAN-FM in San Francisco.
From the generic pictures advertising "Fleetwood Mac: 1969 to 1974" on Amazon and the Net in general - you could get the impression that the Mini LP Repro Art Card Sleeves are all singular issues. To my delight, they aren't. They follow the original releases. "Then Play On" therefore has its gatefold, "Kiln House" the same and to my amazement the rare 'Penguin' gatefold insert of band photos that came with original 1970 Reprise Records LP has been reproduced too - something even my Japanese SHM-CD Remaster hasn't got. "Future Games" and "Bare Trees" are singular cards as per the originals, "Penguin" has its gatefold as does "Mystery To Me" and its rare insert, "Heroes..." is singular and they've given appropriate artwork and a rather tasty gatefold to the new Previously Unreleased set "Live From The Record Plant - December 15, 1974" which runs to a pleasing 72:42 minutes. The 12-page booklet is pretty but unfortunately a fairly functional affair – pictures of the albums – tracks lists and bonuses – penguin logos - but zero liner notes of appreciation on this dark and murky Mac period. They didn’t even bother to list release dates or catalogue numbers – no line-ups – no photos of incoming band members. The clamshell box is pretty and fairly sturdy to look at and touch – like say the Joni Mitchell or Ry Cooder sets – but you can’t help thinking that after all these decades waiting someone somewhere should have laid into the details and given this much-maligned period of Mac History a proper do over. Pity...
LP freaks will know that 19 August 2013 saw the "Fleetwood Mac: 1969 to 1972" VINYL BOX SET issued with titles 1 to 4 here and a bonus 7" single of "Oh Well - Pt. 1" and "Pt. 2" (Warner Music/Rhino R1 535581 - Barcode 081227965358). Well, at last, we get the remainder. Friday, 4 September 2020 sees "Fleetwood Mac: 1973 to 1974" on Warner Music/Rhino offering us titles 5 to 8. There is an individually Numbered Limited Edition Exclusive from Rhino.Com with Coloured Vinyl for Each LP - Penguin in Yellow, Mystery To Me in Orange, Heroes Are Hard To Find in Gold and Live in White with the 45-single in Blue. The LPs have Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering from Original Master Tapes and are on 140-Gram Vinyl with a Bonus 7" Single – "For Your Love (Mono Promo Edit)" b/w "Good Things (Come To Those Who Wait)". The B-side is Previously Unreleased and both are Bonus Tracks on the "Mystery To Me" CD. The "Live From The Record Plant – December 15, 1974" is a 2LP set.
Produced for release by STEVE WOOLARD and BILL INGLOT – JUSTIN SMITH did the Remastering at WEA Studios in Burbank California sometime in 2016 and 2017. There have been probably three to four releases worldwide of this Mac period – especially 1971 to 1974 with Bob Welch – none of which have had proper remastering if truth be told – so this set represents a long held wish by fans. And I have to say, Mr. Smith has done a great job. Let’s get to the musical details...
1. Coming Your Way [Side 1]
2. Closing My Eyes
3. Fighting For Madge
4. When You Say
5. Show-biz Blues
6. Underway
7. One Sunny Day
8. Although The Sun Is Shining [Side 2]
9. Rattlesnake Shake
10. Without You
11. Searching For Madge
12. My Dream
13. Like Crying
14. Before The Beginning
15. Oh Well - Pt. 1
16. Oh Well - Pt. 2
Tracks 15 and 16 are the 26 September 1969 UK 7" single on Reprise RS.27000 - 19 November 1969 USA 7" single on Reprise 0883
17. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown)
18. World In Harmony
Tracks 17 and 18 are the 9 May 1970 UK 7" single on Reprise RS.27007 - 3 June 1970 USA 7" single on Reprise 0925
September 1969 USA 1st Pressing LP on Reprise RS 6368 with 12 tracks:
Side 1:
1. Coming Your Way [1]
2. Closing My Eyes [2]
3. Fighting For Madge [3]
4. When You Say [4]
5. Show-biz Blues [5]
6. Underway [aka Under Way] [6]
1. Although The Sun Is Shining [8]
2. Rattlesnake Shake [9]
3. Searching For Madge [11]
4. My Dream [12]
5. Like Crying [13]
6. Before The Beginning [14]
Side 1:
1. Coming Your Way [1]
2. Closing My Eyes [2]
3. Show-biz Blues [5]
4. Underway [6]
5. Oh Well (Full Length Version) [15 and 16 - minus the minute in error]
1. Although The Sun Is Shining [8]
2. Rattlesnake Shake [9]
3. Searching For Madge [11]
4. Fighting For Madge [3]
5. Like Crying [13]
6. Before The Beginning [14]
1. This Is The Rock [Side 1]
2. Station Man
3. Blood On The Floor
4. Hi Ho Silver
5. Jewel Eyed Judy
6. Buddy’s Song [Side 2]
7. Earl Gray
8. One Together
9. Tell Me All The Things You Do
10. Mission Bell
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Kiln House" – released 18 September 1970 in the USA on Reprise Records RS 6408 and October 1970 in the UK on Reprise Records RSLP 9004. Line-up was - Danny Kirwan, Jeremy Spencer, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood with Christine Perfect [nee McVie]
11. Dragonfly
12. The Purple Dancer
Tracks 11 and 12 are the 12 March 1971 A&B-sides of a UK 7" single on Reprise RS 27010 [no US equivalent] – both tracks non-album – B-side available digitally here for the first time. "Dragonfly" was featured on LP on the November 1971 "Greatest Hits" set.
14. Station Man (Single Version)
Tracks 13 and 14 are the 6 January 1971 A&B-sides of a US 7" single on Reprise 0984
1. Woman Of 1000 Years [Side 1]
2. Morning Rain
3. What A Shame
4. Future Games
5. Sands Of Time [Side 2]
6. Sometimes
7. Lay It All Down
8. Show Me A Smile
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Future Games" - released 3 September 1971 in the USA on Reprise RS 6465 and September 1971 in the UK on Reprise K 44153. Line-up was - Danny Kirwan, Bob Welch (ex Head West), Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.
9. Sands Of Time (Single Version) - A-side of a December 1971 US 7" single on Reprise 1057
10. Sometimes (Alternate Version)
11. Lay it All Down (Alternate Version)
12. Stone
13. Show Me A Smile (Alternate Version)
14. What A Shame (Unedited) - Tracks 10 to 14 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
1. Child Of Mine [Side 1]
2. The Ghost
3. Homeward Bound
4. Sunny Side Of Heaven
5. Bare Trees [Side 2]
6. Sentimental Lady
7. Danny's Chant
8. Spare Me A Little Of Your Love
9. Dust
10. Thoughts On A Grey Day
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Bare Trees" - released 14 March 1972 in the USA on Reprise MS 2080 and April 1972 in the UK on Reprise K 44181. Same line-up as "Future Games"
11. Trinity (Mono Version) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
12. Sentimental Lady (Single Version) - A-side of a May 1972 US 7" single on Reprise REP 1093
13. Homeward Bound (Live) - no data supplied
1. Remember Me [Side 1]
2. Bright Fire
3. Dissatisfied
4. (I'm A) Road Runner
5. The Derelict [Side 2]
6. Revelation
7. Did You Ever Love Me
8. Night Watch
9. Caught In The Rain
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Penguin" - released 30 March 1973 in the USA on Reprise MS 2138 and May 1973 in the UK on Reprise K 44235. Line-up was - David Walker, Bob Weston, Bob Welch, Christine and John McVie with Mick Fleetwood.
1. Emerald Eyes [Side 1]
2. Believe Me
3. Just Crazy Love
4. Hypnotized
5. Forever
6. Keep On Going
7. The City [Side 2]
8. Miles Away
9. Somebody
10. The Way I Feel
11. For Your Love
12. Why
Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Mystery To Me" - released 15 October 1973 in the USA on Reprise MS 2158 and January 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 44248. Line-up was - Bob Welch, Bob Weston, Christine and John McVie with Mick Fleetwood.
13. For Your Love (Mono Promo Edit, 3:10 minutes) - A-side of a December 1973 US-Only Promo Single on Reprise REP 1188, the other side has the Stereo Mix
14. Good Things (Come To Those Who Wait) - Previously Unreleased Bob Welch song
1. Heroes Are Hard To Find [Side 1]
2. Coming Home
3. Angel
4. Bermuda Triangle
5. Come A Little Bit Closer
6. She's Changing Me [Side 2]
7. Bad Loser
8. Silver Heels
9. Prove Your Love
10. Born Enchanter
11. Safe Harbour
Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Heroes Are Hard To Find" - released 13 September 1974 in the USA on Reprise MS 2196 and September 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 54026. Line-up was - Bob Welch, Christine and John McVie with Mick Fleetwood.
1. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown)
2. Angel
3. Spare Me A Little Of Your Love
4. Sentimental Lady
5. Future Games
6. Bermuda Triangle
7. Why
8. Believe Me
9. Black Magic Woman/Oh Well
10. Rattlesnake Shake
11. Hypnotized
Tracks 1 to 11 are exclusive to this 2020 Box - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
The remasters will also finally allow fans to hear deep LP cuts like the touching "Woman Of 1000 Years", the acoustic "Dust", the Funk-Rock of "The City" and the Mac doing Seventies Beach Boys harmonies on the stunning "Caught In The Rain". They will also reach for "Hypnotized" - Welch's shimmering vibe tune on "Mystery To Me". The Production values on both "Mystery To Me" and "Heroes Are Hard To Find" go way up as the band edges towards that Buckingham-Nicks moment in 1975 and of course "Rumours" 1977. David Walker's vocals on the cover version of Jr. Walker's "(I'm A) Road Runner" impress too. The live set also has blistering versions of "Hypnotized", "Green Manalishi..." and the double-whammy of "Black Magic Woman/Oh Well" - a huge crowd pleaser from the old days with Peter Green (what a loss he was in 2020).
There are fans that swear by the Bob Welch period but I am not one of them. Having said that, I am more than pleased to be hearing those forgotten Mac moments in properly decent audio at last (including his better tracks). I'm off now to play the stereo knackers out of "The Purple Dancer" or Christine McVie's lovely "The Way I Feel" (another forgotten album nugget), the orchestral majesty of "Why" and generally dip my toes once again into the rest of it with hope in my heart and the curves of Salma Hayek on my mind (but that's another story/lawsuit). Enjoy peeps...