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• I really love to mention "Mystery To Me" (1973), somewhere stuck between the greatness of the Peter Green years and the mainstream success to come with the Nicks/Buckingham tandem, this undiscovered album, hidden under an atrocious cover design, has some real gems on it (Emerald Eyes, Miles Away, Hypnotized, The City a.o.) thanks to Bob Welch. For me the album's got no weakness and remains an all time classic!

  Posted by Bruno Coussée at 12:48 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Lindsey Buckingham's 1992 solo album Out Of The Cradle is grossly underrated. The closing track "Say We'll Meet Again" is particularly beautiful.

  Posted by Erik Valebrokk at 12:54 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• The soundtrack to National Lampoon's Vacation. Historic

  Posted by Shauco at 12:56 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rumours is an absolut classic.
  Pitch perfect from start to finish.
  Each time you ear it you find something fresh and new.
  You just can´t get tired of it.
  There aren´t many groups today that can brag of making timeless and tireless classics like this.
  Just go and get it.

  Posted by Paulo Silva at 1:15 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Tusk is my favourite Mac album. After recording Rumours it was a suicidally bold (foolhardy? arrogant?) decision to release a double LP that didn't contain any hit singles, yet it does hold some of my favourite Mac songs - Honey Hi, Never Forget, That's All for Everyone, Angel (there's an incredible clip from the Tusk tour film of Stevie belting this out in the studio) and the title track. Although its hard to knock Rumours as being any less than perfect (although my ears weep every time Don't Stop is played) Tusk tops it for me.

  And definitely agree with Bruno Coussée on "Mystery To Me" for one of the lesser know LPs to check.

  Posted by Ben Smith at 2:10 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• The last record with Bob Welsh......."Heros Are Hard to Find" released in 1974 was a great lp. Some of Bobs best songwriting is included here with "Bermuda Triangle" and "Silver Heels" ... stand out tracks. Christine MacVie turns in a fine group of songs of her own with the title track and "Come a Little Bit Closer" This thier 9th lp should have been a break through for the band. But insted ..this marked the end of the "Bob Welsh era" as He went on to form "Paris" with ex Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick and ex Todd Rundgren's Nazz drummer Thom Mooney.This is a forgotten gem in the canon of Fleetwood Mac's long history if you have not heard this..........you will not be disappointed.

  Posted by Tony Zowie at 3:40 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• If Music be the food of Love...THEN PLAY ON!
  The Real, Best, most soulful, less whiny Fleetwood Mac MUST include Peter, Danny, and Jeremy-3 amazing guitarists!!! Oh Well and Green Manalishi are 2 of the finest songs of the brilliant posychedelic blues era! They rate alongside Jimi, Cream, Jeff, Zep, etc! This is genius blues rock as opposed to pop music!!!

  Posted by Ira Cord Rubnitz at 4:46 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Fleetwood Mac are one of my favorite bands

  My favorite is Tusk. It probably would have made a better single LP, but most doubles are like that. It is heralded as Lindseys album, but Stevie and Christine contribute some of their best work on it.

  Rumours is great, no doubt, but Fleetwood Mac is it's equal.

  Mirage and Tango in the Night are spotty, but there are hidden gems on both. They are both in desperate need of a re-mastering. Say you Will is too long, but it's quite good.

  As for pre Stevie/Lindsey, Then Play On, Bare Trees, and Mystery to Me are all good albums. I have a copy of 'The Early Years' on Sire Records which is a good overview of the Peter Green era

  Lastly, the Buckingham/Nicks LP is a must. Stevies Belladonna is good, but the rest is really hit and miss. I just heard her new album, and it's not bad at all. The songs are catchy, and she is in good voice all things considered. Lindsey's Out of the Cradle is wonderful, the earlier albums are a tad self-indulgent ( but whom should he indulge?) Gift of Screws is good, but I don't listen to it all that much.

  Posted by Robert DuPont at 5:11 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Fleetwood Mac are one of my favorite bands

  My favorite is Tusk. It probably would have made a better single LP, but most doubles are like that. It is heralded as Lindseys album, but Stevie and Christine contribute some of their best work on it.

  Rumours is great, no doubt, but Fleetwood Mac is it's equal.

  Mirage and Tango in the Night are spotty, but there are hidden gems on both. They are both in desperate need of a re-mastering. Say you Will is too long, but it's quite good.

  As for pre Stevie/Lindsey, Then Play On, Bare Trees, and Mystery to Me are all good albums. I have a copy of 'The Early Years' on Sire Records which is a good overview of the Peter Green era

  Lastly, the Buckingham/Nicks LP is a must. Stevies Belladonna is good, but the rest is really hit and miss. I just heard her new album, and it's not bad at all. The songs are catchy, and she is in good voice all things considered. Lindsey's Out of the Cradle is wonderful, the earlier albums are a tad self-indulgent ( but whom should he indulge?) Gift of Screws is good, but I don't listen to it all that much.

  Posted by Robert DuPont at 5:14 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• One of the more forgotten albums, FUTURE GAMES (1971) is one of their best and my personal favorite. A great recovery from the departures of Green and Spencer. The song writing is top notch. Danny Kirwin's "Woman of 1000 years" and "Sands of time" are just mind boggling great! Shame he was never this good again. C. McVie's "Morning Rain" would be a great festival kick off. I'm surprised it was never performed during the Buckingham-Nicks era because they could have made it even better. Welch's title tune is a mellow epic and a great debut. Highly recommended for folks looking for something a little different but still amazing.....

  Posted by Daniel Gibson at 6:37 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Bella Donna!
  Fleetwood Mac - 'The White Album' as Christine calls it!
  Tusk.

  Posted by Anonymous at 9:30 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rumours has to be near the top, any album which John McVie wanted to credit his drug dealer on as "he was an integral part of the recording process" deserves its cudos.

  Posted by Jess at 11:00 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• I second Daniel for 'Future Games' as being THE favorite, and the most overlooked! I love the way the songs unfold, the way that Danny Kirwin and Bob Welch mesh on guitars. A very different, and beautiful album. That one, followed by 'Then Play On' are the best ones ever...those first few with Buckingham/Nicks were pretty good too!
  My first concert was the 'Rumours' tour, El Paso Tx. summer of '77...

  Posted by Caliban Schmoelling, Columbus Ohio at 11:23 PM GMT 11/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Aside from the obvious 'Big Mac' classics already mentioned, I'd give a seriously big thumbs up to Lindsey's solo album Under The Skin as the best thing he's done. Superb versions of the Stones' "I Am Waiting" and Donovan's "Trying For The Sun" as well as claustrophobically personal performances of his own material plus it really hangs together sonically as an album.

  On a slight tangent, the Beach Boys style backing vocals he came up with on Tom Petty's "Walls" from the She's The One soundtrack is rather wonderful too. Speaking of which, Mr Wonderful is a cracking early Mac album - anything with Man Of The World has got to be a winner.

  Posted by Ollie Carlisle at 12:46 PM GMT 12/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Fleetwood Mac (1975) is an outstanding album. In a way its their Revolver to Rumours being their Sgt. Pepper. It showed the way for what was to come but at the same time it's never been surpassed...

  Posted by gautxos at 6:47 PM GMT 12/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Tusk, a classic. Can listen to it every day and never get tired of it.

  Posted by Dann at 5:15 PM GMT 13/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Got to be Then Play On. Powerful, poignant and never appropriated by a politician.

  Posted by Ron Pile at 6:21 PM GMT 13/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Got to be Then Play On. Powerful, poignant and never misappropriated by a politician

  Posted by Ron Pile at 6:24 PM GMT 13/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Nothing is or was as good as 1973's "Buckingham Nicks"! A pre-nodal Nicks. It's criminal that it has never been released as a cd, remixed, ...Mr Buckingham's retirement package I'm sure..An amazing album!!

  Posted by Tom from San Diego at 7:09 PM GMT 13/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Then Play On is the Sgt Pepper's like touchstone of the British Blues Band era.It is brilliant, strikingly original and Peter Green is at the height of his gifts. Great guitar playing and & arranging too!

  Posted by Cody@Deltakings.com at 8:06 PM GMT 13/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Then Play On is the Sgt Pepper's like touchstone of the British Blues Band era.It is brilliant, strikingly original and Peter Green is at the height of his gifts. Great guitar playing and & arranging too!

  Posted by Cody@1-main.com at 8:07 PM GMT 13/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Then Play On is the Sgt Pepper's like touchstone of the British Blues Band era.It is brilliant, strikingly original and Peter Green is at the height of his gifts. Great guitar playing and & arranging too!

  Posted by Cody@1-main.com at 8:07 PM GMT 13/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Then Play On is the Sgt Pepper's like touchstone of the British Blues Band era.It is brilliant, strikingly original and Peter Green is at the height of his gifts. Great guitar playing and & arranging too!

  Posted by Cody@1-main.com at 8:07 PM GMT 13/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Then Play On is the Sgt Pepper's like touchstone of the British Blues Band era.It is brilliant, strikingly original and Peter Green is at the height of his gifts. Great guitar playing and & arranging too!

  Posted by Cody@1-main.com at 8:10 PM GMT 13/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Agree with TomfromSanDiego - Buckingham Nicks has been criminally ignored. Cracking album with a better version of Crystal than on "Fleetwood Mac". Bring it out on CD please. Polydor note. Doesn't need remixing, the slightly primitive production is part of its character.

  I bought the Tusk album just for the title track. The rest is ok I suppose.

  I do like the early Fleetwood Mac, give me Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac or Mr Wonderful.

  Posted by BartonAlan at 10:14 PM GMT 13/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• 
  Ahoy there, fellow peoples. I'm a mid-30s Englishman living in Australia, and have had a slight obsession with all eras of Fleetwood Mac for the past 24 years. I managed to dig the following piece out for you. Thought it was pretty much on-topic here.

  It's a discography run-down written in June 2002 for a friend wanting to further explore Fleetwood Mac's music. Hardly the most in-depth piece ever penned - do bear in mind that a) it was never intended for publication, and b) details pertaining to what was available on which release were correct at the time but some of this has changed now with the issue of many new compilations, remasters and, of course, "Say You Will" - which I think is very good for what it is, for the record (and also for the record, I'm very much of the 'please re-release the "Buckingham Nicks" album' persuasion, like many commenters here. It's quite probably the greatest "lost" record ever made. I mean, how good is "Frozen Love"? *swoon*).

  That aside, you may find it to be, if nothing else, an interesting introduction to their music. It's also an intriguing look into the state of record shops a decade ago. I certainly find my ratings somewhat amusing today, and am not 100% convinced that they'd all remain as they are here. But I'd still stick with the basic vibe of what I said for each release. So enjoy - or indeed scream at me if you'd prefer.

  
  DAMON'S QUICK GUIDE TO THE MUSIC OF FLEETWOOD MAC

  “Fleetwood Mac”: 1968 – 8/10
  (often known as “Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac”)
  Peter Green is God, and the early blues stuff is wonderful. This, their first album (Line up: Green: guitar/vox; Jeremy Spencer: guitar/vox; Mick Fleetwood: drums; John McVie: bass) still stands as a sweet landmark in the British electric blues boom. An utterly essential purchase – simple and solid, yet undeniably good.

  “Mr Wonderful” : 1968 – 5/10
  This contains one of the coolest sleazy songs in the cosmiverse ("Love That Burns"), and the addition of horns and extra piano makes it interesting at times. However, excessive use of Jeremy Spencer-led songs featuring that same old “Dust My Broom” lick gets a little annoying at times (though he is truly the MASTER of that slide lick – it’s all he was ever really capable of at the time – on vinyl at least – live was a different matter). Not one of the first Mac albums of any era to rush out and buy by any stretch of the imagination – not that it isn't without merit.

  “English Rose” : 1969 – 5/10
  Best not to touch this if you see it. It’s okay in reality (and the cover pic of Mick in drag is truly hilarious) but it was designed for the USA market only and features selections from the first two albums and a few singles, etc. There’s some good stuff on there (including Danny’s cool “Something Inside Of Me” which isn’t so freely available elsewhere) but it’s a rather odd compilation –a bit of an anomaly, and it’s best to stick to the British releases.

  “The Pious Bird of Good Omen” : 1969 – 6/10
  And just after the Americans make a dodgy collection, the Brits go and do the same thing, but this time featuring better quality material overall, much of it new at the time. The first record to feature newly-annointed third guitarist Danny Kirwan. A very strange idea for a release – contains the “Albatross” & “Black Magic Woman” singles, plus two sessions from an Eddie Boyd album they provided the backing for, tracks from the older albums, and a couple of other new songs – “Need Your Love So Bad” in particular being a classic. Overall, some great stuff, but it suffers from being a haphazard compilation as opposed to a coherent studio album.

  “Blues Jam at Chess” : 1969 - 5/10
  (also marketed as “Fleetwood Mac in Chicago” etc )
  Available either as a double album or as Volume 1 & 2 separately, this is an interesting piece of nostalgia, but not a vital purchase for the casual listener. Basically, the band hooked up with heaps of famous and infamous bluesmen whilst on tour in America and recorded a bunch of jams at the old Chess studios. It has its moments, but I don’t think any of the authentic guest players took the pretenders from London all that seriously and many put in half-arsed performances. Very raw and cool in places but not the sort of thing that you’d ever start a mini collection with. And remember: Blues = Black music played well by a white man called Green.

  
  “Then Play On” : 1969 - 9/10
  Ooh yeah baby. Peter Green’s swansong is something of a masterpiece and also sees Danny Kirwan taking on an important harmonizing role. A move away from purist blues and into a more melodic pop sensibility in places. Classic include “Oh Well - Part Two”, “Rattlesnake Shake”, and the amazing and virtually unknown “Before The Beginning.” Some of Kirwan’s songs are magic too, although as one reviewer (Rikki Rooksby) quite correctly stated about his “When You Say”: “This would only have really worked if sung in a thoroughly camp way by Freddie Mercury of Queen.” The production isn’t as shit hot as it should have been, but still, the total absence of Spencer from the studio on this record helps makes it one of THE truly great albums of its era. Not to be ignored under any circumstances, and it still breaks my heart that I occasionally see it in the supermarket bargain bin (which only has about 7 CDs anyway, most of which are kids stuff) for perhaps ₤3. Absolute sacrilege – it’s more than worthy of being full price.

  Although these next two weren’t technically released next, I’ll cover them here in terms of line-up…

  “The Original Fleetwood Mac” : 1971 - 6/10
  I quite like this. It’s a collection of out-takes and unreleased stuff from the Green era, and whilst not completely vital, is not a bad record at all and certainly shouldn’t be looked at as the unwanted leftovers. Probably more entertaining than some of the studio albums in terms of variety, and also contains their first ever recording – the groovy self-titled instrumental. A worthwhile pick-up later on.

  “Greatest Hits” : 1971 - 9½/10
  Basically, no home should be without this record because it has all the major singles /classic moments of the Green era and is almost flawless. Bonus points for the inclusion of the quite gorgeous Kirwan song “Dragonfly” (from the "Kiln House” sessions). Also for having “Green Manalishi” and “Man of the World” which are mysteriously both unavailable on any other release, save for the early '90s box set – quite stupid given that they’re two of the greatest things anyone has ever recorded and shouldn’t be so difficult to get hold of. Also it’s got “Love That Burns” which means there’s no hurry to get “Mr Wonderful.” It only drops ½ a point for a couple of things: a) the questionable inclusion of “Stop Messin’ Round” which, whilst a reasonable song is perhaps not as good as some that were omitted. These include the most excellent and hardest FM song to find - “The Purple Dancer” – which was the B-Side to the included “Dragonfly”. And what about “Before the Beginning”? And a few others. And b) for splitting up “Oh Well”. Parts 1 & 2 are included as separate entities, as indeed they were on flip sides of a single. This means that a bit of the end of Part 1 appears on the start of Part 2 which is just silly. However, they were recorded with a single song in mind – and that’s how it appears on “Then Play On” – which is a much better way of doing it. Still, I’m just nit-picking – if you haven’t got it – GET IT as a priority, because, well, it’s virtually flawless. It's never been the easiest CD to find mind you, but persevere because it isn’t impossible.

  While I’m still on the Green period, I’ll briefly mention a couple of other releases which aren’t really part of the official catalogue. There are obviously countless dodgy bootlegs, but these are semi-official things on minor labels which deserve a mention…

  “A Night at the Marquee”: recorded 1967 - 2/10
  “London Live ‘68”: recorded 1968 – 2/10
  These are terrible quality. I mean, you can imagine the equipment used to bootleg these performances in those days – massive old tape machines (not exactly subtle to smuggle into gigs). Nostalgic, for sure, but don’t touch them with a bargepole until you've picked up virtually everything else.

  “Shrine 69”: recorded 1969, released 1999 - 4/10
  A soundboard mix by their live engineer “Dinky” Dawson done at a gig in LA. Quality rather good, and some cool tracks, esp. a live version of “Before the Beginning” done before the studio version was taped. Not bad, but don’t put it at the top of your Christmas list.

  “Live in Boston” Vol 1 - 7½/10
  “Live in Boston” Vol 2 - 5/10
  “Live in Boston” Vol 3 - 4½/10
  recorded 1970, bootlegged incessantly over the years but remastered really well in 1998 on Snapper Records (UK).
  These are bootlegs that I’d actually recommend getting. In particular, Volume One with its 25 minute version of “Rattlesnake Shake” and (more importantly) a 13 minute version of “Green Manalishi” in which Green plays a solo on a 6-string bass to end the set. Too cool, and the quality is excellent - effectively studio quality. Vol 3 has a jam with Eric Clapton on it too, but Vol 1 is DEFINITELY the one to pick up if you like the Peter Green era stuff. Easily the most essential “non-official” FM release of any era.

  “The Vaudeville Years of Fleetwood Mac: 1968-1970”, released 1998 - 5/10
  This is another interesting double CD full of alternate versions and the like. Essential to the collector (like myself) as is its newer companion volume “Showbiz Blues” (2001 - which is actually the ONLY FM CD of importance that I don’t have yet). But not really worth splashing out on coz they’re on the expensive side, and by no means vital to a small collection.

  And finally…

  “Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac Live at the BBC”, released 1995, Castle/Fleetwood Records - 4½/10
  As official as an unofficial release can get with introductory notes by Mick himself, this double CD is full of BBC radio sessions from the Green era. Some solid stuff but the quality isn’t quite what you’d expect from the BEEB in places. Very interesting and of historical value, but not an essential purchase and fairly disappointing overall, though it certainly has its moments.

  To sum up the Peter Green Era (1967 – 1970): Basically, the 1971 “Greatest Hits” album and “Then Play On” are absolutely essential in any decent CD collection. Their self-titled 1968 debut is also well worth picking up because it’s quite unique, lovely and raw, and to top it all off you could do a lot worse than getting hold of Volume One of “Live in Boston.” (DECENT record shops will stock that sort of thing or order it in – not rubbish high street chain stores). That’s four discs in all, and there's some truly amazing music on them there discs. As detailed above though, there’s other cool stuff too, but these ones (being a neat summary of 2 studio albums - Peter Green’s first and last with the band; a near-flawless compilation; and a wonderful live disc) form the finest introduction. So, get the blues with Green. ANYWAY…

  Oh, and if you’re feeling flush, there’s always…
  The remastered and absolutely essential:
  “Fleetwood Mac – The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967 – 1969”
  6 CD Box Set - 10/10
  Which contains “Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac”, “Mr Wonderful”, Pious Bird of Good Omen”, “Blues Jam at Chess Vol 1”, “Blues Jam at Chess Vol 2”, and “The Original Fleetwood Mac” all pristine with zillions of bonus tracks, unreleased material and studio banter and of course the obligatory nice booklet. Effing expensive, but hey – it’s more than comprehensive and you get what you pay for. Well worthwhile if you decide that you love the early stuff, because all the studio recordings are on there up to just before the “Then Play On” sessions (which were on a different label, hence the exclusion). Too good.

  Peter Green goes a bit bonkers and leaves. Kirwan and Spencer are now forced to front the band who go on to record:

  “Kiln House”: 1970 - 6/10
  I do have a soft spot for this record but it’s not a good place to start. It’s full of a mixture of styles and features much Buddy Holly-ish/ DooWop stuff from Jeremy, but some killers from Danny including the cool “Jewel Eyed Judy” and the very relaxed “Station Man” featuring piano from a young lady who designed the album sleeve. Who happened to be called Christine Perfect. Who was married to John McVie. Who became a full-time member of the band when Jeremy Spencer walked out of the hotel and the band to join The Children of God whilst on tour in America. Danny didn’t want to front the band on his own (being rather shy), so Californian singer/guitarist Bob Welch became the first American in FM shortly after their return to England.

  “Future Games”: 1971 - 9/10
  This is one of the most phenomenally mellow and relaxing records of all time. I once played it to a guy who'd taken something slightly psychedelic and it’s now his favourite album. Generally seen as a critical and commercial failure (well, to be honest, there’s not much on there that would make the charts in terms of being short and poppy, nice though the melodies are), soothing moments from Bob, Danny & Chris make this a wonderful album, albeit a radical departure from the Green period. “Sands of Time” is a standout, as is Bob’s title track. It’s just '70s laidbackness at its very best. Thoroughly recommended.

  “Bare Trees”: 1972 - 7½/10
  Yet another atmospheric album, and worth exploring after picking up a few more vital releases. Somehow encapsulates the feel of an English winter’s day. Welch’s “Sentimental Lady” is a classic, as are Danny’s “Sunny Side of Heaven” and several others. The album ends with an obscure poetry reading from their elderly neighbour (the band shared a communal retreat - Benifold - in (then) rural Hampshire during this period). Perhaps the strangest end to any record. And indeed, also the end of Danny Kirwan’s involvement with FM. An introverted alcoholic, and a magnificent guitar player, he smashed his own head up backstage in America and was subsequently fired. He now basically lives on a park bench in London. It was decided to expand the band to a 6 piece after this, by drafting in singer Dave Walker from Savoy Brown and Long John Baldry guitarist Bob Weston. They were to help make one of the strangest records, if not THE strangest of FM’s career…

  “Penguin”: 1973 - 6½/10
  An album that makes no sense, and one that the uninitiated shouldn’t rush out and pick up (p-p-p-p-pick up a Penguin). It’s as mixed up as a certain double Beatles album. Walker only appears on 2 very bizarre tracks, one being basically just him and a guitar. Welch’s mystical guitar ramblings are as pleasant as ever, and Chris’s “Did You Ever Love Me” surely rates as one of her finest ever songs (and that includes the famous period that followed), complete with cool steel drums and nice backing vox from Weston. The Green God himself even makes an uncredited reappearance on the closing track. This album should have been entitled “Desperately Seeking Direction”, though its variety ensures that it is never boring.

  “Mystery to Me”: 1973 - 9/10
  Walker was dropped for being superfluous but Weston stayed on for this very under-rated and varied record. The coherence problem appeared to have been fixed though and they actually sounded like a band this time around. Contains the magnificent “Hypnotized” which SHOULD have been huge alongside any number of really good songs. Produced by Iron Maiden guru-to-be, Martin Birch (who once gave me some goldfish for our pond), "Mystery to Me" is without doubt one of FM’s most overlooked releases and should certainly be investigated by anyone intrigued by what went on during the Bob Welch years. Hardly a bad moment on it.

  “Heroes are Hard to Find”: 1974 - 6/10
  This time, Weston was thrown out for indiscretions relating to Mick Fleetwood’s then wife (who of course was Jenny Boyd – sister of George Harrison’s, and later Eric Clapton’s, wife Pattie Boyd - ah, the incestuousness of rock). FM were once again a four-piece for the first time since “Kiln House.” There’s nothing essentially wrong with this album. Again, it’s full of Bob Welch’s mellow & mystical Californian acid-jazz tones, and has more nice stuff from Christine that hints at the future. But it doesn’t jump out and grab you like some records do – just floats around in the background. Perfectly okay, but nothing to write home about. And so thought Bob Welch who decided to quit the band amicably. He later had a solo hit with “Ebony Eyes” in the late 70s. And that concludes the “middle” period of FM.

  To sum up the Bob Welch era (1971-1974): Please DO check this period out. It's criminally-overlooked. Most people have never heard of it because it met with very little commercial success either in the UK or the US (though their US tours fared better than the UK ones as the period went on, hence their eventual permanent relocation to the US in 1974). You’ll find that people either associate FM with Peter Green’s English blues band or Buckingham/Nicks’ American middle-of-the-road 70s rock outfit. The five albums of the Welch years get undeservedly passed-over, and being truthful, none of them are worthy of being called trash. It’s a very different type of music to the styles that come either side of it, but the usual solid rhythm section brings it all together. Christine McVie called it jazz, but I wouldn’t quite go that far. It’s just really laid back mystical vibes for the most part with some sweet guitar playing and a classic early '70s sound. “Future Games” and “Mystery to Me” are different but both very essential and worthy additions to any good CD collection. “Bare Trees” would be next in line, and “Heroes” and “Penguin” are nice additions for the Welch addict. Explore these times and you’ll discover some very unheard of gems that make the complicated legacy of Fleetwood Mac all the more interesting.

  Anyway, I vomit at the thought of having to regurgitate the very well known story of the late '70s line-up and their rise to world domination, so I won’t because it’s written a million times elsewhere. All I will say is that Mick bumped into Lindsey Buckingham in an LA studio and asked him to join because of his truly phenomenal guitar skills. It’s all finger picking in case you never noticed – the guy is a freak, never used a plectrum in his life – even on the solos. Mick soon discovering that Lindsey came as a package with Stevie Nicks and thus, alongside Mick, John & Christine, the “Rumours” band was born.

  “Fleetwood Mac”: 1975 - 9½/10
  Not to be confused with their 1968 self-titled album and thus referred to in Mac circles as “The White Album” which gets even more confusing if you happen to be in Liverpool. In a sentence – utterly good and if you haven’t got it, rush out and get it. Full of classics such as “Rhiannon”, “Crystal”, “I’m so Afraid”, “Landslide”, oh bugger it, pretty much everything. Another shift in direction for the band, but a formula that would see them being able to afford to live and breathe a cocaine and stadium lifestyle for the best part of the next decade. And who’d have thought they could do even better?

  “Rumours”: 1977 - 10/10
  There’s no point in saying too much about this album because it’s been said a million times. It’s not one of the best selling records of all time for no reason – it’s effing marvellous and absolutely flawless in every sense of the word. Even Stevie’s voice isn’t annoying. Like any overplayed record (eg "Sgt Peppers", "Dark Side of the Moon" etc), you start thinking that it’s all hype, or you get a bit “over” individual tracks on the radio (ahem, "Don't Stop"), but on every listen to the entire album, you’re reminded as to why it’s so good. Lindsey studied hit singles and albums from throughout time in order to discover what made a popular record, and used his findings to create this masterpiece. It’s a pity that the remastered version is only available on DVD Audio (which is an obscure format – research on the web if you don’t know much about it). I do have a copy though – the sound is unbelievable – and, for the first time, it includes easily the best track ever omitted from any album ever (so he says) – Stevie’s “Silver Springs” (ultimately the B-Side to "Go Your Own Way"). And if a song like THAT can be a reject – well, bloody hell … it’s quite scary (it is also on early '90s “The Chain” compilation too). Verdict: No excuses – buy it. Yesterday if possible.

  “Tusk”: 1979 - 10/10
  Long referred-to as a “let down” after the pop perfection of its predecessor, well ... such a statement is a massive lie, isn't it? Tusk is an amazing record and a very different sort of thing. It’s virtually the complete opposite – a return to the laid-back-ness of the Welch years. Soothing and unglossy production help make this their second true masterpiece in as many albums. It’s length (originally a double album, though it fits onto a very long single CD with a short edit of "Sara") ensures that there’s a mish mash of styles and throwaway moments a’la Beatles White Album. Too many perfect songs to mention really, but some of Christine’s finest moments are on here, including perhaps the most anti-opening track of all time – “Over & Over” and the more than gorgeous “Brown Eyes” (which again features an uncredited Peter Green if you squint your ears during the final few seconds). I could talk about this record all day, but I’ll just leave you with this: EVERY record collection needs “Tusk” in it. It’s the equal of “Rumours” yet a world apart. It's quite possibly even better. No arguments. Period.

  “Fleetwood Mac Live”: 1980 - 7/10
  Double CD recorded during the Tusk Tour and thankfully has no overdubs. Sounds empty, flat and genuine in places so is very honest as live albums go. Dare I say, obviously, relevant studio albums should always take precedence over live affairs, and the same holds true here too. Though it is nice, and in places very excellent. Also contains a few new songs done in soundchecks, of which “Fireflies” is utterly wonderful and easily one of the best things Stevie ever wrote (and it sadly isn’t available elsewhere).

  “Mirage”: 1982 - 9/10
  I really, really like this album. Most reviewers would never give it anything close to a 9, but I just find it really soothing and unique in its feel and production. VERY clean and sparse early '80s sound – the whole thing is a very distinct entity. Contains semi-hits like “Hold Me”, “Gypsy” and “Oh Diane” but some of the other tracks (especially Stevie’s other offerings) are wonderful. In my mid-teens, I used to listen to it on my Walkman whilst doing my paper round on snowy mornings and it was just perfect. It’s hard to say what others would think of it, but it gets a massive thumbs up from me. Each to their own.

  “Tango in the Night: 1987 - 8/10
  A tough one to rate, but really it’s the epitome of polished late '80s adult-orientated rock. Almost a sign of the digital age (which is funny because it’s actually an analogue recording), but has a fantastic, almost dark, atmosphere running throughout it (as indeed does “Mirage”). Lindsey’s title track is certainly a stand-out. Very good overall, though, like “Rumours” suffers from some of the “hits” being overplayed on the radio. Stevie’s voice had been destroyed by this stage, but the production hides it fairly well (though blink and you'll miss her). Not their best record, but a great period piece, Tango is definitely worthy of being called a good album.

  “Greatest Hits”: 1988 - 8/10
  Look, it’s good for what it is, which is why I have to give it a high score (You can’t really fully bag something if almost every song on it is flawless, though I’d really like to – but I do truly take exception with the quite remarkable 1971 “Greatest Hits”). And what I mean is that it’s a good collection of “hits” from the Buckingham/Nicks period if you’re into that sort of thing. Perhaps a good way to introduce someone to the music of that period, but I’ll still maintain that you’re better off with ANY studio album of the era. Does have 2 new tracks though – the first to feature the two newcomers…

  “Behind The Mask”: 1990 - 7½/10
  A near impossible album to rate. Lindsey walked away amidst some horrific scenes and was replaced by 2 newcomers – Billy Burnette (son of Dorsey and nephew of Johnny), and Rick Vito of the Bob Seger band (who used to go and watch the Peter Green line-up play when he was in his early teens). Facing the potential disaster of their main creative genius leaving once again, this album is actually surprisingly good. Very bluesy & less glossy than its Buckingham-produced predecessor. The fresh faces bring a sense of invigoration and renewed enthusiasm into the band and they come up with a nice rock n roll record with a nod to FM's blues roots. “Rumours” it ain’t, but not embarrassing for a bunch of oldies with nothing left to prove. Worth a listen.

  “The Chain – 25 Years of Fleetwood Mac” (4xCD box set): 1992 –
  IMPOSSIBLE TO RATE (I simply refuse to)
  Also available: “Selections from The Chain – 25 Years of Fleetwood Mac” (2xCD)
  IMPOSSIBLE TO RATE (ditto)
  Crap Crap Crap. Don’t do it. It’s not that they’re full of crap songs – far from it (and there are a number of things that the collector can only get hold of here) – just that both of these ventures fail in terms of selection or “general point”. What are they trying to achieve? They claim to represent music from every period of the band but there’s maybe one track from the Welch days and only a few Green songs. Add to that some stuff that you REALLY don’t need (mainly that which was recorded since “Behind the Mask”), they're badly curated and make no sense . Worth picking up solely for the inclusion of Stevie’s quite remarkable “Silver Springs”. I know I’m biased because I tend to hate compilations – but you’re SO much better off investing in coherent studio albums. So buy everything else first.

  “Time”: 1995 - 3/10
  Well, well. I have to give this the lowest score quite simply because it’s the weakest FM record. I actually don’t mind it. Quite enjoy it even, especially on drunken late nights. But it barely sounds like the band. Vito is gone. As is Nicks. Dave Mason, from '70s group Traffic is in on guitar/vox. They’re also joined by Bekka Bramlett – daughter of Bonnie & Delaney. The resulting album is okay, but nothing stands out and at times it feels like a machine. Buckingham guests on one track though you wouldn’t know it. And some of Mason’s songs are far and away the most un-FM sounding songs the band has ever recorded ("Blow By Blow"? I mean, what IS that?). Perhaps the highlight is Mick’s bizarre vocal piece “These Strange Times” where he mumbles stuff about Peter Green over a strange muzac thing. Not at all recommended for the beginner, though as I said, I don’t mind a listen every now and then.

  “The Dance”: 1997 - 6½/10
  Another very, very hard one to evaluate. The whole thing actually sounds quite excellent, especially given that we’re now dealing with a bunch of fifty-year olds. Buckingham and Nicks return for the obligatory live reunion, resulting in this album, video, DVD, T-Shirt, etc. Many songs sound note for note like the originals, quite amazing given Nick’s voice of late (which is better here than it has been for years). Something that is absolutely wonderful is Lindsey’s acoustic rendition of “Big Love” and his solo song “Go Insane” – perfection. But at the end of the day, it’s merely a live greatest hits concert, albeit a most surprisingly good one under the circumstances. Far from being terrible, but obviously not an essential item.

  And that’s it. The whole caboodle of official releases. Anyway, an all new FM album featuring the “Rumours” line-up minus Christine (who’d rather stay in the pub and sleep) has allegedly been completed and should see release later this year. So who knows if “the chain” has been broken quite yet?…

  Anyway, quick overview of the “Buckingham/Nicks” period: Get “Fleetwood Mac”, “Rumours”, “Tusk” as essential items. I strongly advise checking out “Mirage” after that, and if you’re game, “Behind the Mask” is possibly worth a look too. The rest is all quite reasonable. And on that note, I shall shut up ;-)

  (*profusely apologises for the length*)

  Posted by Damon Torsten at 3:26 AM GMT 14/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Another vote for 'Then Play On' - a brilliant, brilliant album but why hasn't the original UK release ever been released on CD, it's by far the best version? Time it was I think.

  Posted by Robert F-Fell at 12:54 PM GMT 14/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Another vote for 'Then Play On' - a brilliant, brilliant album but why hasn't the original UK release ever been released on CD, it's by far the best version? Time it was I think.

  Posted by Robert F-Fell at 12:55 PM GMT 14/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rumours is the greatest studio album of all time and the 25 years of Fleetwood Mac is the second best choice for those new to FM

  Posted by Christ040 at 2:35 PM GMT 14/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• My personal fave is 'Tusk' - I love the disparity and the clarity of the bandmembers individual contributions to the whole; truly the Mac White album, though if Mojo dare publish this article with anything that tops 'Rumours' then it will only be to court controversy. Disgraceful that 'Then Play On' is not properly available (my Reprise /Warner Bros CD version sound quality-wise is dreadful and must qualify for the worst transfer from analogue to digital by a major label ever!) - surely perfect for a remastered reissue. 'Say You Will' was undervalued and to stretch the theme somewhat Lindseys 'Under The Skin' and 'Live At The Bass Performance Hall' have given me repeated pleasure. His 'Trouble' is sheer pop wonderment!
  

  Posted by Tim Balderstone at 11:20 AM GMT 15/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• 
  I have to say, I have recently gone back to Mirage which could be seen as a weaker offering in the Fleetwood Mac back catalogue, in comparison to say Tusk or Rumors.
  It is a good example of how Lindsay Buckingham, brought out the best in Stevie's and Christine's material with his excellent production techniques, from the exquisite harmonies in "Hold Me," to the romantic multi-layered melodies in "Gypsy." However, the hidden gem in this album is "That's Alright," a song from Nicks, which apparently was coined back in the days of Buckingham Nicks, in reference to their tumultuous relationship. It gets a lovely Kingston Trio influenced reworking from Buckingham, which brings out a more country/rootsy feel in Nicks' voice.

  Posted by Paromita Saha at 4:20 PM GMT 15/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• I have recently dug out the 1982 "Mirage," from the Fleetwood Mac vaults. Probably seen as a weaker offering from the band,say in comparison to Tusk and Rumors. It still showcases fine examples of how Buckingham really knew how to bring out the best in Stevie Nicks' and Christine McVie's material, thanks to his excellent studio production skills. There are the exquisite harmonies in "Hold Me," as well as the romantic sounding multi-layered melodies in "Gypsy." However, the hidden gem on the album, is a song that was apparently coined by Nicks during the Buckingham Nicks' area ,which again provides an insight into their tumultuous relationship. "That's Alright," gets a lovely Kingston Trio influenced reworking from Buckingham, and brings out a more country/rootsy feel in Nicks' voice.

  Posted by Anonymous at 4:26 PM GMT 15/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• I have recently dug out the 1982 "Mirage," from the Fleetwood Mac vaults. Probably seen as a weaker offering from the band,say in comparison to Tusk and Rumors. It still showcases fine examples of how Buckingham really knew how to bring out the best in Stevie Nicks' and Christine McVie's material, thanks to his excellent studio production skills. There are the exquisite harmonies in "Hold Me," as well as the romantic sounding multi-layered melodies in "Gypsy." However, the hidden gem on the album, is a song that was apparently coined by Nicks during the Buckingham Nicks' area ,which again provides an insight into their tumultuous relationship. "That's Alright," gets a lovely Kingston Trio influenced reworking from Buckingham, and brings out a more country/rootsy feel in Nicks' voice.

  Posted by Paromita Saha at 4:27 PM GMT 15/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• I have recently dug out the 1982 "Mirage," from the Fleetwood Mac vaults. Probably seen as a weaker offering from the band,say in comparison to Tusk and Rumors. It still showcases fine examples of how Buckingham really knew how to bring out the best in Stevie Nicks' and Christine McVie's material, thanks to his excellent studio production skills. There are the exquisite harmonies in "Hold Me," as well as the romantic sounding multi-layered melodies in "Gypsy." However, the hidden gem on the album, is a song that was apparently coined by Nicks during the Buckingham Nicks' area ,which again provides an insight into their tumultuous relationship. "That's Alright," gets a lovely Kingston Trio influenced reworking from Buckingham, and brings out a more country/rootsy feel in Nicks' voice.

  Posted by Paromita Saha at 4:27 PM GMT 15/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• I have recently dug out the 1982 "Mirage," from the Fleetwood Mac vaults. Probably seen as a weaker offering from the band,say in comparison to Tusk and Rumors. It still showcases fine examples of how Buckingham really knew how to bring out the best in Stevie Nicks' and Christine McVie's material, thanks to his excellent studio production skills. There are the exquisite harmonies in "Hold Me," as well as the romantic sounding multi-layered melodies in "Gypsy." However, the hidden gem on the album, is a song that was apparently coined by Nicks during the Buckingham Nicks' area ,which again provides an insight into their tumultuous relationship. "That's Alright," gets a lovely Kingston Trio influenced reworking from Buckingham, and brings out a more country/rootsy feel in Nicks' voice.

  Posted by Paromita Saha at 4:28 PM GMT 15/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Surprised no-one has mentioned the Legendary Christine Perfect album. Many wonderful songs. 'Close To Me' in particular is as good as anything in the canon.

  Posted by David Honigmann at 6:43 PM GMT 15/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• There never would have been the glorious Nicks/Buckingham era without the earlier albums Future Games and Bare Trees. Although group efforts for sure, Bob Welch & Christine McVie set the stage for the later version of the band with incredibly strong songwriting & harmonies. Welch's Future Games and Sentimental Lady are two of the best songs Mac ever recorded and McVie's under appreciated Spare Me a Little of Your Love shines as one of her best.

  Posted by Steven Moore at 5:50 AM GMT 16/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• In a word...TUSK! Okay, a word with an exclamation point, but that's because Tusk is such an amazing record. Obviously there was no way to refuel the truckload of cash that was Rumors, so the man in the driver's set decided to take an abrput left turn, you know...just for fun and to confuse large masses of humanity who went along for the ride. From the obscure artistic statement (?) of the cover to all the amazing sounds inside, it is a triumph among triumphs! The production alone greases the ears for years and years.Some of Mr Buckingham's finest songs appear here. From lush pop (That's All For Everyone & Walk A Thin Line) to frantic 'new wave' inspired chaos (The Ledge) to the title track that is a thing unto itself! It has been said many times that Lindsey owes a debt to Brian Wilson in many ways and on this album, his Wilsonian hat tips are upfront, yet obscured by clouds of his own, thus making it a true Lindsey classic! Stevie has one of her greatest moments here as well with Sisters Of The Moon.
  Here';s the trick though...if you take all of Lindsey's song and assemble them on one disc, you essentially have his first solo album. The man himself told me that one time! And , if you do that, it actually makes even more sense as an album!

  Posted by Dave Swanson at 4:57 PM GMT 16/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• In a word...TUSK! Okay, a word with an exclamation point, but that's because Tusk is such an amazing record. Obviously there was no way to refuel the truckload of cash that was Rumors, so the man in the driver's set decided to take an abrput left turn, you know...just for fun and to confuse large masses of humanity who went along for the ride. From the obscure artistic statement (?) of the cover to all the amazing sounds inside, it is a triumph among triumphs! The production alone greases the ears for years and years.Some of Mr Buckingham's finest songs appear here. From lush pop (That's All For Everyone & Walk A Thin Line) to frantic 'new wave' inspired chaos (The Ledge) to the title track that is a thing unto itself! It has been said many times that Lindsey owes a debt to Brian Wilson in many ways and on this album, his Wilsonian hat tips are upfront, yet obscured by clouds of his own, thus making it a true Lindsey classic! Stevie has one of her greatest moments here as well with Sisters Of The Moon.
  Here';s the trick though...if you take all of Lindsey's song and assemble them on one disc, you essentially have his first solo album. The man himself told me that one time! And , if you do that, it actually makes even more sense as an album!

  Posted by Dave Swanson at 4:58 PM GMT 16/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• In a word...TUSK! Okay, a word with an exclamation point, but that's because Tusk is such an amazing record. Obviously there was no way to refuel the truckload of cash that was Rumors, so the man in the driver's set decided to take an abrput left turn, you know...just for fun and to confuse large masses of humanity who went along for the ride. From the obscure artistic statement (?) of the cover to all the amazing sounds inside, it is a triumph among triumphs! The production alone greases the ears for years and years.Some of Mr Buckingham's finest songs appear here. From lush pop (That's All For Everyone & Walk A Thin Line) to frantic 'new wave' inspired chaos (The Ledge) to the title track that is a thing unto itself! It has been said many times that Lindsey owes a debt to Brian Wilson in many ways and on this album, his Wilsonian hat tips are upfront, yet obscured by clouds of his own, thus making it a true Lindsey classic! Stevie has one of her greatest moments here as well with Sisters Of The Moon.
  Here';s the trick though...if you take all of Lindsey's song and assemble them on one disc, you essentially have his first solo album. The man himself told me that one time! And , if you do that, it actually makes even more sense as an album!

  Posted by Dave Swanson at 4:59 PM GMT 16/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Sorry...somehow it posted three times!

  Posted by Dave Swanson at 5:01 PM GMT 16/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Nicks' "Bella Donna" is the most essential of the Mac solo records - Californian soft rock at its finest, with superb musicianship from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, Nicks on inspired form, and a wonderfully cohesive, potent sound throughout.

  Posted by M Barton at 1:47 PM GMT 17/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Nicks' "Bella Donna" is the most essential of the Mac solo records - Californian soft rock at its finest, with superb musicianship from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, Nicks on inspired form, and a wonderfully cohesive, potent sound throughout.

  Posted by M Barton at 1:53 PM GMT 17/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Nicks' "Bella Donna" is the most essential of the Mac solo records - Californian soft rock at its finest, with superb musicianship from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, Nicks on inspired form, and a wonderfully cohesive, potent sound throughout.

  Posted by M Barton at 1:56 PM GMT 17/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Nicks' "Bella Donna" is the most essential of the Mac solo records - Californian soft rock at its finest, with superb musicianship from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, Nicks on inspired form, and a wonderfully cohesive, potent sound throughout.

  Posted by M Barton at 3:35 PM GMT 17/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Argh it posted it multiple times due to "internal server error" - sorry!

  Posted by M Barton at 3:36 PM GMT 17/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rock music came of age with "Fleetwood Mac" from 1975. Adult Oriented Rock had, until then, never sounded classier.

  Posted by Janne Pettersson at 5:33 PM GMT 17/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• The grossly underrated 'Mirage' has to be somewhere at the top, Purely for the lazy stomp of 'Book of love',The dreamy 'Only over you' and the FM-Radio destroyer/Yacht-Rock monster that is 'Gypsy'. Mac at their upper-class pomp best!

  Posted by P.Savarez at 2:00 AM GMT 20/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rumors- the production monster and masterpiece!

  Posted by Nando at 11:45 PM GMT 20/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rumors- the production monster and masterpiece!

  Posted by Nando at 11:47 PM GMT 20/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rumors- the production monster and masterpiece!

  Posted by Nando at 11:47 PM GMT 20/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rumors- the production monster and masterpiece!

  Posted by Nando at 11:48 PM GMT 20/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• To Pick 5 Fleetwood Mac Lps is a hard task indeed. 2 of my favorite Lps are Fleetwood Mac and Tusk. Also Bare Trees and Then Play On. Rumours, of course would have to added simply for incredibile hits and volume of air play! As for Solo, Bob Welch's French Kiss and Stevie Nick's Bella Donna and The Wild Heart are my favorites!

  Posted by Mark Santini at 4:32 PM GMT 21/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• what a pity it is so hard to find a CD version of Then Play On which has the original track listing
  many music websites sell this CD but include the original track listing erroneously when Oh Well has been included at the
  expense of One Sunny Day & Without You
  the sellers obviously don't check the actual track listing on the CD they are selling so beware
  both of these tracks can be found on The Original Fleetwood
  Mac CD Columbia 5164482
  hope this is helpful

  Posted by Terry at 5:04 PM GMT 22/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• what a pity it is so hard to find a CD version of Then Play On which has the original track listing
  many music websites sell this CD but include the original track listing erroneously when Oh Well has been included at the
  expense of One Sunny Day & Without You
  the sellers obviously don't check the actual track listing on the CD they are selling so beware
  both of these tracks can be found on The Original Fleetwood
  Mac CD Columbia 5164482
  hope this is helpful

  Posted by Terry at 5:05 PM GMT 22/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• personally I stopped listening after Then Play On and I can't stand the "coke-rock" albums Rumours / Tusk
  can't see a mention of Peter Green's In The Skies anywhere ?
  there is , for those who love the Peter Green years , a fab , old vinyl LP boxset you can get fairly easily on certain music websites called The Original Fleetwood Mac : The Blues Years
  recommended

  Posted by Richard at 6:05 PM GMT 22/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• My favorite all-time Fleetwood Mac incarnation has to be the Peter Green lineup with both Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer, therefore, my vote goes to "Live at the BBC", a 2-disc collection that shows the many faces of the classic Mac line-up, with a diverse collection of blues and rock classics, including the best of Peter Green's amazing blues playing on songs like "Oh Well", "Black Magic Woman" (yes, this was Peter Green's creation, not Santana's), "Rattlesnake Shake" (who else could write a rocking blues song about masturbation?), and the beautiful "Albatross" (an instrumental tour de force that reportedly inspired The Beatles "Sun King"). Some of Peter Green's greatest moments are his heartfelt vocals and guitar work on the blues ballads "Need Your Love So Bad", "Jumping at Shadows" and "Man of the World". Any one of these songs should give the listener goosebumps or bring tears to your eyes.

  There is also a healthy dose of Jeremy Spencer's great slide playing and nods to Elmore James and Robert Johnson on such blues classics as "Got to Move", "Believe My Time Ain't Long" and "Can't Hold Out", showing why the late-60's Mac line-up was the best blues band in England, if not the world. Danny Kirwan also gets his dues on his compositions like "Only You", "Like Crying, Like Dying" and "Although the Sun is Shining". Kirwan is certainly one of the most underrated guitarists of the era, as he was always in the shadow of PG, but was able to stay with him note-for-note on some of their greatest jams. All is anchored by the steller Fleetwood-McVie rhythm section. You might have to skip through some of Jeremy Spencer's novelty schlock where he mocks Buddy Holly and 50's doo-wop that would have been better left off this record, but it does give us a glimpse of how diverse the music could get for this talented group.

  Oh, did I mention that the whole affair is "Live"? Although I have read that some overdubbing was routinely conducted by the BBC before going to broadcast, it is clear that these tracks are live and give the listener some idea of just how great this particular group of musicians was for the short period of time they were able to keep it together. It was only a short time later that this particular line-up was destroyed by drugs, alcohol and mental problems, with all 3 guitarists eventually leaving the group and battling demons that would haunt them to this day. Spencer abandoned the band while on a US tour in 1971 and joined the religious cult "Children of God", a commune which has been accused of sexually abusing children. Green never fully recoverd from a bad acid trip and Germany in 1970 and was later diagnosed as schizophrenic. He encouraged the band to give away all material goods and after quiting the band, used to chase the postal workers away with a loaded shotgun when they attempted to delivery royalty checks to him. Danny Kirwan was fired in 1972 as his temper and drinking had become intolerable. It was last reported that he was living on the streets of London as a hopeless alcoholic. There must be a movie in the works somewhere as this is the kind of drama that you can't make up!

  Posted by Big Al in Ojai at 7:42 PM GMT 22/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• my list :
  1. Then Play On
  Rarely appears in those 1000 Best LPs/1001 LPs You
  Must Listen To . . . type books and yes it is inconsistent
  but I read somewhere that they outsold The Beatles worldwide
  the year it was released and for me it captures more perfectly
  1969 and that period in my life than Abbey Road or Let It
  Bleed ever did : how can you not shed a tear over Closing My
  Eyes ?

  2. Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac ( 1st LP )
  Again, captures a period in my life when I discovered blues music and it encouraged me to pursue a life long interest in
  the "original" sources like Elmore James & Howling Wolf with
  the result that I now have an extensive collection of old blues vinyl . . . . .

  3. Greatest Hits
  What's not to like ? Everything of value singles-wise before
  the ( to me ) embarrassing California years when they turned
  into a soap opera and became tiresome

  4.The Original Fleetwood Mac : The Blues Years ( vinyl box
  set )
  Exquisite and it looks great in your vinyl record collection

  5. Peter Green In The Skies
  More relaxed than you might expect and worth it just for
  Fool No More . . . . . .

  Posted by Terry Maunder at 8:53 AM GMT 23/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• I would have to say 'Tusk', in my opinion, is their best album. The band put all their trust in Lindsey Buckingham and he produced a multi-layered, multi-styled masterpiece. Buckingham was apparently influenced by the UK music scene with bands like the Clash, etc. Tracks like 'The Ledge', 'Not That Funny' and 'That's Enough For Me' being the end result. But it's the slower stuff from Lindsey (Stevie & Christine too) that lasts in the memory: 'Save Me A Place', Stevie's 'Sara' and 'Storms', the terrific 'That's All For Everyone' and 'Walk A Thin Line'. But the hidden gems on here, that are often overlooked, are the wonderful contributions from Christine McVie. Providing some of her best work with 'Over & Over' (what an opener), the achingly beautiful 'Never Make Me Cry', 'Honey Hi' and the closing track, the uplifting 'Never Forget'.

  'Fleetwood Mac' comes a close second. The first of the Buckingham/Nicks years, it has the immediate 'Monday Morning', the haunting 'Warm Ways', 'Over My Head', 'Say You Love Me', 'Landslide' (one of Stevie's best) and the mighty 'I'm So Afraid'.

  Although 'Rumours' is a fantastic achievement and favoured as their best, please spare a thought for the comeback album 'Say You Will'. With contributions equally (and contractually) shared by Buckingham and Nicks it has some wonderful songs on it. Some great guitar playing from Lindsey, some great harmonies by them both on tracks such as 'Murrow Turning Over In His Grave', 'Red Rover', 'Steal Your Heart Away', 'Bleed To Love Her', 'Destiny Rules' and 'Say Goodbye'.

  Solo work: Lindsey Buckingham's 'Out of the Cradle' is my favourite, although the more recent 'Under The Skin' and 'Gift of Screws' are superb too. Stevie-wise, it would have to me 'The Wild Heart' followed closely by her solo debut 'Bella Donna'. These have remained timeless, while her other Eightie's output sounds very much of it's time now.

  Finally, a special mention to 'Buckingham/Nicks' - the album that started it all. One day I hope that they will release it on CD as my LP is a little battered.

  Posted by Bozzers68 at 8:57 PM GMT 25/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• RE: Bozzers68
  Actually Polydor did release it on CD in the US many years ago (late 80's, I think). I have it. And I think it was available in the UK and Europe too. As for when and why it was deleted, I do not know. It was just a basic reissue of the LP with no remastering or anything fancy. Still, it's nice to have.

  Posted by DDB9000 at 5:47 PM GMT 26/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Ouch, you should really have made 2 polls here, cause Peter Green's band and the California era are to different bands sharing drummer and bass player.

  The first incarnation featured the majestic playing of Britain's finest blues player at his prime. The California band made excellent but not very special pop music.

  That said, after Then Play, the best album might be by the transitional band between the two eras featuring Danny Kirwan's blossoming talents. Bare Trees or Future Games.

  Posted by Dino at 10:22 AM GMT 28/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Ouch, you should really have made 2 polls here, cause Peter Green's band and the California era are two different bands sharing drummer and bass player.

  The first incarnation featured the majestic playing of Britain's finest blues player at his prime. The California band made excellent but not very special pop music.

  That said, after Then Play, the best album might be by the transitional band between the two eras featuring Danny Kirwan's blossoming talents. Bare Trees or Future Games.

  Posted by Dino at 10:25 AM GMT 28/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• RE: Damon Torsten

  Excellent reviews, I really enjoyed reading this. I would like to quibble on a few points, though.

  First, I would somewhat disagree with your review on 'The Chain' (My rating: 7/10). While you're right about the general lack of cohesiveness, it has several things going for it. First, it has a half dozen songs not available anywhere else in the Fleetwood Mac catalogue (Paper Doll, Love Shines, Heart of Stone, Make Me a Mask, Goodbye Angel, Teen Beat). There are also remixes of several songs (Isn't It Midnight, Gypsy, Lay It All Down, Brown Eyes, Tusk). OK, so maybe a 4-disc set for 11 'new' songs isn't for the budge conscious or casual fan, but hey, it's worthwhile for us Mac addicts.

  I also have a different perspective on 'The Dance' (I say 9/10). It's my favorite live album. It's got all the old hits. It's got minimal overdubs (I like my live albums, well, live). It's got nice moments of tenderness (Landslide). It's got interesting arrangements for songs we've heard a thousand times before (banjo on 'Say You Love Me', the USC Marching Band for 'Don't Stop'. Like you, I'm not a big fan of the latter song, but they way it's performed on 'The Dance' makes it one of my favorites on the entire disc.) It's got two absolutely outstanding solo performances by Lindsey Buckingham and his magic guitar (Big Love, Go Insane), which you can't get on any other album. It's also got new songs as well (Temporary One, My Little Demon, Sweet Girl). I think it's a splendid album.

  Kudos to giving 'Mystery to Me' 9/10. Great album.

  Posted by Dutchdummy at 4:14 AM GMT 29/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• RE: Damon Torsten

  Excellent reviews, I really enjoyed reading this. I would like to quibble on a few points, though.

  First, I would somewhat disagree with your review on 'The Chain' (My rating: 7/10). While you're right about the general lack of cohesiveness, it has several things going for it. First, it has a half dozen songs not available anywhere else in the Fleetwood Mac catalogue (Paper Doll, Love Shines, Heart of Stone, Make Me a Mask, Goodbye Angel, Teen Beat). There are also remixes of several songs (Isn't It Midnight, Gypsy, Lay It All Down, Brown Eyes, Tusk). OK, so maybe a 4-disc set for 11 'new' songs isn't for the budge conscious or casual fan, but hey, it's worthwhile for us Mac addicts.

  I also have a different perspective on 'The Dance' (I say 9/10). It's my favorite live album. It's got all the old hits. It's got minimal overdubs (I like my live albums, well, live). It's got nice moments of tenderness (Landslide). It's got interesting arrangements for songs we've heard a thousand times before (banjo on 'Say You Love Me', the USC Marching Band for 'Don't Stop'. Like you, I'm not a big fan of the latter song, but they way it's performed on 'The Dance' makes it one of my favorites on the entire disc.) It's got two absolutely outstanding solo performances by Lindsey Buckingham and his magic guitar (Big Love, Go Insane), which you can't get on any other album. It's also got new songs as well (Temporary One, My Little Demon, Sweet Girl). I think it's a splendid album.

  Kudos on giving 'Mystery to Me' 9/10. Great album.

  Posted by Dutchdummy at 4:16 AM GMT 29/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Tusk gets straight to the point! It's not The Elephant in the Room that Rumours was.

  Posted by Ian Davies, Guildford, Surrey. at 4:14 PM GMT 30/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Tusk gets straight to the point! It's not 'The Elephant in the Room' that Rumours was.

  Posted by Ian Davies, Guildford, Surrey. at 4:14 PM GMT 30/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Tusk gets straight to the point! It's not 'The Elephant in the Room' that Rumours was.

  Posted by Ian Davies, Guildford, Surrey. at 4:15 PM GMT 30/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• Tusk gets straight to the point! It's not 'The Elephant in the Room' that Rumours was.

  Posted by Ian Davies, Guildford, Surrey. at 4:15 PM GMT 30/05/2011 Report Abuse

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• I sat in the WEA/WB booth at the Fleetwood Mac Concert in KC the day or 2 after they won the Grammy for Rumours. I was working for Peaches Records at the time. For most of the concert, I chatted with a man named "Bob" that nite. When it became encore time, he got up and said his goodbyes. I asked him where he was going and he said , 'to surprise the band on stage!' I then was told I had been talking with Bob WELCH! The Peaches store was to open the new day so we invited him to the opening(he came and cut the ribbon) and we gave him a Peaches t-shirt which he wore on stage that nite. He joined to band to sing "Sentimental Lady" with them. It was a moment in hx I will never forget. I still have a signed copy of hs release of his "Fench Kiss" LP which he autographed to me, as well as a special long play pressing of Go Your Own Way/Silver Springs that was later given out to people in the record industry....

  Posted by g1rag at 2:19 PM GMT 01/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• I sat in the WEA/WB booth at the Fleetwood Mac Concert in KC the day or 2 after they won the Grammy for Rumours. I was working for Peaches Records at the time. For most of the concert, I chatted with a man named "Bob" that nite. When it became encore time, he got up and said his goodbyes. I asked him where he was going and he said , 'to surprise the band on stage!' I then was told I had been talking with Bob WELCH! The Peaches store was to open the new day so we invited him to the opening(he came and cut the ribbon) and we gave him a Peaches t-shirt which he wore on stage that nite. He joined to band to sing "Sentimental Lady" with them. It was a moment in hx I will never forget. I still have a signed copy of hs release of his "Fench Kiss" LP which he autographed to me, as well as a special long play pressing of Go Your Own Way/Silver Springs that was later given out to people in the record industry....

  Posted by g1rag at 2:20 PM GMT 01/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• I sat in the WEA/WB booth at the Fleetwood Mac Concert in KC the day or 2 after they won the Grammy for Rumours. I was working for Peaches Records at the time. For most of the concert, I chatted with a man named "Bob" that nite. When it became encore time, he got up and said his goodbyes. I asked him where he was going and he said , 'to surprise the band on stage!' I then was told I had been talking with Bob WELCH! The Peaches store was to open the new day so we invited him to the opening(he came and cut the ribbon) and we gave him a Peaches t-shirt which he wore on stage that nite. He joined to band to sing "Sentimental Lady" with them. It was a moment in hx I will never forget. I still have a signed copy of hs release of his "Fench Kiss" LP which he autographed to me, as well as a special long play pressing of Go Your Own Way/Silver Springs that was later given out to people in the record industry....

  Posted by g1rag at 2:21 PM GMT 01/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• I sat in the WEA/WB booth at the Fleetwood Mac Concert in KC the day or 2 after they won the Grammy for Rumours. I was working for Peaches Records at the time. For most of the concert, I chatted with a man named "Bob" that nite. When it became encore time, he got up and said his goodbyes. I asked him where he was going and he said , 'to surprise the band on stage!' I then was told I had been talking with Bob WELCH! The Peaches store was to open the new day so we invited him to the opening(he came and cut the ribbon) and we gave him a Peaches t-shirt which he wore on stage that nite. He joined to band to sing "Sentimental Lady" with them. It was a moment in hx I will never forget. I still have a signed copy of hs release of his "French Kiss" LP which he autographed to me, as well as a special long play pressing of Go Your Own Way/Silver Springs that was later given out to people in the record industry....

  Posted by g1rag at 2:21 PM GMT 01/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• I sat in the WEA/WB booth at the Fleetwood Mac Concert in KC the day or 2 after they won the Grammy for Rumours. I was working for Peaches Records at the time. For most of the concert, I chatted with a man named "Bob" that nite. When it became encore time, he got up and said his goodbyes. I asked him where he was going and he said , 'to surprise the band on stage!' I then was told I had been talking with Bob WELCH! The Peaches store was to open the new day so we invited him to the opening(he came and cut the ribbon) and we gave him a Peaches t-shirt which he wore on stage that nite. He joined to band to sing "Sentimental Lady" with them. It was a moment in hx I will never forget. I still have a signed copy of hs release of his "French Kiss" LP which he autographed to me, as well as a special long play pressing of Go Your Own Way/Silver Springs that was later given out to people in the record industry....

  Posted by Ron Glazer St. Louis at 2:22 PM GMT 01/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• I sat in the WEA/WB booth at the Fleetwood Mac Concert in KC the day or 2 after they won the Grammy for Rumours. I was working for Peaches Records at the time. For most of the concert, I chatted with a man named "Bob" that nite. When it became encore time, he got up and said his goodbyes. I asked him where he was going and he said , 'to surprise the band on stage!' I then was told I had been talking with Bob WELCH! The Peaches store was to open the new day so we invited him to the opening(he came and cut the ribbon) and we gave him a Peaches t-shirt which he wore on stage that nite. He joined to band to sing "Sentimental Lady" with them. It was a moment in hx I will never forget. I still have a signed copy of hs release of his "French Kiss" LP which he autographed to me, as well as a special long play pressing of Go Your Own Way/Silver Springs that was later given out to people in the record industry....

  Posted by Ron Glazer St. Louis at 2:23 PM GMT 01/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• "Mystery to Me" is the perfect balance (segway?) between the FM Mark I blues and the Buckingham/Nicks pop. Brilliant mellow flowing tunes by Bob Welch and Christine McVie have been unjustly overlooked by those who jumped on the bandwagon for "Fleetwood Mac" and "Rumours". This gem deserves the attention of any Mac fan.

  I recommend Welch's solo lp "French Kiss" to those who appreciate "Mystery to Me". It's basically an extension of the same but without the talented Mrs. McVie to vary the pace.

  Peter Green's "In the Skies" for those who wonder what happened to FM's founder.

  Posted by Randy Fife at 6:50 PM GMT 01/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• RE: Erik Valebrokk

  Good call. Reminds me vividly of a road trip to Spain that year. Great summery shimmery album

  Posted by jezmo at 7:27 PM GMT 02/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• RE: Erik Valebrokk

  Good call. Reminds me vividly of a road trip to Spain that year. Great summery shimmery album

  Posted by jezmo at 7:28 PM GMT 02/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• Obviously Rumours is their best album, followed a close second by "Fleetwood Mac" debut with Lindsey and Stevie. Third would be Tango In the Night. Rounding out the bottom are Mirage, Say You Will and Tusk. Avoid the albums Time, and Behind the Mask.

  Posted by anthony at 3:11 PM GMT 03/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rumours will always be close to my heart,though Tango In The Night isn't too far behind and both will always remind me of my first(unrequited)love.

  Posted by John at 5:53 AM GMT 05/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rumours will always be close to my heart,though Tango In The Night isn't too far behind and both will always remind me of my first(unrequited)love.

  Posted by John at 5:56 AM GMT 05/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• Rumours will always be close to my heart,though Tango In The Night isn't too far behind and both will always remind me of my first(unrequited)love.

  Posted by John at 5:59 AM GMT 05/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• Two albums stand out for me, one from each era. Firstly, the genius of Peter Green is never more evident than in the varied 'Then Play On' with its delicacy, sublime blues and inspired arrangements. Secondly, 'Fleetwood Mac' from 75, which paved the way for 'Rumours' but is equal to it in terms of songwriting, soulful vocals and atmosphere.

  Posted by simon ireland at 3:54 PM GMT 05/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• Bare Trees. Fleetwood Mac were not well known at that time in Canada. I bought it because of the album cover, not knowing what to expect musically. They quickly became a favorite of mine. Heavy and soft at the same time. Great heavy tunes like Child of Mine alongside mellow folk songs like Dust. Sunny Side Of Heaven is one of the greatest instrumentals I have ever heard. And who can forget the classic Bob Welch ballad Sentimental Lady. Listen to it again for the first time!

  Posted by Mike Bessette at 5:10 PM GMT 08/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• The Pious Bird of Good Omen is the top Fleetwood Mac album for me. Everything else is naff.

  Posted by elena conway at 10:34 PM GMT 16/06/2011 Report Abuse

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• '73's "Buckingham Nicks is a brilliant recording, and one that early on shows the production prowess of Lindsey Buckingham. It also highlights the superb vocal harmonies of the duo. And the cover portrait photo by the great Richard Avedon is icing on the cake -- an unintended reference to the cover of another of my Mac faves, "Mystery to Me."

  Posted by Third Axis at 7:19 PM GMT 18/08/2011 Report Abuse

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• '73's "Buckingham Nicks is a brilliant recording, and one that early on shows the production prowess of Lindsey Buckingham. It also highlights the superb vocal harmonies of the duo. And the cover portrait photo by the great Richard Avedon is icing on the cake -- an unintended reference to the cover of another of my Mac faves, "Mystery To Me."

  Posted by Third Axis at 7:23 PM GMT 18/08/2011 Report Abuse

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• '73's "Buckingham Nicks is a brilliant recording, and one that early on shows the production prowess of Lindsey Buckingham. It also highlights the superb vocal harmonies of the duo. And the cover portrait photo by the great Richard Avedon is icing on the cake -- an unintended reference to the cover of another of my Mac faves, "Mystery To Me."

  Posted by Third Axis at 7:24 PM GMT 18/08/2011 Report Abuse

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• "Tusk" is still an amazing album...every time I listen to it something new in that music is revealed. The Stevie tracks are the weaker ones (with the exception of "Storms") but some of Lindsey's stuff is just incredible. The instrumentation is marvellously intriguing places...(is Mick banging on a bin lid on "What Makes You Think You're The One"? How does Lindsey sound like he's playing a guitar strung with barbed wire on "That's Enough For Me? Is that a chromatic harmonica on "I Know I'm Not Wrong"?) And the original LP packaging was exquisite...not something you could throw on in a hurry. I think the live album from that era was pretty good too..."Farmer's Daughter" is gorgeous.

  Posted by Giles Stratton at 8:55 AM GMT 01/10/2011 Report Abuse

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