Blues Jam in Chicago - Vol. 1 & 2
I believe before the actual release of Then Play On, Fleetwood Mac apparently got the chance to play with some real life blues legends in Chicago, and seemingly released as much of this as possible here. Some of this is similarly a plodding rendition of Chicago blues with not much added by these guest appearances, particularly in Vol. 1. Rather than a live studio capturing energy and freedom, it feels contrived on Vol. 1, and laborious, particularly as you can hear these folks talking through what they are going to do.
Vol. 2 is much much better. Whether it came before or after chronologically, it sure feels like the band and its guests finding their footing. And despite false starts, there’s some fire when they get it together, like on Sugar Mama. Homework and Everyday I Have the Blues are also highlights here.
Fleetwood Mac
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liebzz
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Live in Boston (1970)
Recorded in the final months of the Peter Green era, this wasn’t released until 80s. I am covering it here because it perfectly encapsulates the end of the standard blues era into a time where the band clearly has an identity crisis in full swing. It seems Peter Green’s sticking to his blues, Jeremy Spencer is banging out 50s pop covers, and Danny Kirwan’s bringing some serious rock to the equation. Despite its wildly varied nature (at least Vol. 3 which is what is available on Spotify), it’s actually quite enjoyable. The songs all feel like they have that oomph that’s just been missing in the blues songs, and the rock songs are really quite good.
My final thoughts on the Peter Green era (I’ll at least hit up a solo album or two along the way) are a bit confounded. He’s a really fabulous guitar player, but something about the way he structured the band’s performances never seemed to fully take off, as if a purist sense of the blues held them back despite everyone being quite talented. The large spots on their second album and in the blues jams seemed stale, and really their best jolts came from working away from the blues style - perhaps in essence making Peter Green an odd fit in Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac.
Being unfamiliar, I am looking forward to this coming 5 year stretch of albums that live in this identity crisis - and almost bummed to miss imposter Fleetwood Mac (if I am up to it maybe I can look for some audio somewhere- though there’s enough going on without it given that I should have learned my lesson from Allman & Woman).
Recorded in the final months of the Peter Green era, this wasn’t released until 80s. I am covering it here because it perfectly encapsulates the end of the standard blues era into a time where the band clearly has an identity crisis in full swing. It seems Peter Green’s sticking to his blues, Jeremy Spencer is banging out 50s pop covers, and Danny Kirwan’s bringing some serious rock to the equation. Despite its wildly varied nature (at least Vol. 3 which is what is available on Spotify), it’s actually quite enjoyable. The songs all feel like they have that oomph that’s just been missing in the blues songs, and the rock songs are really quite good.
My final thoughts on the Peter Green era (I’ll at least hit up a solo album or two along the way) are a bit confounded. He’s a really fabulous guitar player, but something about the way he structured the band’s performances never seemed to fully take off, as if a purist sense of the blues held them back despite everyone being quite talented. The large spots on their second album and in the blues jams seemed stale, and really their best jolts came from working away from the blues style - perhaps in essence making Peter Green an odd fit in Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac.
Being unfamiliar, I am looking forward to this coming 5 year stretch of albums that live in this identity crisis - and almost bummed to miss imposter Fleetwood Mac (if I am up to it maybe I can look for some audio somewhere- though there’s enough going on without it given that I should have learned my lesson from Allman & Woman).
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wease
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Kiln House- no Green. Spencer and Kirwan are the driving forces. Spencer’s contributions are mostly Elvis or Chuck Berry by way of The Beatles tunes. Easily forgettable. Kirwan actually shows some promise with Jewel Eyed Judy and Earl Gray being standouts. Earl Gray would’ve been a better coda for Oh, Well that the Part 2 they added. Spencer hasn’t impressed me at all throughout his tenure with the band. Perfect (now McVie) is still not a full member but contributed keyboards and backing vocals while providing the cover art, as well.
Future Games- Spencer is out, Welch and McVie (Perfect) are in. We’re not a blues band anymore. Going for a more contemporary rock direction, this feels like it’s starting the path that will lead us to the commercial success found when Nicks and Buckingham join. It’s immediately a more enjoyable album and McVie’s contributions are two of the best of the bunch. Morning Rain could’ve been one of those deep “I can’t believe they just played that!” cuts by McVie. Sands of Time is also a great track and the title cut is certainly up there.
All in all, a very cohesive, hell, the most cohesive album they’ve released up to this point and definitely re-listenable.
Future Games- Spencer is out, Welch and McVie (Perfect) are in. We’re not a blues band anymore. Going for a more contemporary rock direction, this feels like it’s starting the path that will lead us to the commercial success found when Nicks and Buckingham join. It’s immediately a more enjoyable album and McVie’s contributions are two of the best of the bunch. Morning Rain could’ve been one of those deep “I can’t believe they just played that!” cuts by McVie. Sands of Time is also a great track and the title cut is certainly up there.
All in all, a very cohesive, hell, the most cohesive album they’ve released up to this point and definitely re-listenable.
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wease
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Bare Trees- a little more disjointed than the previous release. Homeward Bound could be McVie’s most aggressive song. Sentimental Lady sounded like I’ve heard it a few times before but enough to out and out recognize it. Danny’s Chant was fun. Really all of them are pretty good except for Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me. Kirwan’s last appearance. Some nice guitar work by him and Welch.
Penguin- good album. Not a bad song on it. Not any really great songs either. Kirwan is out. Bob Weston and Dave Walker are in. The opening track is McVie’s strongest to date. It would’ve fit in great on the Fleetwood Mac album a few years later. By far the best song on the album. Did You Ever Love Me is pretty good and a rare co-write between two members. Maybe the only one co-written by McVie and Welch. Everything else is fairly ho-hum. As I said earlier none of them are really bad it’s just nothing really screams out other than Remember Me.
Penguin- good album. Not a bad song on it. Not any really great songs either. Kirwan is out. Bob Weston and Dave Walker are in. The opening track is McVie’s strongest to date. It would’ve fit in great on the Fleetwood Mac album a few years later. By far the best song on the album. Did You Ever Love Me is pretty good and a rare co-write between two members. Maybe the only one co-written by McVie and Welch. Everything else is fairly ho-hum. As I said earlier none of them are really bad it’s just nothing really screams out other than Remember Me.
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liebzz
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Ha. Way to get ahead. I’ll be back next week for the early 70s.
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Had to drive Mrs Wease to a doctor’s appointment yesterday. She indulged me.
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liebzz
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Kiln House
This one certainly has the feeling of an identity crisis in action. With Peter Green out of Adler twos Mac, Jeremy Spencer is finding his latest phase in 50s pop rock - Buddy’s Song the most ridiculous of that with Buddy Holly lyrics and licks interspersed like some sort of inside joke/medley. Danny Kirwan is bringing the rock - and these are all the best songs on the album. Jewel Eyed Judy and Tell Me the Things You Do great examples of that. So we’re left with a largely uneven album of a band still figuring out who they are without their initial band leader.
This one certainly has the feeling of an identity crisis in action. With Peter Green out of Adler twos Mac, Jeremy Spencer is finding his latest phase in 50s pop rock - Buddy’s Song the most ridiculous of that with Buddy Holly lyrics and licks interspersed like some sort of inside joke/medley. Danny Kirwan is bringing the rock - and these are all the best songs on the album. Jewel Eyed Judy and Tell Me the Things You Do great examples of that. So we’re left with a largely uneven album of a band still figuring out who they are without their initial band leader.
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Christine McVie - The Legendary Christine Perfect Album
After leaving Chicken Shack and before fully joining Fleetwood Mac, we get a solo album from Christine McVie. McVie separates herself from the blues she had largely been doing with a more classic rock sound, and she immediately finds her footing with a great first half of the album. She has a sultriness to her voice here, but balances it well with a great groove on these tracks and some rock when we need it. Really not much space wasted here - only When You Say wasn’t my thing - the rest was pretty fabulous. Honestly liked it more than any Fleetwood Mac album thus far on this journey.
After leaving Chicken Shack and before fully joining Fleetwood Mac, we get a solo album from Christine McVie. McVie separates herself from the blues she had largely been doing with a more classic rock sound, and she immediately finds her footing with a great first half of the album. She has a sultriness to her voice here, but balances it well with a great groove on these tracks and some rock when we need it. Really not much space wasted here - only When You Say wasn’t my thing - the rest was pretty fabulous. Honestly liked it more than any Fleetwood Mac album thus far on this journey.
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Peter Green - The End of the Game
Upon his departure from Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green responded with his first solo album, which is an instrumental album whose purpose is very difficult to decipher. Mostly, it’s his collection of musicians tooling around, never quite forming into rock fusion, just sort of aimlessly kicking around, as if they were in a constant state of warming up. Definitely skip this one.
Upon his departure from Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green responded with his first solo album, which is an instrumental album whose purpose is very difficult to decipher. Mostly, it’s his collection of musicians tooling around, never quite forming into rock fusion, just sort of aimlessly kicking around, as if they were in a constant state of warming up. Definitely skip this one.
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Future Games
As wease noted, this album is the first that stays consistently in a corner since the blues albums. Focused on folk rock/soft rock, a surprise since it seemed Danny Kirwan’s natural leanings are a bit harder rock than this. Jeremy Spencer is gone now, and Bob Welch has jumped in, Christine McVie is officially welcomed aboard. All of the songs here are reasonably solid, though as the album progresses it does feel a bit like a story without conflict - a bit too smooth. Lay It All Down finally adds a needed jolt, and while nothing here offers offense, it also lacks the thrills a great album can bring.
As wease noted, this album is the first that stays consistently in a corner since the blues albums. Focused on folk rock/soft rock, a surprise since it seemed Danny Kirwan’s natural leanings are a bit harder rock than this. Jeremy Spencer is gone now, and Bob Welch has jumped in, Christine McVie is officially welcomed aboard. All of the songs here are reasonably solid, though as the album progresses it does feel a bit like a story without conflict - a bit too smooth. Lay It All Down finally adds a needed jolt, and while nothing here offers offense, it also lacks the thrills a great album can bring.
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Mon January 12, 2026 2:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Yeah. Pretty much with this one.tragabigzanda wrote:This one sounds intriguing. Are they getting into dry drum sounds yet?liebzz wrote:Future Games
As wease noted, this album is the first that stays consistently in a corner since the blues albums. Focused on folk rock/soft rock, a surprise since it seemed Danny Kirwan’s natural leanings are a bit harder rock than this. Jeremy Spencer is gone now, and Bob Welch has jumped in, Christine McVie is officially welcomed aboard. All of the songs here are reasonably solid, though as the album progresses it does feel a bit like a story without conflict - a bit too smooth. Lay It All Down finally adds a needed jolt, and while nothing here offers offense, it also lacks the thrills a great album can bring.
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tragabigzanda
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Mon January 12, 2026 2:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Bare Trees
This one is incredibly uneven. The first half of this album pretty much rocks. Child of Mine, The Ghost, Homeward Bound and even the instrumental Sunny Side of Heaven all are great and show a bit more of the classic rock side. Bare Trees is good but it starts the inevitable slow down. Danny’s Chant I thought was pretty good, but Sentimental Lady, Spare Me a Little of Your Love, and Dust lose the momentum. Thoughts on a Grey Day is just weird. All in all probably another middle of the road album, but this is more highs and lows than a steady stream.
This one is incredibly uneven. The first half of this album pretty much rocks. Child of Mine, The Ghost, Homeward Bound and even the instrumental Sunny Side of Heaven all are great and show a bit more of the classic rock side. Bare Trees is good but it starts the inevitable slow down. Danny’s Chant I thought was pretty good, but Sentimental Lady, Spare Me a Little of Your Love, and Dust lose the momentum. Thoughts on a Grey Day is just weird. All in all probably another middle of the road album, but this is more highs and lows than a steady stream.
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Penguin
Dave Walker and Bob Weston are in. Danny Kirwan’s time is done. With more lineup changes, I would imagine the inability form any sort of usable chemistry must have been maddening. The band I think continues to slog through more mediocrity. Nothing is prohibitively offensive but nothing is really good either, save for Remember Me, which would be the only reason to revisit this one. The cover of I’m A Road Runner isn’t bad. At this point, we truly hit the point where the band needs a fresh start, and we know it’s coming, so at least we have that.
Dave Walker and Bob Weston are in. Danny Kirwan’s time is done. With more lineup changes, I would imagine the inability form any sort of usable chemistry must have been maddening. The band I think continues to slog through more mediocrity. Nothing is prohibitively offensive but nothing is really good either, save for Remember Me, which would be the only reason to revisit this one. The cover of I’m A Road Runner isn’t bad. At this point, we truly hit the point where the band needs a fresh start, and we know it’s coming, so at least we have that.
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liebzz
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Mystery to Me
Only lineup change is that Dave Walker is out. This is a massive step up from Penguin, and really the best Fleetwood Mac album so far - filled with hooks, excellent songs, cohesive, and Christine McVie and Bob Welsch feel like a force to reckon with. Though these are pop songs at their core, the increased pacing serves them so much better and they sound great. Emerald Eyes, Believe Me, Hypnotized, Keep On Going, The City, Miles Away, Somebody, and For Your Love are all top notch Fleetwood Mac to this point. Granted, just like on Then Play On, the band’s finding that elusive combination can only mean they’ll be blowing the whole thing up shortly…
Only lineup change is that Dave Walker is out. This is a massive step up from Penguin, and really the best Fleetwood Mac album so far - filled with hooks, excellent songs, cohesive, and Christine McVie and Bob Welsch feel like a force to reckon with. Though these are pop songs at their core, the increased pacing serves them so much better and they sound great. Emerald Eyes, Believe Me, Hypnotized, Keep On Going, The City, Miles Away, Somebody, and For Your Love are all top notch Fleetwood Mac to this point. Granted, just like on Then Play On, the band’s finding that elusive combination can only mean they’ll be blowing the whole thing up shortly…
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
You pulled ahead! I’ll hit Mystery on my way home.
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
I have to backtrack to Buckingham Nicks - it’s not on Spotify so I have to pull it up on YouTube or something.
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Re: Fleetwood Mac
Buckingham Nicks
A little out of order, but just before Mystery to Me came this album - largely Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks delivering classic rock and pop. While some of this seems like they are still developing as songwriters, there’s a lot of really good stuff here, particularly in the second half. I am always a fan of a big epic track so Frozen Love was quite good, along with Races Are Run and Crying in the Night. Most of it seems like a preview of things to come with Fleetwood Mac.
A little out of order, but just before Mystery to Me came this album - largely Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks delivering classic rock and pop. While some of this seems like they are still developing as songwriters, there’s a lot of really good stuff here, particularly in the second half. I am always a fan of a big epic track so Frozen Love was quite good, along with Races Are Run and Crying in the Night. Most of it seems like a preview of things to come with Fleetwood Mac.