F: Fleetwood Mac

10-8-09 F: Fleetwood Mac

The Peter Green version of the group (mostly), not the edition with the women.

CD GREATEST HITS CBS UK 460704.2

1971? 12 TRK Collection

LP GREATEST HITS CBS UK 69011

1971? 12 TRK Collection

CD KILN HOUSE REPRISE DE 927453.2

1970 10 TRKS

LP KILN HOUSE REPRISE US RS 6408

1970 10 TRKS

CD THEN PLAY ON REPRISE US 6368.2

1970 13 TRKS (1 x bonus track: "Oh Well")

LP THEN PLAY ON REPRISE US RS 6368

1970 12 TRKS without "Oh Well"; promo

LP THEN PLAY ON re-issue REPRISE DE MID 24011

1969 11 TRKS ('73 re-issue) with "Oh Well"

I first heard “Oh Well” on a Warner Brothers US sampler LP. Then and now, that’s a pretty neat track, especially the first 2 ½ minutes of it. In 1970, I didn’t know all that much about the British blues, I confess. Probably the only bonafide British blues I owned at that time was John Mayall “The Turning Point”! And, of course, guitarist Peter Green came up via John Mayall’s band.

On another Warner Brothers US sampler LP, I heard “Tell Me All The Things You Do” from “Kiln House” – no Peter Green, but it’s still a rockin’ track for 1970/1. Did I know it wasn’t Peter Green playing on it? No, probably not. I did not get to see Melody Maker or New Musical Express all the time, in the early 70’s – unfortunately.

I always bought whatever versions of the “Then Play On” LP/CD that I could find, in search of ‘variants’ – does it have “Oh Well”, if not, what it is replaced with? Still, the original late 80’s US CD seems to have the most material.

Once the version of F. Mac with the women got popular, the old CBS “Greatest Hits” LP was suddenly very available, everywhere. “Rattlesnake Shake”, “Oh Well” and “Albatross” could be easily heard, mostly by people wondering where the women were.

I have some interest in Peter Green’s sol work – I understand that some of the latter day releases were produced by legendary Cream-lyricist Pete Brown, a friend of mine. I know Pete wouldn’t touch it, if it wasn’t real good.

I read a book about Peter Green (and the early years of Fleetwood Mac) – what really happened etc. I can only imagine the pressures that Mr. Green must’ve felt, on the doorstep of The Rolling Stones etc.