From 1966 to 1969 Fleetwood Mac was a blues-rock band headed by Peter Green on guitar with Jeremy Spencer on guitar, Mick Fleetwood on drums and John McVie on bass. Danny Kirwin was added to the line-up in 1968. Peter Green left the band he founded in 1969. This playlist covers the “middle period” Fleetwood Mac between Peter Green’s departure in 1969 and Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks’ arrival in 1975.
From 1970 to 1974, multiple line-up changes occurred. Kiln House was recorded by the remaining four members after Green left in 1969, plus Christine Perfect (McVie) on keyboards (uncredited). After Kiln House Jeremy Spencer left. For Future Games, Bob Welsh on guitar and Christine McVie on keyboards were added to the group. This same line-up recorded Bare Trees, after which Danny Kirwin left the group. On Penguin, Bob Weston on guitar and Dave Walker on vocals were added to replace Kirwin. Walker left after Penguin, leaving the Fleetwood, McVie, McVie, Welsh and Weston line-up to record Mystery To Me. Weston left after Mystery To Me, and the four remaining members recorded Heroes Are Hard To Find. After Heroes Are Hard To Find, Bob Welsh left the group, replaced by Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. This became the line-up that owned rock radio in the late 1970s. But the years between Peter Green and Lindsey Buckingham produced some great music, highlighting the songwriting of Kirwin, Welsh and Christine McVie, all built on the foundation of one of the great rock rhythm sections of John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.
So here's a 1970-1974 playlist I burned to CD from vinyl years ago, and which is now a playlist on my iTunes and on Qobuz. If you're streaming, it's easy to assemble for your very own pleasure:
From Kihn House 1970:
1. This Is The Rock (Spencer)
2. Jewel Eyed Judy (Kirwin, J. McVie, Fleetwood)
3. Tell Me All The Things You Know (Kirwin)
From Future Games 1971:
4. Future Games (Welsh)
5. Lay It All Down (Welsh)
6. Sometimes (Kirwin)
From Bare Trees 1972:
7. The Ghost (Welsh)
8. Homeward Bound (C. McVie)
9. Bare Trees (Kirwin)
From Penguin 1973:
10. Remember Me (C. McVie)
11. Dissatisfied (C. McVie)
From Mystery To Me 1973:
12. Somebody (Welsh)
13. Believe Me (C. McVie)
14. Hypnotized (Welsh)
From Heroes Are Hard To Find 1974:
15. Heroes Are Hard To Find (C. McVie)
16. Silver Heels (Welsh)
17. Come A Little Bit Closer (C. McVie)
Another way to appreciate this period of the band is with the recently released Like Crying - The Songs of Danny Kirwin (digital only release). Danny Kirwin was a fine guitar player and an excellent songwriter and singer. He joined Fleetwood Mac for Then Play On in 1969, Peter Green's last record with the band. Like Crying includes all the songs Kirwin wrote (in chronological order) from Then Play On 1969 through Bare Trees 1972. It also includes three songs that were released on singles, and in the case of Trinity from the Bare Trees sessions, not released at all until 1992 on 25 Years- The Chain box set. Kirwin's songs are very good, and the collection is a cool way to focus on one important songwriter's work.
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