Essential collection of the Blue Horizon years
H. Howorth | Chicagoland | 02/02/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm afraid I have a completely different view of this set than outlined in the well-written but somewhat narrow-minded review contributed by Jeffrey Blehar. It is true that Peter Green's finest hour came on Fleetwood Mac's outstanding LP "Then Play On," none of which is included here. And it is also true that several of the band's fantastic singles during the Peter Green era ("Man Of The World," "Oh Well," and "Green Manalishi") are not included on this set. However, there is a very simple reason for this: none of that material was recorded during the band's initial phase on the Blue Horizon label, which is, indeed, extremely well represented on this two CD collection (more on that in a moment). Perhaps if the title of the set were modified to more accurately reflect its contents, Mr. Blehar would have less to find fault with. But a one star rating for this treasure trove of outstanding music? As a hardcore Chicago blues lover, and a devout Peter Green fan, I no doubt hold this period of the band's career in much higher regard than Mr. Blehar and find plenty to enjoy, as I do not view these recordings as simply the end product of an "all blues, all the time straightjacket," as defined by Mr. Blehar. Naturally, it would be silly to compare the "authenticity" of Fleetwood Mac (or any other white blues act of the time--British or American) to the "real" bluesmen (Muddy Waters, Elmore James, B.B. King et al) to whom the band looked for their initial inspiration. But to dismiss their recordings as little more than standard twelve bar blues fare would be to miss out on Mr. Green's exquisite guitar/vocal technique and the way in which he and his bandmates adapted/modified the blues which made them one of the most successful bands in Europe, in the process exposing legions of young fans to music that they knew little or nothing about (in precisely the same way that Green's former band, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, had done with their well-regarded albums).
Instead, what we have here are two discs chockfull of well-played, exciting blues featuring no less than ten of twelve tunes from the band's fantastic debut album "Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac", ten of twelve tunes from the less stellar but nevertheless excellent follow-up album "Mr. Wonderful" (I would dispute its characterization as "dreary" and call it "moody" and "atmospheric"), several outstanding singles that appeared on the U.S.-only LP "English Rose" ("Black Magic Woman" and "Albatross"), as well as the classic "Need Your Love So Bad" from the 1969 compilation LP "Pious Bird Of Good Omen." Add to that three rockin' tunes from the live-in-the-studio "Blues Jam In Chicago" LP on which Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Otis Spann and a few other top-flight Chicago bluesmen appear and you've got a pretty comprehensive collection of the very music that put Fleetwood Mac on the map.
Another MAJOR bonus is that each track appears exactly as it did on the original LP's, without the (countless) false starts, alternate takes and studio chatter that mar the otherwise outstanding "Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" boxed set which costs nearly three times as much as this affordable set. That's not bad for $12.98, in my estimation, and well worth the investment for those disinclined to spring for the box. (In fact, I had to purchase this set as a supplement to the boxed set, despite all the overlap, in order to obtain a handful of tracks that were ruined, in my opinion, by the "tampering" that occurred on that six disc set. See my review of the boxed set for details.) In any event, buy this collection and pick up "Then Play On" for a more balanced overview of this phenomenal band, though you will unfortunately need to pick up the single disc "The Best Of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac" to get those classic stray singles mentioned earlier.
"
"Peter Greens"
Thomas S. Sehon | San Jose, CA | 12/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The title it self tells you it "Peter Greens" Fleetwood Mac. So if your looking for Stevie/Lindsey Fleetwood Mac, just look under Fleetwood Mac. There is nothing misleading with this title. Peter Green, is one of the Greatest guitariest, songwrites of all times. He has a legacy of being a Blues Master, and has left his mark in history.I think "Need Your Love So Bad", is one best songs he ever wrote. See if you can listen to, Gary Moore doing an album called "Songs for Greenie" where he does his version of Peter Green songs, that will blow you away, which by the way was recorded using the same Les Paul guitar that Peter use to record the orginals."
How is this Essential?
D. Hinkle | Mobile, Al United States | 09/13/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"How is this Essential Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac when "Oh Well", "Green Manalishi", "Coming Your Way", "Rattlesnake Shake" are not included? It's a Travesty..."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1