More of a compilation than an actual album, but as I am a completist I'm going to review it anyway. Released January 1969 in the US only, half of this release consists of songs from Mr. Wonderful (which wasn't released over there), two songs were UK non-album single releases, one was a B-side to one of those singles, two were new songs which would later appear on the UK version of Then play on, and one unreleased track. The band at this stage still consisted of Green, Spencer, McVie and Fleetwood, but a young guitarist called Danny Kirwan had now joined the ranks, making the band a five-piece.
The album starts the same as Mr. Wonderful with Stop messin' round and is followed by a short (1:38), pleasant enough instrumental piece called Jigsaw puzzle piece which was the B-side to Albatross. Doctor Brown follows, and then we get a Danny Kirwan composition called Something inside of me which I really like, and can't believe it wasn't included on a UK release. The guitar playing is great and sounds like it could be off an Eric Clapton record or something. I'd say it was acoustic rock with a blues edge. Love it.
Evenin' boogie sounds even better for some reason on this album, and then side one is rounded off with Love that burns. The Mr. Wonderful tracks actually grow on you with each listen so maybe I should review it again in a year's time when I'm more familiar with the tracks.
The first real classic on this album comes on the start of side two with the epic Peter Green hit Black magic woman. This was a minor UK hit in 1968 and then became more famous for Santana's version, two years later. I think this is the better version, although I am a bit biased, and it's Green's vocals on this haunting ballad that make this song for me. After this we get I've lost my baby from Mr. Wonderful, which sounds better on here.
Danny Kirwan proves he deserves his place among the great songwriters in the band with One sunny day, which would later appear on the UK version of Then play on. This is just great, it's summery, feel-good guitar music reminiscent of the Kinks. So catchy it could have been a hit, and he's singing "Help me take my blues away", which perhaps is an indication of where the band is headed. I would certainly say that this track was more rock than blues.
Likewise, Without you would appear on Then play on in the UK. It's not the Nilsson/Badfinger classic but another Danny Kirwan composition, which isn't as immediate as the previous track but is a heartfelt acoustic ballad about a man who's woman cleared off and left him in the night. Coming home sounds much better here as the riff hasn't been overdone so much.
Now imagine you are lying on a beach watching the waves crashing against the sand. Albatross closes the album and it is a truly magnificent piece of music which is up there with the best instrumentals ever. It's also their only UK number one single to date, and the first Fleetwood Mac song to get a full 5 stars from me - although there will be a lot more to come. It's unlike anything else on an album which is a bit of a hotch-potch of different styles, but overall a good listen.
I would say that this album as a whole is better than Mr. Wonderful because of the inclusions of Albatross, Black magic woman and One sunny day, which are three epic pieces. With Without you as well, side two is definitely the better side of the record.
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