FLEETWOOD MAC'S LOST YEARS IN BETWEEN BLUES AND POP

I started listening to FLEETWOOD MAC back in the late 70's in my early teens. But All I knew of their music was recordings they made after Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham joined the band in 1975. My uncle used to have some of their early 70's records, but they never interested me.

Lately, since 2005, I have been slowly collecting all of the band's work prior to 1975's self titled Fleetwood Mac album. Listeing over and over to these recordings one cannot wonder why they weren't as big earlier on. So much talent, in so much direction all pointing to a future that we all know.

The ever changing line up of the band in this period makes their recordings a pool of fresh ideas and approaches that kept refreshing and refocusing the sound of the band in the later years. here is the name of the people who were responsible for Fleetwood Mac's sound between 1968 to 1975:

Bekka Bramlett
Bob Brunning
Billy Burnette
Mick Fleetwood
Peter Green
Danny Kirwan
Dave Mason
John McVie
Christine McVie
Jeremy Spencer
Rick Vito
Dave Walker
Bob Welch
Bob Weston

Their innovative use of their instruments. Together with Mike Fleetwod's consistent drumming binds the recordings of this band like a cool hippie precious rosary. As documented in the collaboration of these musicians, their vision manages to transform both pop and rock music and foreshadow most of what we came to identify as late 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's music

Here, I have selected 35 songs that traces the future sound of the band in the older material. I have included the recording date of each song to contextualize the band's work in the history of rock and pop music. 

It is astonishing to notice that much of the songs from earlier on sound exactly like their recordings for Tusk (1979) and Mirage (1982).

My highlights include:

+ Motown sounding rendition of Little Willie John's Need Your Love So Bad
+ magical arrangements of Prove Your Love and Emerald Eyes
+ Pink Floyd induced Future Games
+ Brian Eno precursor My Dream
+ FMc's tribute to Buddy Holy in Buddys Song
+ Abbey Road inspired Jewel Eyed Judy
+ Disco inspired Keep On Going (the most amazing song included)

The list goes on... Most of these songs are nowhere available for purchase. You may find these albums for a few dollars in second hand record stores on Vinyl. I doubt one can find many of them on CD.

I tried to give the selection the feel of a good double album like the Beatles' White Album. 

As usual as any post 1975 Fleetwood Mac recording, the selection is peppered with beautiful ballads by Christine McVie all the way down to the Truly amazing and Queen sounding Spare Me A Little Of Your Love. 

For those of you who are not familiar with these songs, WELCOME TO REDISCOVERING FLEETWOOD MAC.