Revisit The Mighty Mac’s Roots With Expanded And Remastered Version Of 1969’s Then Play On And Vinyl Boxed set Spanning The Group’s First Four Albums For Reprise Records
Both Will Be Available On August 20th
- 4LP 1969-1972 Vinyl Box Set: Amazon
- "Then Play On" Expanded Edition: Amazon
This summer, revisit the Fleetwood Mac’s early years with two special releases from Reprise Records.
The first is an expanded and remastered edition of THEN PLAY ON, Fleetwood Mac’s 1969 debut on Reprise. This reissue features the original U.K running order and track segues, with “One Sunny Day” and “Without You” making their first appearance on a CD issue of the album, as well as new liner notes by veteran rock journalist David Fricke and four bonus tracks, including the revered single “Oh Well – Pt. 1,” which boasts one of the great guitar riffs in rock history and has been covered by likes of Billy F Gibbons, Jimmy Page, and Tom Petty.
The second release is FLEETWOOD MAC: 1969-1972, a beautiful vinyl boxed set that collects four of the band’s classic albums, each lovingly reproduced on 140-gram vinyl. As a bonus, the set comes with an exclusive replica of the original 1969 7-inch single of “Oh Well – Pt. 1” b/w “Oh Well – Pt. 2.”
THEN PLAY ON: EXPANDED EDITION and FLEETWOOD MAC: 1969-1972 will both be available August 20.
Fleetwood Mac was already a popular blues band in 1969 when they released THEN PLAY ON, the group’s stellar third studio album. It was the first with guitarist-songwriter Danny Kirwan and ultimately its last with founding member Peter Green. The album’s powerful mix of blues and rock includes standout tracks like “Rattlesnake Shake,” “Searching For Madge” and “Coming Your Way.” Rhino’s newly re-mastered and expanded edition includes four bonus tracks originally released as singles: parts one and two of “Oh Well,” “The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown)” and “World In Harmony,” which is available on CD for the first time.
FLEETWOOD MAC: 1969-1972 features four complete albums – Then Play On (1969), Kiln House (1970), Future Games (1971) and Bare Trees (1972) – housed in a striking black slipcase. To ensure superb sound quality, Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering cut the lacquers for all four albums. The records look as good as they sound thanks to authentically reproduced packages, including gatefolds for Then Play On and Kiln House and single sleeves for Future Games and Bare Trees.
The set follows the band through an early transitional period. With Kiln House, Fleetwood Mac began moving toward a more melodic pop sound on songs like “Mission Bell” and “One Together.” At the time, the band included: Jeremy Spencer (guitar, vocals, piano), Kirwan (guitar, vocals), John McVie (bass) and Mick Fleetwood (drums). Christine McVie was at the recording sessions and contributed backing vocals and the album’s cover art, but she did not join the band until shortly after the album was finished.
The band’s shift toward pop and folk styles continued on Future Games with songs like “Show Me A Smile” and “Morning Rain.” This marks the first Fleetwood Mac album with Christine McVie as a full band member as well as the Mac debut of Bob Welch on guitar.
The line-up stayed the same for Bare Trees, which boasts a consistently strong collection of songs like McVie’s “Spare Me A Little Of Your Love,” Kirwan’s “Dust” and Welch’s “Sentimental Lady.” Although Kirwan was a dominant figure during the recording, penning half of the songs, this would ultimately be his last appearance on a Fleetwood Mac album.
THEN PLAY ON: EXPANDED EDITION
Track Listing
1. “Coming Your Way”
2. “Closing My Eyes”
3. “Fighting For Madge”
4. “When You Say”
5. “Show Biz Blues”
6. “Underway”
7. “One Sunny Day”
8. “Although The Sun Is Shining”
9. “Rattlesnake Shake”
10. “Without You”
11. “Searching For Madge”
12. “My Dream”
13. “Like Crying”
14. “Before The Beginning”
Bonus Tracks
15. “Oh Well - Pt. 1”
16. “Oh Well - Pt. 2”
17. “The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown)”
18. “World In Harmony”
FLEETWOOD MAC: 1969-1972
Track Listing
Then Play On (1969)
Side 1
1. “Coming Your Way”
2. “Closing My Eyes”
3. “Fighting For Madge”
4. “When You Say”
5. “Show Biz Blues”
6. “Underway”
7. “One Sunny Day”
Side 2
1. “Although The Sun Is Shining”
2. “Rattlesnake Shake”
3. “Without You”
4. “Searching For Madge”
5. “My Dream”
6. “Like Crying”
7. “Before The Beginning”
Kiln House (1970)
Side 1
1. “This Is The Rock”
2. “Station Man”
3. “Blood On The Floor”
4. “Hi Ho Silver”
5. “Jewel Eyed Judy”
Side 2
1. “Buddy’s Song”
2. “Earl Gray”
3. “One Together”
4. “Tell Me All The Things You Do”
5. “Mission Bell”
Future Games (1971)
Side 1
1. “Woman Of 1000 Years”
2. “Morning Rain”
3. “What A Shame”
4. “Future Games”
Side 2
1. “Sands Of Time”
2. “Sometimes”
3. “Lay It All Down”
4. “Show Me A Smile”
Bare Trees (1972)
Side 1
1. “Child Of Mine”
2. “The Ghost”
3. “Homeward Bound”
4. “Sunny Side Of Heaven”
Side 2
1. “Bare Trees”
2. “Sentimental Lady”
3. “Danny’s Chant”
4. “Spare Me A Little Of Your Love”
5. “Dust”
6. “Thoughts On A Grey Day”
Bonus 7” Single
Side 1
“Oh Well - Pt. 1”
Side 2
“Oh Well - Pt. 2”
6 comments:
I am now convinced, more than ever, that Rhino's primary mission in life is to NOT make money. Given the vast wealth of Stevie/Lindsey/FM material just begging to be remastered and expanded, they are instead re-releasing the most unpopular selections from their catalog. Earth to Rhino: these early FM reissues are not going to sell squat.
^besides, like, Buckingham Nicks, WHAT could be expanded? Mirage and Tango?! Is that what you want?
When Fleetwood Mac go on Tour,they are usually successful enough that not only does their entire catalogue of music sell enough to make even past members a sweet chunk of change....nobody loses. To say these early 4 albums release might be unwise or not wanted is premature....there are thousands and thousands of fans who LOVE this early stuff! and the new fans will be overjoyed at having it all in one package.
True Fleetwood Mac fans love this band and all it's variations. This is one band that everything that has happened to it was meant to happen. The fans know it and feel it. And with the possibility of Christine Mcvie taking the stage in London.....it's a very wise release....
So meant to be. :)
A Remastered and Expanded TANGO IN THE NIGHT would be fantastic!
All of the B-Sides and 12" Versions.
What could be better!?
I would enjoy a 5.1 release of Tango along with Mirage. Tusk and the eponymous album have been mixed to 5.1.
I would enjoy that from Future Games on!. I also wish I could hear the original album cut of "I Know I'm Not Wrong" restored to tusk....this version on the CD now sucks...the original is far more polished. ...and goooooood!!!
Anonymous sure is a self-centered prick, purporting to know what people want. Guess what? Many people LOVE those "bridge" albums between the "old" bluesy FM and the Abba influenced later group. Who are you to be the arbiter of everyone else's taste? Speak for yourself? FINE. Speak for everyone? Stop the nonsense.
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