Then Play On - Fleetwood Mac

...guitar is unleashed, there is then a brief respite as he mocks himself....

" I cant help about the shape I'm in
I cant sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin.
But dont ask me what I think of you
I might not give the answer that you want me to."

The percussive timebomb progresses as the maracas shake loose, climaxing as Mick Fleetwood's tom-tom beat pounds to a final distorted chord, ...
...a recorder played by Green's then girlfriend). Wild, ferocious, beautiful, stunning!


7 ALTHOUGH THE SUN IS SHINING

Calming down now, this is another Kirwan song. It's rather a slow blues-based ballad that ambles along until the slightly more upbeat chorus jumps in. There's a nice spanish guitar solo, and the song complements Kirwan's voice quite nicely.


8 RATTLESNAKE SHAKE

... more

Fleetwood Mac, a band that survived many traumas and tribulations throughout their roller-coaster lifetime, released this album originally in 1969. It was the final studio album for this particular line-up, which showpieced the talents of the brilliant Peter Green. This, for me, is the period of their best work.

The band at the time consisted of Mick Fleetwood (drums), John McVie (bass), and three gifted guitarists in Green, Jeremy Spencer (who doesn't feature on this album- he hadn't quit the band, just opted not to take part) and Danny Kirwan. They were a blues band who had developed dramatically by the time this offering was released, and the diverse writing talents of the guitar trio were now creating some stunning, innovational and varied compositions. The band's blues roots were always evident, always underlying, however.

I should point out that there are two songs from the 1969 album that are not included here, 'One Sunny Day' and 'Without You'. These songs were apparently omitted because they had been included on 'English Rose', a compilation for the American market which was released in the USA before 'Then Play On' , therefore it was thought unwise to have two duplicated tracks on this offering. This is a great shame in my opinion, I would much prefer the original in it's entirity. By way of recompense, the full version of 'Oh Well' was included to bridge the gap (this song was not on the original 1969 album). The order of tracks has also been changed for some reason.

1 COMING YOUR WAY

A heavily percussive opener, littered with racing bongos, though in contrast the meandering guitar riff is quite gentle. The song climaxes in a series of rising and falling chords, the guitar becoming more abrasive and weighty in line with the power and depth of these chords. Danny Kirwan wrote the song and sings the vocal.

2 CLOSING MY EYES

As the final chord of the previous song fades into the distance, a lonely guitar quietly picks out a wistful backdrop. Peter Green may have been at the edge of his dark period as he sings...

" Now it's the same as before
I'm alone again"

The song picks up momentum and some very sweet guitar adorns the bass and drums, amidst some moody spanish guitar. A thought provoking song from a seemingly troubled writer, becomes slightly religious towards the conclusion. Delicate, yet powerful.

3 SHOW-BIZ BLUES

Green again, in animated protest mood here. He sings with just his own rocking blues slide guitar as backing, and just a tambourine for rhythm. Real-foot tapping earthy blues, the heat is turned up to maximum for a blistering slide solo. An absolute blast!

4 MY DREAM

In complete contrast to the previous track, here's a very relaxing instrumental from Danny Kirwan. It's not flamboyant but has a multitude of delightful guitar flourishes and is a showpiece for Kirwan's fine vibrato technique. Reminds me in parts of something Hank Marvin might have produced with the Shadows.

5 UNDER WAY

Another restrained instrumental, this time from Green and in the 'Albatross' vein, though not as laid back as the band's big selling chart-topper. Mick Fleetwood's choppy drumming adds a little bite and the song gathers momentum as it progresses, sounds quite improvisational, this one.

6 OH WELL!

Not on the original album, this is both parts of the single (it was split into an 'A' and 'B' side when released on vinyl) united again. The first section is really wild with a ferocious acoustic riff, heightened further when this becomes electric, and even more as the bass adds to the overall power. Green's lead guitar is unleashed, there is then a brief respite as he mocks himself....

" I cant help about the shape I'm in
I cant sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin.
But dont ask me what I think of you
I might not give the answer that you want me to."

The percussive timebomb progresses as the maracas shake loose, climaxing as Mick Fleetwood's tom-tom beat pounds to a final distorted chord, and section 2 begins. Straight out of a spaghetti western, a bleak spanish guitar creates the sombre mood, with the obligatory ocarina providing the melody (apparently it was actually a recorder played by Green's then girlfriend). Wild, ferocious, beautiful, stunning!

7 ALTHOUGH THE SUN IS SHINING

Calming down now, this is another Kirwan song. It's rather a slow blues-based ballad that ambles along until the slightly more upbeat chorus jumps in. There's a nice spanish guitar solo, and the song complements Kirwan's voice quite nicely.

8 RATTLESNAKE SHAKE

A Peter Green rocker with attitude, quite menacing and doomy, though a fun song at the same time. Fleetwood works the tom-tom beat again, McVie's base adding depth to the rhythm. A very snappy middle section breaks up the song, which is loaded with unmistakeable Fleetwood Mac guitar fills. In a similar vein to 'The Green Manalishi'.

9 SEARCHING FOR MADGE

This and the next track give the impression of being 'fillers' on the album. They're a studio jam and are really very good. The pace is dictated by the speeding drums and bass, and the double guitar licks come thick and fast, twisting and turning wildly. There's a strange break where a lone guitar takes the stage, followed by a short simulated orchestral piece, swiftly returning to the meaty stuff once more.

10 FIGHTING FOR MADGE

More jamming, but without any break in the proceedings this time.

11 WHEN YOU SAY

A soft and gentle acoustic-based ballad which was covered as a single by Christine Perfect (later to become Mrs McVie) before she actually joined the band. Pretty ordinary at the outset, but when Kirwan's "la la la" chorus takes off the guitar soars with it and the song gets quite exhilarating. Grows on you...

12 LIKE CRYING

A simple up-tempo blues, no drums or bass, and it's just delightful. If 'Show-Biz Blues' is Peter Green's solo showpiece, then this is Danny Kirwan's. His double-tracked singing hits the right mood and there is some neat decorative guitar threaded throughout. A refreshing slice of blues!

13 BEFORE THE BEGINNING

The final track on the CD, as it was on the original album, maybe a last goodbye song from Green and the 'old' band. A nicely constructed blues, he sings tortuously:

" I've got to find a place to sing my words,
Is there nobody listening to my song?"

A final flurry on guitar, fade-out, and the band in this format was gone.........................................................................................................

Peter Green left the band (entering a period where mental health problems would haunt him for many years), and the two other guitarists struggled to take over his mantle. As time progressed Jeremy Spencer left the band and joined the Children of God, a religious cult group. Danny Kirwan was fired after a bust-up between band members, and after a battle with the bottle ended up living on the streets.

Eventually Christine Perfect, keyboard player with Chicken Shack, joined the band officially, also marrying bass player John McVie. After further changes in personnel the band eventually evolved into the 'Americana' Fleetwood Mac, merging with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham to become hugely, fantastically successful, though their history continued to be troubled and haunted, in spite of that success.

There are biographies/discographies and much more at:
http://fleetwoodmac.net/penguin/index.phtml 

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