- Bekka Bramlett -- vocals (replaced Stevie Nicks) (1984)
- Lindsey Buckingham -- vocals, guitar (1975-90 + 97-)
- Billy Burnette -- vocals, guitar (replaced 

  Lindsey Buckingham) (1990-94)
- Mick Fleetwood -- drums, percussion (1967-)
- Peter Green (aka Peter Greenbaum) -- vocals, guitar

  (1967-70)
- Danny Kirwan -- vocals, guitar (1967-73)
- David Mason -- vocals, guitar (replaced 

  Lindsey Buckingham) (1984)
- Christine Perfect McVie -- vocals, keyboards (1970-90 +

  97-)
- John McVie -- bass (1967-)
- Stevie Nicks -- vocals (1975-90 + 97-)
- Rick Vito -- vocals, guitar (replaced Lindsey Buckingham)

  (1990-91)
- Jeremy Spencer -- vocals, guitar (1967-70)
- Dave Walker -- vocals, harmonica (1973)
- Bob Welch -- vocals, guitar (71-74)
- Bob Weston -- guitar (1973-74)

- Alexis (Dave Walker)
- Ashkan (Bob Weston)

- Ashman Reynolds (Bob Weston)

- Buckingham - Nicks
- Lindsey Buckingham (solo efforts)
- Billy Burnette (solo efforts)
- Chicken Shack (Christine McVie)
- Mick Fleetwood (solo efforts)
- Peter Green (solo efforts)
- Danny Kirwan (solo efforts)
- John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (Mick Fleetwood and 

  John McVie) 
- Christine McVie (solo efforts)
- Stevie Nicks (solo efforts)
- Paris (Bob Welch)

- Christine Perfect
- Savoy Brown (Dave Walker and Bob Weston)
- Select
- Jeremy Spencer (solo efforts)
- Bob Welch (solo efforts)

Genre: blues-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Fleetwood Mac

Company: Epic

Catalog: BN 26402

Year: 1968

Country/State: US/UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: minor corner wear

Available: 1

GEMM Catalog ID: 5249

Price: $20.00

Having played with a slew of early-1960s R&B groups (The Bo Street Runners, The Cheynes, Peter B Looners, Shot Gun Express), in 1967 drummer Mick Fleetwood was asked to join John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. As a member of the band, Fleetwood quickly became tight with guitarist Peter Green and bassist John McVie. The three even found time to cut some demo tapes, but before anything could happen, Mayall canned Fleetwood and Green.

Working sessions for producer/Blue Horizon Records owner Mike Vernon, Fleetwood and Green were introduced to former Levi Set Blues Group guitarist Jeremy Spencer. The chemistry proved right and with the addition of bassist Bob Brunning the quartet began playing London pubs. Sharing a common love of the blues, the band began to attract considerable attention, including dates at London's Marquee Club and a slot at the 1967 Windsor Blues and Jazz Festival. They also underwent the first in a long series of personnel changes; Brunning leaving to form the Sunflower Brunning Blues Band (see separate entry). Recently fired from Mayall's Bluesbreakers (common theme running here), McVie quickly stepped into the vacancy.  Now billed as Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac the line up continued to supplement tour wages by working as Blue Horizon's house band, supporting a slew of American acts recording for the label. They were also given an opportunity to record on their own - their debut being the 1968 single 'Believe My Time Ain't Long' b/w 'Rambling Pony (Blue Horizon catalog number 57-3051).

left to right: Jeremy Spencer - John McVie - Danny Kirwan - 

Peter Green - Mick Fleetwood

With English audiences again enamored with the blues, Blue Horizon decided to try to cash in on the fad by financing a Fleetwood Mac album. Produced by Mike Vernon, 1968's cleverly-titled "Fleetwood Mac" offered up a mixture of Green and Spencer penned genre originals and classic blues covers (Elmore James, James Williamson, etc.). While there was no doubting the band's dedication to the blues, by and large the set simply wasn't that exciting. The performances were all professional and competent, but with the possible exception of Spencer's blazing slide guitar on "Shake Your Money Maker", original bassist Brunning's bass pattern on "Long Grey Mare" and Green's greasy harmonica-propelled "Looking for Somebody" there wasn't much to get excited over. Backed by a brief American tour (including an appearance on the Ed Sullivan television show), the album hit # 198. (Nice to see Epic spending so much on the album's cover art ...)

"Fleetwood Mac" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) My Heart Beat Like a Hammer    (Jeremy Spencer) - 2:56
2.) Merry Go Round   (Peter Green) - 4:05
3.) Long Grey Mare   (Peter Green) - 2:13
4.) Hellhound On My Trail   (traditional - Peter Green) - 1:57
5.) Shake Your Money Maker   (Elmore James) - 2:53
6.) Looking for Somebody   (Peter Green) - 2:50

(side 2)

1.) No Place To Go   (C. Burnett) - 3:19
2.) My Baby's Good To Me   (Jeremy Spencer) - 2:44
3.) If I Loved Another Woman   (Peter Green) - 2:58
4.) Cold Black Night   (Jeremy Spencer) - 3:15
5.) The World Keep On Turning   (Peter Green) -2:27
6.) Got To Move   (Homesick James Williamson) - 3:21

Genre: rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Kiln House

Company: Reprise

Catalog: RS-6408

Year: 1970

Country/State: US/UK

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: gatefold sleeve; includes insert; small name on cover

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4448

Price: $10.00

I always have to laugh when people discover pre-Buckingham-Nicks Fleetwood Mac isn't about Southern California-styled pop.  Chronologically 1970's "Kiln House" was the first album released in the wake of guitarist Peter Green's unexpected departure.  Accordingly musically the album found creative responsibilities dumped on guitarists Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer.  Given the pressure and responsibilities the two responded by turning in some surprisingly impressive songs. The fact they wrote their material separately also explains the set's somewhat schizophrenic feel.  Ironically the standout tunes 'Station Man' and 'Jewel Eyed Judy' were among the few tracks the pair actually collaborated on.  At least to my ears Kirwan's bluesy moves made for the more interesting material - his instrumental 'Earl Gray' was quite impressive, while 'Tell Me All the Things You Do' proved the best overall rocker.  Spencer's longstanding interests in 1950s rock and country were okay, but tracks like 'This is the Rock' and 'Blood on the Floor' didn't do much for me.  Elsewhere, while she wasn't credited with anything other than the artwork, it sounded like Christine McVie provided keyboards and backing vocals throughout.  Given Reprise did little to support the set, it actually sold surprisingly well in the States, peaking at # 69.  There was also a US single in the form of 'Jewel Eyed Judy' b/w 'Station Man' (Reprise catalog number 0984).

"Kiln House" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) This is the Rock   (Jeremy Spencer) - 2:45
2.) Station Man   (Danny Kirwan - John McVie - Jeremy Spencer) - 5:49
3.) Blood on the Floor    (Jeremy Spencer)- 2:44
4.) Hi-Ho Silver   (Thomas Fats  Waller - Ed Kirkeby) - 3:05
5.) Jewel Eyed Judy   (Mick Fleetwood - Danny Kirwan - Jeremy Spencer) - 3:17

(side 2)

1.) Buddy's Song   (Ella Holly) - 2:08
2.) Earl Gray (instrumental)   (Danny Kirwan) - 4:01
3.) One Together   (Jeremy Spencer) - 3:23
4.) Tell Me All the Things You Do   (Danny Kirwan) - 4:10
5.) Mission Bell   (William Michael - Jesse Hodges) - 2:32

Genre: blues-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Vintage Years

Company: Sire

Catalog: SASH-3706

Year: 1975

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: double LP; minor ring wear; minor sleeve scuffing; gatefold sleeve

Available: 2

GEMM Catalog ID: 5250

Price: $12.00

In hindsight one of the year's most poorly timed releases, early 1975 saw Sire issue "Vintage Years".  Had Sire waited another year in order to rid the wave of Fleetwood Mac mania the album would have almost certainly sold platinum.   A transparent effort to cash in on the band's growing popularity, the double album set pulled together 24 previously released tracks. Focusing on the band's mid-to-late-1960s catalog, the album featured a mixture of original (11 tracks written by Peter Green) and covers. Exemplified by material such as 'Coming Home', 'Dust My Broom' and 'The Sun Is Shining' the collection underscored the group's blues roots. While tracks such as 'Albatross' and 'Black Magic Woman' represented the band's isolated commercial successes, fans expecting to hear the band's more recent pop-rock sound were in for a rude awakening. The disappointment was reflected in the album's poor sales; the set faltering at #138. (Clearly sales would have been much higher had the set been released in the wake of "Fleetwood Mac".)  Elsewhere, Sire's liner notes department deserved special praise for crediting several tracks to 'Danny Kirwen' - aka Danny Kirwan. 

"Vintage Years" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Black Magic Woman (Peter A. Green) - 2:52
2.) Coming Home (Elmore James) - 2:32
3.) Rambling Pony (Peter A. Green) - 2:41
4.) Something Inside of Me (Danny Kirwan) - 3:53
5.) Dust My Broom (Robert Johnson) - 2:58
6.) The Sun Is Shining (Elmore James) - 3:12

(side 2)

1.) Albatross (instrumental) (Peter A. Green) - 3:11
2.) Just the Blues (E. Boyd) - 5:36
3.) Evening Boogie (Jeremy Spencer) - 2:40
4.) The Big Boat (E. Boyd) - 2:37
5.) Jigsaw Puzzle Blues (Danny Kirwin) - 1:34
6.) I've Lost My Baby (Jeremy Spencer) - 4:15

(side 3)

1.) Doctor Brown (Waymon Glasco) - 3:44
2.) Need Your Love So Bad (Little Willie John) - 3:54
3.) Looking for Somebody (Peter A. Green) - 2:50
4.) Need Your Love Tonight (Jeremy Spencer) - 3:27
5.) Shake Your Moneymaker (Elmore James) - 2:54
6.) Man of the World (Peter A. Green) - 2:52

(side 4)

1.) Stop Messin' Around (Peter A. Green - C.G. Adams) - 2:18
2.) Rollin' Man (Peter A. Green - C.G. Adams) - 2:52
3.) Love that Burns (Peter A. Green - C.G. Adams) - 5:02
4.) If You Be My Baby (Peter A. Green - C.G. Adams) - 3:52
5.) Lazy Poker Blues (Peter A. Green - C.G. Adams)- 2:35

24.) Trying So Hard To Forget (Peter A. Green - C.G. Adams) - 4:47

Genre: blues-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Original Fleetwood Mac

Company: CBS

Catalog: 63875

Year: 1977

Country/State: US/UK

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: UK pressing

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5248

Price: $25.00

I suspect a lot of people feel the same way, but to my ears much of Fleetwood Mac's early blues-oriented material was simply dull and plodding - a bunch of English guys trying to cover American R&B with little hope of coming close to the originals.  Other than the fact I'd never seen a copy of this album before, I'm not sure why I picked it up.  Maybe that's why "The Original Fleetwood Mac" came as such a surprise to me.  CBS's attempt to cash in on the band's sudden radio and sales domination, the compilation pulled together twelve tracks early blues-oriented numbers.  Apparently drawn from previous unreleased material (at least that's what the cover said), the album showcased Peter Green in the role of band leader and creative mainstay (7 of the 12 tracks were Green originals). While it was standard English blues-rock, material like 'Drifting', 'Leaving Town Blues' and the pounding 'Rambling Pony No, 2' (check out Mick Fleetwood's double time tom-tom pattern) had something going for.  I'm at a loss to explain what that ingredient was - song for song it didn't sound all that different from The Climax Blues Band, John Mayall, Savoy Blues Band, etc.  Still, it's an album that's given me a considerable amount of pleasure over the years and one of the few I've bothered to put on a CDR.  Lest I fail to give credit where due, Jeremy Spencer was also one helluva guitarist - check out his acoustic slide work on 'Mean Old Fireman' and 'Allow Me One More Show'.  Certainly not something for the 'Rhiannon' era crowd, but a good place for blues-rock fans and anyone curious about the band's roots to start.

"The Original Fleetwood Mac" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Drifting   (Peter Green) - 

2.) Leaving Town Blues   (Peter Green) - 

3.) Watch Out   (Peter Green) - 

4.) A Fool No More   (Peter Green) - 

5.) Mean Old Fireman   (traditional - arranged Jeremy Spencer) - 

6.) Can't Afford To Do It   (James Williamson) - 

(side 2)

1.) Fleetwood Mac (instrumental)   (Peter Green) - 

2.) Worried Dream   (B.B. King) - 

3.) Love That Woman   (L. Leake) - 

4.) Allow Me One More Show   (Jeremy Spencer) - 

5.) First Train Home   (Peter Green) - 

6.) Rambling Pony No. 2   (Peter Green) -