OK, so I got hold of Penguin...

Neb-Maat-Re · #1 10-12-2006, 04:59 PM

...so, remind me - what's so bad about this album?

I do find some aspects of the mix a bit odd, but otherwise I'm enjoying it.

foxyluva · #2 10-12-2006, 05:10 PM

Great album isn't it!!

I don't think I have ever heard a fan say a bad thing about "Penguin" - it just seems to be the reviewers...

My favourite's are "(Im A) Road Runner" "Did You Ever Love Me" and "Revelation"

I would definately recommend "Heroes Are Hard to Find" if you don't already have it...

macfan 57 · #3 10-12-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neb-Maat-Re

...so, remind me - what's so bad about this album?

In my opinion, Dave Walker's songs. Other than those 2 songs, I like the album.

My favorite songs are all of Christine's songs & "Caught In The Rain", which is one of my favorite FM instrumentals.

chiliD · #4 10-12-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macfan 57

In my opinion, Dave Walker's songs..

The only song on the album that I don't like is "Road Runner"...I like the song, I just don't like that particular performance/recording of it. It sounds like they settled on a rough take rather than taking the time to really work out a good arrangment. Over the past 33 years I've grown to really like "The Derelict".

Other than that...I think the album is great. Christine was hittin' her stride songwriting wise, as was Bob Welch.

My biggest criticism of the album is that even for LP timing standards, it is a short album. They could've included a couple of more songs, if they'd had them.

My favorite part of the album...listening for Peter Green's guitar playing on "Night Watch"...it takes a bit to hear him the first couple of listens through, but once you pick him out, he seems to JUMP right out of the mix.

Neb-Maat-Re · #5 10-12-2006, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxyluva

I don't think I have ever heard a fan say a bad thing about "Penguin" - it just seems to be the reviewers...

It's seems to be labelled "lowest point" or "weakest effort".

I wish I'd been in a band where Penguin was the "weakest effort".

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxyluva

I would definately recommend "Heroes Are Hard to Find" if you don't already have it...

Yes, Heroes, Mystery and Future Games are on my "next gets" list.

Neb-Maat-Re · #6 10-12-2006, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macfan 57

"Caught In The Rain", which is one of my favorite FM instrumentals.

I guess it's been said before, both "the other Bob" seems to have been short-changed.

I guess he wasn't the last one that who had that happen.

Neb-Maat-Re · #7 10-12-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiliD

"Road Runner"...
It sounds like they settled on a rough take rather than taking the time to really work out a good arrangment.

Yes, it sounds to me like a competent run-through rather than an inspired effort - given it's relative length not much was done with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiliD

My favorite part of the album...listening for Peter Green's guitar playing on "Night Watch"...it takes a bit to hear him the first couple of listens through, but once you pick him out, he seems to JUMP right out of the mix.

I'll keep listening for that.

Having had a couple of listens on headphones the thing I've noticed is that some parts really do to JUMP right out of the mix.

Looking forward to a decent blast on the stereo - once the wife's thesis is finished!

Gailh · #8 10-13-2006, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macfan 57

In my opinion, Dave Walker's songs. Other than those 2 songs, I like the album.

My favorite songs are all of Christine's songs & "Caught In The Rain", which is one of my favorite FM instrumentals.

the Penguin was the first newly released FM album I ever bought so it will always have a place in my heart.

I agree that apart from Dave Walker's songs (I cant see what he was doing in FM - bit like Dave Mason) most of the other stuff is fine.

Christine was just beginning to develop her song writing skills.

Nighwatch is my favourite.

Gail

chiliD · #9 10-13-2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gailh

(I cant see what he was doing in FM - bit like Dave Mason)

I guess if your name is "Dave", Fleetwood Mac isn't the band for you to be in.

HomerMcvie · #10 10-13-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiliD

I guess if your name is "Dave", Fleetwood Mac isn't the band for you to be in.

There goes my last hope.....

Gailh · #11 10-13-2006, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiliD

I guess if your name is "Dave", Fleetwood Mac isn't the band for you to be in.

Yes that must be it.

Fleetwood Mac should be a five piece band with no Daves!

Gail

aleuzzi · #12 10-13-2006, 03:08 PM

I love Penguin. I remember first listening to it and being genuinely excited by the quality of the songs, especially "Remember Me" and "Night Watch." I also think it's mixed better than Mystery--a little more echo and some distance from the microphones, maybe?

The band and critics tend to dismiss the album because no one wants to discuss Walker or why he was ever in the band. I suppose it's easier to write the whole thing off than consider the LP song by song which, when done, is actually quite a collection.

Yeah "Road Runner" stinks--but is it's presence there enough to bash the entire record?

I agree with chilD that the one genuine complaint here is the record's too short. If the band were short on material, I simply don't see why Chris couldn't have used one or two of her backlogged songs (We now know, for example, "Spare Me" was written one or two year prior to its being recorded on Bare Trees..."It's You I Miss" and "Gone Into the Sun" from Madison Blues set could be likely candidates) to fill in some spots.