Bob Welch-era compilation?

[Tellurium]

This doesn't exist, as far as I know. If it actually does, I'll be thrilled to bits, so someone please let me know!

Peter Green and Lindsey Buckingham era's both have arseloads of compilations. IMO the Bob Welch era produced some of the Mac's best ever stuff, but several of the albums were a bit choppy, so a compilation would be particularly useful for those who don't want to shell out for everything.

Anyway... I'm just rambling really :lol:... But it'd be nice... Anyone of like mind? Or does he stand alone on this one?

[Almost Simon]

There isnt one but you could always suggest a tracklisting for one. Obviously a sing disk cd so a max of 80 mins. That should cover the albums he was involved with.

Here's mine although it runs from Kiln House upto Heroes Are Hard To Find so not strictly a bob Welch era compilation, I felt the need to create a compilation that covers all bases between the Green and Buckingham/Nicks era's.

Not sure about who actually plays on Purple Dancer and Dragonfly but I feel they are able to be allowed to exist on this compilation.

1. Hypnotised
2. Woman Of 1000 Years
3. Morning Rain
4. Dragon Fly
5. Future Games
6. Earl Grey
7. Come A Little Bit Closer
8. Trinity
9. Tell Me All the Things You Do
10. Emerald Eyes
11. Sunny Side Of Heaven
12. Lay It All Down
13. Why
14. Purple Dancer
15. Show Me A Smile
16. Dust

[chiliD]

Not sure about who actually plays on Purple Dancer and Dragonfly but I feel they are able to be allowed to exist on this compilation.



Mick Fleetwood: drums
John McVie: bass
Christine Perfect: keyboards, vocals
Jeremy Spencer: slide guitar, vocals
Danny Kirwan: lead/rhythm guitar, vocals


My tracklist (starting with Future Games, since the Madison Blues set covers the Kiln House era band): (not sure of timing...but I think it's under 80 minutes)

Sunny Side Of Heaven
Future Games
Spare Me A Little Of Your Love
Sands Of Time
Sentimental Lady
Heroes Are Hard To Find
Woman Of 1000 Years
Revelation
Believe Me
Bermuda Triangle
Child Of Mine
Angel
Dissatisfied
Hypnotized
Dust
Why

[Moz]

I make my own compilations with my favourite songs from each era. :nod:

[DavidMn]

God, Woman Of 1000 Years and Future Games are pure genius!

[SteveMacD]

God, Woman Of 1000 Years and Future Games are pure genius!

That whole album is pure genius.

[aleuzzi]

That whole album is pure genius.

Except Christine's vocals on Morning Rain...

I am one of the biggest Christine fans known to man and think the piano and guitar work on the song are excellent. But, man, did she blow that vocal...The earlier version (called "Start Again") features a far better, more confident performance--but without as great piano and guitar work.

[aleuzzi]

My tracklist (starting with Future Games, since the Madison Blues set covers the Kiln House era band): (not sure of timing...but I think it's under 80 minutes)

Sunny Side Of Heaven
Future Games
Spare Me A Little Of Your Love
Sands Of Time
Sentimental Lady
Heroes Are Hard To Find
Woman Of 1000 Years
Revelation
Believe Me
Bermuda Triangle
Child Of Mine
Angel
Dissatisfied
Hypnotized
Dust
Why

I too would start with Future Games and end with Heroes. Here's my dream compilation. It's not perfect, and I'm inclined to change my mind about a number of my choices, but what the hell...

Woman of a Thousand Years
Remember Me
Sentimental Lady
Sometimes
Spare Me a Little
Child of Mine
Miles Away
Did You Ever Love Me
Prove Your love
Future Games
Hypnotized
Bad Loser
Bermuda Triangle
Believe Me (from Record Plant recording)
Trinity
Dust
Why

[chiliD]

Miles Away

ACK!!! I knew I'd leave out a killer song!! Great choice!

[SteveMacD]

Except Christine's vocals on Morning Rain...

I am one of the biggest Christine fans known to man and think the piano and guitar work on the song are excellent. But, man, did she blow that vocal...The earlier version (called "Start Again") features a far better, more confident performance--but without as great piano and guitar work.

Yeah, her voice was rough back then, but I still love it.

[chriskisn]

I really am the only one who would add The Derelict in here aren't I?

I'm not a fan of the Danny & Christine stuff from this period, but Bob Welch did some fantastic stuff, he could almost have his own compilation.

[slipkid]

What about "Show Me A Smile"? That was the tectonic plate shift song that changed FM into an American pop band.

[aleuzzi]

I really am the only one who would add The Derelict in here aren't I?

Yes, I think so!

[David]

I really am the only one who would add The Derelict in here aren't I?No, that's my favorite. But who am I, you might ask. Well, I'll tell you -- but later.

The Derelict & Prove Your Love are really my favorites.

[chriskisn]

No, that's my favorite. But who am I, you might ask. Well, I'll tell you -- but later.

The Derelict & Prove Your Love are really my favorites.

Yes Yes Yes! Another person who likes The Derelict!

I'm a Dave Walker fan though, so my view of this song is probably distorted by that...

[SteveMacD]

See, I'd try to make it a 2 CD set. I don't know what I'd put on it at this point.

I'd really love to have a video compilation from this era.

[Moz]

Here's mine (in no particular order, somewhat grouped by album)...

The Ghost
Sunny Side of Heaven
Spare Me A Little of Your Love
Sentimental Lady
Bermuda Triangle
Coming Home
Angel
Bad Loser
Born Enchanter
Bare Trees
Believe Me
Future Games
Hypnotized
Just Crazy Love
KEEP ON GOING!
Miles Away
Why
Bright Fire
Morning Rain
Sands of Time
Night Watch

There's others but I'm only going by what's on my iPod.

[Almost Simon]

See, I'd try to make it a 2 CD set. I don't know what I'd put on it at this point.

:confused: A 2cd set would allow you to put nearly ALL the tracks from that era on it. It's only 5 albums between Future Games and Heroes. So wouldn't really be a best of compilation, would it??? :cool:

[David]

:confused: A 2cd set would allow you to put nearly ALL the tracks from that era on it. It's only 5 albums between Future Games and Heroes. So wouldn't really be a best of compilation, would it??? :cool:I've noticed that oddity about fans of the pre-1975 Macs: You ask them to name their favorites, & they rattle off every last track the band recorded in that era.

[David]

Yes Yes Yes! Another person who likes The Derelict! I sing it & play it on the piano all the time. It's even on my MP3 player at the gym -- it's perfect rhythmically for leg extensions.

I posted its chords on the Ledge about five years ago.

[aleuzzi]

I sing it & play it on the piano all the time. It's even on my MP3 player at the gym -- it's perfect rhythmically for leg extensions.

I posted its chords on the Ledge about five years ago.

As a song, I find it very satisfying. It just seems entirely out of place on Penguin--or any Mac record.

[aleuzzi]

I've noticed that oddity about fans of the pre-1975 Macs: You ask them to name their favorites, & they rattle off every last track the band recorded in that era.

Mac fans are crazy people. Myself included. :]:]

[SteveMacD]

:confused: A 2cd set would allow you to put nearly ALL the tracks from that era on it. It's only 5 albums between Future Games and Heroes. So wouldn't really be a best of compilation, would it??? :cool:

What, you wouldn't want a few choice live cuts?

[Almost Simon]

What, you wouldn't want a few choice live cuts?

I guess you could have a few live tracks but then you'd be duplicating studio tracks on the same compilation.

Are there that many live professionally recorded concerts from the 1971-1974 era??

[chriskisn]

As a song, I find it very satisfying. It just seems entirely out of place on Penguin--or any Mac record.

Hmm...depends on your view of the Mac really. I just wish he had been given more of a chance to prove himself.

Sure, it didn't fit in with Bob Welch's dreamy stuff or Christine's pop tunes, but hey, the band has always been a mix of all kinds of music. There has never been a "Mac style".

Then again, that's just my opinion. I kinda like all those obscure Mac members... :laugh:

[chiliD]

I posted its chords on the Ledge about five years ago.


I'm thinking it's about time for an encore. :nod: Let's see those chords again, please! :thumbsup:

[chiliD]

IAre there that many live professionally recorded concerts from the 1971-1974 era??


We don't know...that's the point. (Of course, there are a few of 1974, but earlier than that? :shrug: )

[chiliD]

I've noticed that oddity about fans of the pre-1975 Macs: You ask them to name their favorites, & they rattle off every last track the band recorded in that era.

Well, that's no different than Rumours era fans...especially the Chiffonheads...they rattle off every damned Stevie Nicks tune, whether it's listenable or not.
:lol:

[SteveMacD]

I guess you could have a few live tracks but then you'd be duplicating studio tracks on the same compilation.
Not necessarily. They could put stuff like Get Like You Used To Be and I'd Rather Go Blind on there, as well as some interesting versions of Peter Green songs (especially The Green Manalishi).

But, really, I have no real issue with duplication. Songs like Believe Me have live versions that warrent inclusion. The live version with Weston (from Midnight Special) had the greatest ending ever, and the 1974 Record Plant version is pure Power Pop at its finest. Spare Me A Little Of Your Love from 1972 with Danny is killer. And, Bob's musings on Future Games and/or Bermuda Triangle would be worth it, too. The studio albums are great, but they don't really capture the personality of this era, which is why the live recordings are so essential.

Are there that many live professionally recorded concerts from the 1971-1974 era??
We don't know...that's the point. (Of course, there are a few of 1974, but earlier than that? :shrug: )
Well, there's the Seattle '72 set that was on radio. I'm sure there's a master of that somewhere. (If not, they could always use Pro Tools to work audio magic.)

I'd also be curious if there are any rehearsal tapes out there, similar to the Madison Blues stuff from this era.

And for crying out loud, we need the Fleetwood Mac version of Good Things.

[Neb-Maat-Re]

every damned Stevie Nicks tune, whether it's listenable or not.


You mean there are...no, wait, I'll remain silent on that point.

[Neb-Maat-Re]

Am I the only one who would include Forever?

I love that Afro-rock feel that pre-dates all those '80s "let's got to Africa and make an album" albums like Paul Simon and that other bloke, big tall English guy, what's-his-name?

(David Essex did one too, not that anyone noticed).

[SteveMacD]

Not a big fan of Forever, namely because of the drum machine.

[nicepace]

I would include "Homeward Bound" on a Welch-era compilation. (I'd include it on a compilation of all of Fleetwood Mac, for that matter.) I absolutely love the piano on that song and how it is really a lead instrument, along with the guitar. I wish there were more like that, with Chris playing her keyboards as a lead instrument. I also think the song itself is superb. It has such emotional honesty and clarity, just as much as, or even more than, some of her better-known love songs.

Of course, the Welch era being my favorite era of the band, I would find it hard to get rid of most of the songs. The only songs I could drop easily are the two Dave Walker songs, which I skip anyway when I listen to the 'Penguin' album.

[nicepace]

You mean there are...no, wait, I'll remain silent on that point.

Oh, c'mon, say what you're thinking ... the Nicksfans aren't reading a thread with the title "Bob Welch-era compilation." It has nothing for them. (lol)

And I agree about "Forever" .... great tune.

[michelej1]

Oh, c'mon, say what you're thinking ... the Nicksfans aren't reading a thread with the title "Bob Welch-era compilation." It has nothing for them. (lol)


Oh, there's a little something: the Welch and Nicks worlds have collided once or twice.


Michele

[nicepace]

Oh, there's a little something: the Welch and Nicks worlds have collided once or twice.

True ... with very excellent results, I might add.

[Wouter Vuijk]

Neb-Maat-Re
Addicted Ledgie

Am I the only one who would include Forever?

I love that Afro-rock feel that pre-dates all those '80s "let's got to Africa and make an album" albums like Paul Simon and that other bloke, big tall English guy, what's-his-name?

(David Essex did one too, not that anyone noticed).
I would include "Homeward Bound" on a Welch-era compilation. (I'd include it on a compilation of all of Fleetwood Mac, for that matter.) I absolutely love the piano on that song and how it is really a lead instrument, along with the guitar. I wish there were more like that, with Chris playing her keyboards as a lead instrument. I also think the song itself is superb. It has such emotional honesty and clarity, just as much as, or even more than, some of her better-known love songs.


I remember way back that I really loved Paul Simon (and Art Garfunkel) on "Homeward Bound".
:sorry:

[Moz]

Oh, c'mon, say what you're thinking ... the Nicksfans aren't reading a thread with the title "Bob Welch-era compilation." It has nothing for them. (lol)


Hey, some Stevie fans are fans of pre-1975 Mac. Not very many, but there's a select few. :shrug:

[snoot]

Hey, some Stevie fans are fans of pre-1975 Mac. Not very many, but there's a select few. :shrug:

Ha more than you know. All it takes is for most to sit down and listen to the pre-1975 Mac and they convert, surprisingly quickly. :p * truth *

PS. I appreciate all three eras, as opposed to one or another, so I triple my pleasure and triple my fun. :thumbsup:

[Madelow]

Hello SteveMacD-- I believe I'm in agreement with you. Although I enjoy Christine's Welch-era music, her songwriting and singing both improved after Linds & Stevie joined the band. Still can't figure out if it's the songs themselves, or the arrangement and production values. But, you can certainly hear the difference, beginning with"Warm Ways" on the White Album. Don't get me wrong, there are some wonderful Christine songs pre-Rumours, but the majority of her best work is clearly during the Buckingham-Nicks time. Just my humble opinion, of course.:wavey: Best always, Madelow.

[chiliD]

We don't know...that's the point. (Of course, there are a few of 1974, but earlier than that? :shrug: )

Well, there's the Seattle '72 set that was on radio. I'm sure there's a master of that somewhere. (If not, they could always use Pro Tools to work audio magic.)

DUH!!! I should've known that. Thanks for reminding me, that one totally escaped my mind. One of the major significant points of that is for the reason of Danny (!!!) taking the lead vocal on "Black Magic Woman".


There's also a live show from just a bit earlier than Seattle...from Germany, I seem to recall.

And, Bob himself on his website has a MTM era live "Black Magic Woman"

I'd also be curious if there are any rehearsal tapes out there, similar to the Madison Blues stuff from this era.

And for crying out loud, we need the Fleetwood Mac version of Good Things.

HUZZAH!!!!

[jbrownsjr]

Yeah, her voice was rough back then, but I still love it.

I tend to like her voice rough on that song.... I liked the "underground circuit" piano and vocal sound they produced back then... it was more underground rock oriented than a pop vocal....

Just my 2 cents...

[jbrownsjr]

Mick Fleetwood: drums
John McVie: bass
Christine Perfect: keyboards, vocals
Jeremy Spencer: slide guitar, vocals
Danny Kirwan: lead/rhythm guitar, vocals


My tracklist (starting with Future Games, since the Madison Blues set covers the Kiln House era band): (not sure of timing...but I think it's under 80 minutes)

Sunny Side Of Heaven
Future Games
Spare Me A Little Of Your Love
Sands Of Time
Sentimental Lady
Heroes Are Hard To Find
Woman Of 1000 Years
Revelation
Believe Me
Bermuda Triangle
Child Of Mine
Angel
Dissatisfied
Hypnotized
Dust
Why

May I add The City to this... I love that jam....

[TrueFaith77]

That whole album is pure genius.

Just started reading this thread. But I had to jump in to say that you are SO RIGHT! It's one of my favorite albums of all time!

DUH!!! I should've known that. Thanks for reminding me, that one totally escaped my mind. One of the major significant points of that is for the reason of Danny (!!!) taking the lead vocal on "Black Magic Woman".
HUZZAH!!!!


I would sell my soul to the woman of a 1000 years AND the black magic woman to hear that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Speaking of, where are these Live recordings during the Welch era? Were they released on vinyl??



My tracklist (starting with Future Games, since the Madison Blues set covers the Kiln House era band): (not sure of timing...but I think it's under 80 minutes)

Sunny Side Of Heaven
Future Games
Spare Me A Little Of Your Love
Sands Of Time
Sentimental Lady
Heroes Are Hard To Find
Woman Of 1000 Years
Revelation
Believe Me
Bermuda Triangle
Child Of Mine
Angel
Dissatisfied
Hypnotized
Dust
Why

And I'm listening to this playlist right now. Thanks ChiliD.

[SteveMacD]

Hello SteveMacD-- I believe I'm in agreement with you. Although I enjoy Christine's Welch-era music, her songwriting and singing both improved after Linds & Stevie joined the band. Still can't figure out if it's the songs themselves, or the arrangement and production values. But, you can certainly hear the difference, beginning with"Warm Ways" on the White Album. Don't get me wrong, there are some wonderful Christine songs pre-Rumours, but the majority of her best work is clearly during the Buckingham-Nicks time. Just my humble opinion, of course.:wavey: Best always, Madelow.

I dunno if I completely agree. I think Spare Me A Little Of Your Love and Why easily stand up to anything she ever did with Stevie and Lindsey. Also, I don't hear too many major differences between her songs themselves on the white Fleetwood Mac album from the earlier work. After that, I hear some differences, and I think a lot of that can be attributed to moving to L.A., leaving John (and thus having new subject matter), success, and spending much more time on the road (which can be a major boost to creativity).

That having been said, I think it would only make sense that it would sound better. Not even taking into account that they had two singers who had a jones for vocal harmony and found ways to have their voices interact with Christine's, they spent a much greater time producing the albums with that band. They recorded Bare Trees in a week, but spent three months recording white Fleetwood Mac album. Every album since has take a minimum of a year to record.

[SteveMacD]

I would sell my soul to the woman of a 1000 years AND the black magic woman to hear that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Woman Of A 1000 Years sounds pretty much just like the record (and the audio from that show wasn't so great). As much as I love the song, the live version didn't really knock me out. Black Magic Woman with Danny on lead was pretty killer. Between the two boots, the songs that stood out for me were: Tell Me All The Things You Do, Future Games, Spare Me A Little Of Your Love, Get Like You Used To Be, Black Magic Woman, Oh Well and Trinity (all but Trinity being from the Seattle show). Otherwise, the new songs sounded about the same as the album versions. The German show is okay, but the band sounded a bit timid. They rocked on the Seattle show.


Speaking of, where are these Live recordings during the Welch era? Were they released on vinyl??
Some of the stuff from the 1974 Record Plant radio broadcast was released on vinyl (Will The Real Fleetwood Mac Stand Up), but I really don't know of any others.

[snoot]

Posted by chiliD
Bob himself on his website has a MTM era live "Black Magic Woman"

Care to point out exactly where we can find this little pearl? I looked but didn't spot it. Sounds like just the thing to turn doodyhead onto! :p

Posted by jbrownsjr
May I add The City to this... I love that jam....

Somebody's on the ball. :thumbsup:

Posted by SteveMacD
The German show is okay, but the band sounded a bit timid. They rocked on the Seattle show.

I take it you haven't acquired the set from the Palace Theatre in Waterbury?

Posted by TrueFaith77
Speaking of, where are these Live recordings during the Welch era?

Many of these bootlegs can be found at ThrownDown.net in the form of torrents. Then it's just a matter of finding a seeder with the pipes and TLC [YMMV]. Enrollment is required.

[snoot]

Madelow:
Although I enjoy Christine's Welch-era music, her songwriting and singing both improved after Linds & Stevie joined the band. Still can't figure out if it's the songs themselves, or the arrangement and production values. But, you can certainly hear the difference, beginning with"Warm Ways" on the White Album. Don't get me wrong, there are some wonderful Christine songs pre-Rumours, but the majority of her best work is clearly during the Buckingham-Nicks time.

SteveMacD:
I dunno if I completely agree. I think Spare Me A Little Of Your Love and Why easily stand up to anything she ever did with Stevie and Lindsey. Also, I don't hear too many major differences between her songs themselves on the white Fleetwood Mac album from the earlier work.

Why stop there? Beyond Spare Me A Little Of Your Love and Why, you could easily cite gems like Show Me A Smile, Dissatisfied, Remember Me, Did You Ever Love Me, Believe Me, The Way I Feel, Heroes Are Hard To Find and Come A Little Bit Closer. Cristine's dark inflection on Keep On Going is as good as anything she ever did pre or post B&N imo, though that may partly be due to BW's provocative lyrics and a great arrangement into the bargain. Her harmony accents also helped take some of those mid era Mac tunes over the top, starting with Mission Bell in 1970. She was pure gold in that realm on MTM.

Madelow: Still can't figure out if it's the songs themselves, or the arrangement and production values.

Chris penned a lot of gems in the late era, but she also had 20 years to compose them before her Mac days were done. I'd say her 5 years per-B&N - as highlighted above - stand up quite admirably against the maturation which followed. Those songs laid the groundwork for the flowering you speak of. There was no meteoric curve or breakthrough one can readily point to, but certainly more gloss and sheen as time went along - occasionally bordering on MOR - plus a lot more material co-written by others (a la musical partners).

[B]SteveMacD: They recorded Bare Trees in a week, but spent three months recording white Fleetwood Mac album.

BT in a week?? Source details or fail.

Also what was the time frame for the FM white album = February-April '75 @ Sound City in LA?

[SteveMacD]

Madelow:
SteveMacD: They recorded Bare Trees in a week, but spent three months recording white Fleetwood Mac album.

BT in a week?? Source details or fail.
We've played this before, and you remember what happened?

During one of our rare weeks off, early in 1972, we cut our second album in six months, Bare Trees, in a few days at a studio near Wembly with our usual engineer, Martin Birch.

-Mick Fleetwood, My Life and Adventures In Fleetwood Mac, pages 105-106.

[snoot]

We've played this before, and you remember what happened?

What can I say, the monkey's back for more punishment. :D Actually this time, as opposed to Lindsey's prophesized guitar army (of our dreams) which still blows me away, I'm just setting you up for an easy kill in the name of pimpin'. It's rare to find any recording specifics behind the Bare Trees production on the Net. Then again, when it comes to Mick's recollections, they're not always picture perfect either. I'm still trying to make sense of this one, as found elsewhere:

"We recorded the one with the dog and the dustbin on the front [PGFM, the Mac's first album] at Decca's studio off Regent Street, and it was probably done in about three days, all live. We set our PA up in the studio and played it like a gig. We were immediately successful. Our first album didn't quite get to Number 1 but it was way up in the charts for a whole year. Yet it was nearly all covers."

- Mick Fleetwood from Debauchery! How Fleetwood Mac Survived It, Q Magazine, May 1990

Decca's Regent Sound A studios on Soho's Regent Street? I always had it PGFM was done at CBS Studios on New Bond. Wasn't it during their Mayall tenure that they called Decca Studios home, to wit the facility on Broadhurst Gardens in West Hampstead? Beyond that, didn't Mike Vernon first offer PGFM to Decca as a co-production, but they turned it down since Vernon and Green were insistent that Blue Horizon trump their label, and thus CBS entered the picture? Questions, Answers? Answers, Questions!

In any case, I'm a bit surprised BT was cut in but "a few days" time (though I always heard it was done in an expeditious manner), in fact I almost find a span that short hard to believe considering what they produced. If that's really the case, that's quite an accomplishment, as I never heard of Kiln House or Future Games being brought to full circle quite that quickly. Based on MF's comment, this most likely can be dated from January 1972 then (and not late '71) as the album was released in March (afaik), and from the Wembley area merely confirms it was done at De Lane Lea Music Centre.

EDIT: If you (or anyone else) have any additional specifics regarding the Bare Trees production from published or online sources, kindly furnish them.

[sharksfan2000]

Decca's Regent Sound A studios on Soho's Regent Street? I always had it PGFM was done at CBS Studios on New Bond. Wasn't it during their Mayall tenure that they called Decca Studios home, to wit the facility on Broadhurst Gardens in West Hampstead? Beyond that, didn't Mike Vernon first offer PGFM to Decca as a co-production, but they turned it down since Vernon and Green were insistent that Blue Horizon trump their label, and thus CBS entered the picture? Questions, Answers? Answers, Questions!
Every source I checked (including Vernon himself, in the liner notes for Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967-1969) agrees that the first album was recorded at CBS Studios.

You're right that Mick Fleetwood's recollections of events are not always a reliable source, but in this case he's backed up on at least part of his story. Huw Pryce, the band's first roadie, is quoted in Martin Celmin's biography of Peter Green "...it was Jeremy who had the idea to play through the PA to get a live blues sound in the studio. The first album was mostly DI'd [direct input into the tape deck] but for Mr. Wonderful we had speakers and amps all over the studio and Mike Vernon positioning microphones."

In any case, I'm a bit surprised BT was cut in but "a few days" time (though I always heard it was done in an expeditious manner), in fact I almost find a span that short hard to believe considering what they produced. If that's really the case, that's quite an accomplishment, as I never heard of Kiln House or Future Games being brought to full circle quite that quickly. Based on MF's comment, this most likely can be dated from January 1972 then (and not late '71) as the album was released in March (afaik), and from the Wembley area merely confirms it was done at De Lane Lea Music Centre.

EDIT: If you (or anyone else) have any additional specifics regarding the Bare Trees production from published or online sources, kindly furnish them.
No further info on how long the sessions lasted, but Peter Lewry's book "Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Recording Sessions 1967-1997" shows the Bare Trees recording as being done in "early 1972" at De Lane Lea. Interestingly, it looks like the album was released in the US before the UK - March in the US and not until August in the UK.

Lewry's book states that Future Games was recorded in June-August 1971 at Advision Studios in London. Is that the same as what you've heard about these sessions, snoot? What we really need here is for Bob Welch to join in the discussion here...are you out there, Bob? :D

[snoot]

Every source I checked (including Vernon himself, in the liner notes for Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967-1969) agrees that the first album was recorded at CBS Studios.

Thanks for checking your sources sharky. Where Mick got that Decca recollection is anyone's guess (again, possibly confusing things as they were once constituted in their Mayall world origins). If anyone knows of something we're missing here, kindly speak up!

You're right that Mick Fleetwood's recollections of events are not always a reliable source, but in this case he's backed up on at least part of his story. Huw Pryce, the band's first roadie, is quoted in Martin Celmin's biography of Peter Green "...it was Jeremy who had the idea to play through the PA to get a live blues sound in the studio. The first album was mostly DI'd [direct input into the tape deck] but for Mr. Wonderful we had speakers and amps all over the studio and Mike Vernon positioning microphones."

Jeremy for the win! Interesting concept, no?

No further info on how long the sessions lasted, but Peter Lewry's book "Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Recording Sessions 1967-1997" shows the Bare Trees recording as being done in "early 1972" at De Lane Lea. Interestingly, it looks like the album was released in the US before the UK - March in the US and not until August in the UK.

Lewry's book states that Future Games was recorded in June-August 1971 at Advision Studios in London. Is that the same as what you've heard about these sessions, snoot? What we really need here is for Bob Welch to join in the discussion here...are you out there, Bob? :D

Yes Bob, please don't be shy! lol Welch would set us all on our heads I'm afraid, then double back and slap us around some more for good measure (all the while lovin' it, but then, so would we). :p

As for Bare Trees initially being released stateside, this is true as by that point that's where everything mattered in Macland. The Brits and continental Europeans had largely turned their back on FM by FG, finding it hard to let go of the PG era sound. The Yanks had a far easier transition however, most having been weaned on the post-TPO sound, where the fusion of blues, folkish-rock, psychedelia and rock n roll all sort of came together in the evolving Mac machine. In the US, most went backward to discover those early Mac blues releases. Recall they barely charted here, with only TPO nearing Top 100 status (and doing no better than +Top 100 territory remains a far cry from commercial bragging rights).

As for Future Games, yes I have always had it as being recorded between June through July 1971 at Advision, and August for the trailer. The trailer in this case being the instrumental What A Shame that the band quickly threw together at the insistence of the blue suits at Reprise who felt that seven tracks was low-balled and inappropriate. To show you how relatively meager that production was in terms of plentitude, they had nothing else to hand over! So back to the studio they went to cut that 2 minute ditty, which imo basically shows its 2 minute worth. That's also why that track got the band's complete authorship, since it was basically done on the fly in the studio in (relatively uninspired) jam fashion.

This to me is but another reason Bare Trees seems so remarkable, in that it came but 6 months after FG (whereas FG came a full year after Kiln House), and was recorded remarkably quickly. Be that as it may, FG + BT make really nice bookends to the Kirwan era, and showcase what potential that 21 year old lad with Boilerhouse origins had to offer.

First Green, then Spencer, and soon Kirwan in their wake. *sigh* :(