Bare Trees turns 53

[Macfan4life]

April 22, 1972 Fleetwood Mac’s “Bare Trees” debuted at No.175 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart, eventually reaching No. 70. It’s the final Fleetwood Mac album to feature Danny Kirwan and only pre-Buckingham Nicks era album certified Platinum in the US.

That statement was from the Fleetwood Mac twitter page. We all have had this debate about which pre-Nicks albums went platinum and bands must pay to have an updated certification. I thought by post Dance I remember hearing Mystery To Me went platinum but apparently not according to Fleetwood Mac. For some reason Bare Trees is always updated but the other albums are not. Maybe because Sentimental Lady becoming a big hit in the States in the late 70s made it go platinum?

[Villavic]

Bare Trees was the only CD I bought from the Early Years era. I knew it contained Sentimental Lady, but the main reason for buying it was Spare Me A Little.

[BLY]

I really enjoy Bare Trees. The Danny years along with Bob and Christine produced some really great songs.

[FuzzyPlum]

Wow...53!!!
Its one of their best albums...any era

[WalkAThinLine.]

April 22, 1972 Fleetwood Mac’s “Bare Trees” debuted at No.175 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart, eventually reaching No. 70. It’s the final Fleetwood Mac album to feature Danny Kirwan and only pre-Buckingham Nicks era album certified Platinum in the US.

That statement was from the Fleetwood Mac twitter page. We all have had this debate about which pre-Nicks albums went platinum and bands must pay to have an updated certification. I thought by post Dance I remember hearing Mystery To Me went platinum but apparently not according to Fleetwood Mac. For some reason Bare Trees is always updated but the other albums are not. Maybe because Sentimental Lady becoming a big hit in the States in the late 70s made it go platinum?

The only albums from the pre-Rumours era lineup to receive a certification in the United States are Future Games (Gold), Bare Trees (Platinum), and Mystery to Me (Gold). Interestingly, Penguin and Heroes are Hard to Find lack any certification despite charting higher than any of these albums and having comparable durations in the Billboard 200. In the UK, the BPI was not created until the early 1970s, but the first Fleetwood Mac Album has sold roughly 900,000 copies, meaning that it would possess at least a 3 times platinum status there.

[Macfan4life]

The only albums from the pre-Rumours era lineup to receive a certification in the United States are Future Games (Gold), Bare Trees (Platinum), and Mystery to Me (Gold). Interestingly, Penguin and Heroes are Hard to Find lack any certification despite charting higher than any of these albums and having comparable durations in the Billboard 200. In the UK, the BPI was not created until the early 1970s, but the first Fleetwood Mac Album has sold roughly 900,000 copies, meaning that it would possess at least a 3 times platinum status there.
Yes. I once did a deep dive trying to find out about Heroes and found nothing. I think you are correct there is no certification of the album which is frustrating since it was their highest charting album pre-Nicks.
I also could never find any certification for Chris's 1984 solo album which I assume would be gold but maybe not.
I remember hearing that right after the Dance these vintage Mac albums plus Rumours had a big spike in sales. The band missed an opportunity back then. Imagine releasing the Mirage concert on the heals of the Dance.

[aleuzzi]

The only albums from the pre-Rumours era lineup to receive a certification in the United States are Future Games (Gold), Bare Trees (Platinum), and Mystery to Me (Gold). Interestingly, Penguin and Heroes are Hard to Find lack any certification despite charting higher than any of these albums and having comparable durations in the Billboard 200. In the UK, the BPI was not created until the early 1970s, but the first Fleetwood Mac Album has sold roughly 900,000 copies, meaning that it would possess at least a 3 times platinum status there.

The eventual commercial successes of Bare Trees and Mystery to Me are unsurprising because “Spare Me,” “Hypnotized,” and “Why” featured so heavily in their ‘75 and ‘76 shows. Plus Welch’s later solo success with “Sentimental Lady” didn’t hurt.

However, Future Games is a bit surprising since they didn’t play any of its songs in the ‘75/‘76 tours, and it was a comparatively low charter when it was released. Still, it’s a lovely, exquisite record, and I imagine most listeners can appreciate its relaxed pace and clean, bright arrangements. Plus Samuel Graham gave it a glowing review in his illustrated history of the band from ‘77.

[SteveMacD]

Should have been:

Child of Mine
The Ghost
Homeward Bound
Sunny Side of Heaven
—
(Danny’s Chant intro)/Bare Trees
Sentimental Lady
Spare Me A Little
Trinity
Dust

[moon]

Hi there! Don't know if it's my favourite one from those days, but it was the first one I heard when I was introducing myself into de FM's world...And it really impressed me, as I like it from the very first time.
With a very autumn cover, it always gave me the impression of a "black and white" album, with no colours while recording. A very abstract impression, maybe I'm the only one who understand it!

But talking about the songs, of course the last one (which is not a song itself) is the only low point. The rest, is art. True art. Sentimental Lady was the very well-known one, but Sunny Side Of Heaven was the track I love the most. It made me take my guitar and play it, apart from all the Lindsey's work I was learning at that time. So I must thank to Bare Trees for wake up my love for the guitar playing too!

Happy Birthday, Bare Trees! Thanks for musicalize my autumns!!

[FuzzyPlum]

Hi there! Don't know if it's my favourite one from those days, but it was the first one I heard when I was introducing myself into de FM's world...And it really impressed me, as I like it from the very first time.
With a very autumn cover, it always gave me the impression of a "black and white" album, with no colours while recording. A very abstract impression, maybe I'm the only one who understand it!

But talking about the songs, of course the last one (which is not a song itself) is the only low point. The rest, is art. True art. Sentimental Lady was the very well-known one, but Sunny Side Of Heaven was the track I love the most. It made me take my guitar and play it, apart from all the Lindsey's work I was learning at that time. So I must thank to Bare Trees for wake up my love for the guitar playing too!

Happy Birthday, Bare Trees! Thanks for musicalize my autumns!!

Is it just me?....I love Thoughts on a Grey Day. It really is kinda arty. I think its a lovely way to end an album. I'd never want to lose it. Its just so quaint.

[Macfan4life]

Is it just me?....I love Thoughts on a Grey Day. It really is kinda arty. I think its a lovely way to end an album. I'd never want to lose it. Its just so quaint.
No. I love it too. It fits the album cover. Thoughts on a grey day. Those trees so bare but so beautiful.