Fleetwood Mac's debut gig 45 years ago today

[THD]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Ultimate Classic Rock
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/fleet...c-debut-album/

45 Years Ago: Fleetwood Mac’s Self-Titled Debut Released

by Ryan Reed4 hours ago

In light of these standouts, it’s easy to overlook the album’s awkward spots — almost all of which trace back to Jeremy Spencer. The guitarist’s tributes to blues greats like Elmore James and Robert Johnson are by far the least interesting tracks here, and his originals don’t fare much better: The standard 1-4-5 chug of ‘My Baby’s Good to Me’ is redeemed only by his white-lightning slide-guitar. Meanwhile, his vocals are often obtrusive and grating (check the chesty bravado of ‘Cold Black Night’), and his hoarse delivery often sounds like a parody of the legends he honors elsewhere.

Yes well that's his take on it 45 years after the event.! When I first heard it- borrowed from a school pal , it was Jeremy's stuff that stood out! How did he get that guitar to sound like that -I was only sixteen - I'd never heard of ElmoreJames- so I wasn't comparing him with anything The above critic is being very harsh. I still love these songs ,and the way Jeremy plays them but ( if one has to criticise Jeremy it would be for the Elmore numbers on MR Wonderful for being so very similar given that he could have showcased his other talents -on piano for example ) )

With more listening, one began to appreciate Peter's economy and expression ,and one realised what a talent Peter was, but again I'd never heard recordings by BB King orMuddy Waters ,and it was thanks to this album and others around at the time and articles in Beat Instrumental, in which Peter talked about his influences and his heroes, that I and others learned about these people and what wonderful players they were. Then better than that , we saw them live eg Bb * at the FM albert hall concert .
Also over the years I ve spoken to a couple of people who were at thie first ever performance at the Windsor Jazz and Blues fest, and they said it was Jeremy that impressed them . I think a lot of this was to do with whether one had seen Peter with John Mayall, and therefore knew who he was .I certainly hadn't All I had were the stills on the back of the album !

* this was a typo! I of course meant BB ,but I've decided to leave it in ,as I quite like the idea a legendary blues player called B Flat King !