Pete, so glad you had "Bare Trees" ranked so highly! For me, it's still my favorite FM album. I think the Bob Welch era (the 'middle era', as you point out), is often ignored or lost between the Peter Green/blues era and the Nicks/Buckingham era. I met Mick Fleetwood once on a flight, mentioned my love for Bare Trees, and I think he was both surprised and pleased!
@@mck7646 Sure, it's all about taste. I never liked Stevie and her era. I wish they had changed their name (much as Genesis should have done the same after Hackett left). Was it the coke? These folks seemingly forgot everything but simple, self-obsessed pop. But again, a lot of people loved it, so they were undoubtedly on to something successful!
@@mck7646 I dont think they were useless albums either, but not worthy to be called FM albums compared to their early stuff. PS I think Kiln House is a great album
Amazing songs, could be my favourite album - the songs are so good. Throwndown, peacekeeper murrow turning over in his grave, bleed to love her, destiny rules, everybody finds out, goodbye baby.......incredible stuff.
Tusk is a huge part of my life. It's a song that my dad would periodically put on the stereo and crank it as loud as the stereo would allow. And my mom and I didn't even mind, because it's pretty epic to hear. Wow, I'm surprised at Say You Will getting some love on here, I love that one as well. Awesome!
Love Tusk! Probably the album I play the most but it’s easy to see how one wouldn’t like it. Has a bit of an experimental and punk vibe on Lindsay’s tunes.
Out of all the albums Fleetwood Mac recorded, "Kiln House" has always been a personal favorite of mine because it has a great combination of Jeremy Spencer's 1950's-style Vintage Rock homages & Danny Kirwan's (excellent) forays into simple, well executed Contemporary Rock
I'm with you. Kiln House has always been an album that I just enjoy listening to for its understanding of how to do soft rock and create sounds that should put any music lover into a good mood.
No surprise that “Rumors” had the number one spot! It’s always been interesting to me how a band as dysfunctional as they were at the time could make such a masterpiece. That goes to show that sometimes, creative and personal tensions in the studio can truly pay off!
Good stuff. Would like to give a shout out to Danny Kirwan here. Future games and Bare Trees to me were really the albums where he was the leader of the band. Bare trees in particular. Love his guitar and lead vocals on those albums. Bob Welch was there, but Danny was the primary guy on those 2
Check out the lead guitar at the end of the song Future Games. That's all Danny Bob wrote the song and does lead locals but the guitar work by Danny on that song is just great.
@@pauladams9287 i may be mistaken but I remembered that is actually Danny and Bob trading off at the end. Bob is doing the jazzy Wes Montgomery sounding parts.
It's too bad that "The Green Manalishi" never made it onto a studio album. Such a great and heavy song. My favorite from the early period Fleetwood Mac.
Its one of the bonus tracks on later reissues of And Then Play On. I know a lot of these albums with the bonus tracks which affects my thinking on ranking them. So I have Kiln House with Dragonfly and Purple Dancer as bonus tracks. I love those songs and they should have been on the original album. Because of that I rank Kiln House higher than Pete put it, but on the original album tracklist Pete probably has it ranked right.
WOW! Tusk at #15??? I always thought that was the most underrated of the "Successful" era. Nonetheless, great list! Always loved your take on bands like this, Pete. Just wanted to say that.
so glad to see the Welch era getting love! everyone I know who's a Fleetwood Mac fan gets really angry with me when I say my favorite album is Bare Trees.
@@neuropete1 Hey Pedro, I wouldn't call Albatross, Man of the World, Green Manalishi, Oh Well and Black Magic Woman boring fartsy blues but rather excellent songs by one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
Two oddities: Christine McVie did the artwork for the Kiln House cover. Two, Peter Green does the (uncredited) extended guitar solo on Night Watch from “Penguin”.
@@Maanebaronen. I suppose you are right, to be honest.You had the Peter Green era, the Bob Welch era and the Lindsey Buckingham era. The Lindsey Buckingham/ Nicks era is the one I can;t get on with, never have and never will, try as I might.
@@anypoxynames Green Era - Hard core blues Welch Era - Progressive / psychedelic rock Buckingham Era - California pop Each one appeals to a certain audience. I dig the first 2 eras.
Legends of Rock! My Top 10: 1- Tango in The Night 2- Mystery To Me 3- Heroes Are Hard To Find 4- Then Play On 5- Future Games 6- Penguin 7- Kiln House 8- Mirage 9- Mr. Wonderful 10- Bare Trees
Oh finally been waiting for this Pete, thanks for doing this! Keep up the good work man. Ranking: 1. Rumors 2. Fleetwood Mac 3. Tango in the Night 4. Bare Trees 5. Then Play On 6. Tusk 7. Mirage 8. Mystery to Me 9. Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac 10. Heroes Are Hard to Find 11. Future Games 12. Behind the Mask 13. Say You Will 14. Penguin 15. Mr. Wonderful 16. Kiln House 17. Time
Sometimes the predictable choice is just unbeatable! Rumors is not just the best Fletwood Mac album but one of the 20-30 greatest albums of all time. Both in terms of quality and in terms of production quality
great show pete here goes 1future games 2bare trees 3 fleetwood mac [white album] 4 rumours 5 mystery to me 6 then play on 7 mirage 8 penguin 9 kiln house 10 mr wonderful 11 tango in the night 12 fleetwood mac debut 13 heros are hard to find 14 say you will 15 tusk 16 behind the mask 17 time this was fun thank you pete
I'm a big Danny Kirwan fan. His guitar tone was really unique. It was haunting even on the rockers. With the great songs Station Man, Tell Me All the Things You Do, and Earl Gray, Kiln House would be a six or a seven for me. All Danny's call co-group members said he had unbelievable talent but drugs and mental problems crippled him and he died in a rescue mission in 2018.
I think the debut album- Fleetwod Mac (on Horizon) and the album Then play on, is their best albums. I love all albums when Peter Green sing, playing guitar ( one of the best guitar player in the british blues-boom epoch) and writing song. Songs like Oh well and Black magi woman .
I understand why people don't get Tusk. You have to appreciate that Lindsey was being extremely creative and trying a different writing approach than having a guitar riff or piano melody and building from there. For instance " what makes you think you're the one" is built around a 4 on the floor SNARE beat - something most wouldn't even think of, much less create a song around. Save Me a Place, is a masterpiece to me. I love that it doesn't go where you expect, I like the uncharted territory aspect of Lindseys Tusk approach. I could understand people saying it sounds unfinished. Whether you think it worked or not is preference, but albums like Sgt Peppers would have never been made if writers were content with a typical formula. Think About Me type songs do have that formula. Warner Brothers probably had a heart attack when they wanted to release a song with an African drumbeat and an unintelligible chant as the first song lol
In my pursuit to hear every song ever recorded, the catalogue of The Mac was a real treat. I'm currently tackling the entire discography of the Rolling Stones and man am I blown away.
The Stones have some real diamonds tucked away in the deep grooves of their LP's. I remember hearing "100 Years Ago" off "Goat's Head Soup" for the first time--- seems like life was never the same after that...
Every song ever recorded? _That_ is an ambitious undertaking. I assume there must be some parameters. I assume for example you're not including Slim Whitman. Classic rock acts? I'm curious...
@@b.g.5869 I'm starting with my top 230 artists, by listening to their studio albums. I've been working at that for several years and am almost caught up with those. After that, I will branch out. Pete really inspired me to get on youtube and talk about music, not as a competitor but as a complimentary channel because I'm big into the stuff Pete doesn't like, haha. Punk, Alternative and Pop rock are my favorites, but I go heavy like SOT from time to time.
@@ChrisNorwood3 Listening to everything ever recorded is a noble goal but you'll never get there. Music is like the universe- endless. It doesn't matter how many songs/albums you listen to, there's always another great one out there you haven't heard yet. It's like trying to meet every person living in Tokyo in one lifetime. It's just not possible. Have fun trying, though. I've been trying for 35 years and it's been a blast.
@@AbbeyRoadkill1 It's a lot of fun trying, and that's what matters. I've started with my top 230 artists, which I've nearly caught up with. And then.....there's about 130 other artists I think I like, but haven't heard much by. 35 years, that's awesome! I just turned 36. Cheers to music discovery.
I've got some collection albums, particularly of the Peter Green era, but my ranking of the original studio albums I have would be... 1. Rumors 2. Then Play On 3. Self-titled 4. Bare Trees 5. Mystery To Me
Yeah I think Future Games is just as good as Bare Trees, 2 best from the Welch era I think. Way better than Penguin or Mystery to Me. I like that era better than Peter Green.
@@rodsmolter5046 Penguin is good. Bob Weston does a great turn on that album. It's just that he's no Danny Kirwan. Christine just sounds so damn 'perfect' on these early albums. For me, I prefer this era.
1. Mystery to Me 2. Bare Trees 3. Future Games 4. Tusk 5. Fleetwood Mac (1975) 6. Rumours 7. Tango in the Night 8. Mirage 9. Heroes Are Hard to Find 10. Then Play On
It took me years to "get" Kiln House but once I did it became one of my favorite FM albums. Jeremy finally broke out of his slide-guitar blues rut, Danny turns in some killer tunes. Everything works, even the country murder song parody. Only thing missing was a Chris song or two, but she was contractually forbidden to officially appear on the LP. There are also numerous fantastic live performances, demos and the Dragonfly/Purple Dancer single from this era.
I just got the 1973-1974 vinyl set that includes a double live album from 1974. Bob Welch era. It's great! My top 10 (1 to 10) is: Rumours Then Play On Bare Trees Penguin Mystery To Me Fleetwood Mac 1975 Future Games Heroes Are Hard To Find Fleetwood Mac 1969 Kiln House
The Bob Welch era is so underrated,my two favorite FM albums are with him "Bare Trees" and "Future Games". Bob Welch was also in a power trio called Paris,worth checking out. We lost him too soon(RIP).
So Many times I watch Pete's videos, I'll pause and go straight to Spotify and listen to a song he mentions. Back and forth, back and forth. He has turned me on to so much good music. Not a Fleetwood Mac song but loved "Twisted".
The Bob Welch era has always been my favorite, I wouldn’t care if I never heard the Rumours album again. Jewel Eyed Judy is a real standout for me from Kiln House, one of their catchiest tunes.
1. Fleetwood Mac 1975 2. Future Games 3. Then Play On 4. Mirage 5. Mystery to me 6. Rumours 7. Tango in the night Hard to rank and compare the different eras. I agree that the Bob Welch era are underrated and overlooked. The Green Manalishi and Man Of The world are two of the most touching songs of all time. Can not get tired of Gypsy and Albatross
I love the meeting of American and British culture. On the '75 white album you have Rhiannon: a song about Welsh folklore written by Stevie. It works perfectly, and set the template for the band's best years.
"Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie"" (2017) could have been the last Fleetwood Mac album if only Stevie Nicks had cared to contribute some new tracks. Mick Fleetwood and John McVie played drums and bass on that album. Fleetwood Mac in 1975-1987 was a very unique band with 3 singer-songwriters at the same time. It's far more common that band has one main songwriter who may also sing his/her own songs.
My favorite band of all time. Like all the albums. Go Your Own Way is probably my favorite song of all time. That song has a special place in my heart. Only listened to Buckingham Nicks era at first but I started listening to the others not too long after and I agree that Bob Welch era is severely underrated
Fleetwood Mac is an all time favorite. Seen them numerous times. Top 10: 1. Rumours 2. Mystery to Me 3. Fleetwood Mac (1975) 4. Then Play On 5. Tango in the Night 6. Bare Trees 7. Behind the Mask 8. Mirage 9. Heroes are Hard to Find 10. Say You Will
I would rank "Tango in The Night" over "Mirage" though!! The "Live" album (which has 2 studio songs) from late 1980 is also been reissued this year with bonus material!!
You are so right about Tusk. Back in the day, it was one of the greatest music disappointments of the year. People were expecting a Rumors 2.0 or at least something close and they didn't get it. Tusk today remains a hard album to get through from start to finish.
Great survey, Pete. Everyone will have a different ranking, based on when they came in but I appreciated your love for Bob Welch. I would add that Danny Kirwan was equally important in the longevity of the band. Between the two of them, they moved FM away from the blues and closer to a singer-songwriter approach with a deeper dive into the mystic.
1) Rumours 2) Then Play On 3) Fleetwood Mac (1968) 4) Fleetwood Mac (1975) 5) Fleetwood Mac in Chicago 6) Tusk 7) Mr. Wonderful 8) Bare Trees 9) Tango in the Night 10) Future Games 11) Klin House 12) Mirage 13) Mystery to Me 14) Heroes Are Hard to Find 15) Penguin 16) Say You Will 17) Behind the Mask 18) Time
English Rose (compilation of old, new and singles) was their second US album release. The "Danny Kirwan era," as I have sometimes called it, went from 1968 to 1972: "English Rose" to "Bare Trees." Check his lead guitar on the live version of "Oh Well" on RU-vid. Or his lead on Welch's "Future Games." "Searching and Fighting for Madge" are both extracted from the much longer "Madge Sessions" -- that is Peter and Danny. Rocking or lyrical, he could play it. Plus he wrote several great songs. "Tell Me All the Things You Do" is terrific on "Kiln House" "Station Man" "Jewel-Eyed Judy," Spencer makes Kiln a lesser album than it might have been.
60s: Then Play On, Fleetwood Mac in Chicago ( Blues Jam at Chess) 70s: Mistery to Me, Fleetwood Mac, Rumours 80s: Tango in The Night, Mirage 90s2000s: The Dance My favourite is Live at Boston Tea Party (1970) but it was released during the 80s
The first 3 albums of the Nicks/Buckingham era have always been my favorites. After that I don’t have any of the others anymore. I do like the song “As Long As You Follow” which was a new track on the greatest hits and I love “Little Lies”. Everything I like after Tusk is basically on that 1988 Greatest Hits.
I think "Station Man" and "Tell Me All The Things You Do" are enough to include Kiln House in the upper third of the catalog. But. That Jeremy Spencer stuff really brings it down. Great show, Pete! Appreciate the Bob Welch era analysis!
Here's My Divided List: 68-74: 1. Then Play On 2. Future Games 3. Bare Trees 4. Mystery To Me 5. Heroes Are Hard To Find 6. Kiln House 7. Fleetwood Mac (1968) 8. Mr. Wonderful 9. Penguin 75-03: 1. Rumours 2. Tango In The Night 3. Fleetwood Mac (1975) 4. Tusk 5. Mirage 6. Behind The Mask 7. Say You Will 8. Time
Again spot on and we don't differ much 1- Then play on 2- rumors 3- Fleetwood Mac 4- Bare Trees 5- Tango in the night 6- mystery to me 7- Chicago 8-.heroes are hard to find 9- future games 10- mr wonderful 11- first 12- mirage 13- penguin 14- behind the mask 15 kiln house 16- tusk 17- say you will 18- time
Finally! Let Me just Say I don't like the Buckingham/Nick's Era. 9. Mr. Wonderful 8. Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac 7. The Pious Bird of Good Omen 6. Kiln House 5. Penguin 4. Bare Trees 3. Future Games 2. Mystery to Me 1. Then Play On I've been wanting to do this for A While!
Don't get me started on the Buckingham-Nicks era of Fleetwood Mac. Some great songs but could never stand Stevie's gurgling baby vocal, and I missed the beautiful tone and lyricism of Peter Green's guitar. Rumours was everywhere in the mid-70s, like a rash, and the birthmark of AOR radio. I quite liked the limbo years of the early 70s but they were treading water after the magic of the original band. Then the Corporation and the marketing men arrived with their consumer rock, and it was all swimming pools and floaty clothes.... I knew I shouldn't have started !
@@PhilBaird1 Completely agree. There was an episode of South Park where they sneak into an army base by pretending to be Stevie Nicks' entourage, and for the part of Stevie they use a goat, which fools everybody. She sure as hell sounds like a goat!
@@Nick-qf7vt Glad someone agrees Nick. That South Park episode sounds spot on. Stevie's not the worst offender but she's definitely got one foot in that tears and snot school of singing. All emotionalism and 'look at poor me' in my millionaire's misery. Life must have been tough. I really love the Peter Green years and feel that it was on the live albums where they really shone. I was sad the day he left us.
Interesting ranking. Tusk has a few duffers alright! I’ve been into FM since Tango in 1987. I worked backwards and love the 1975 to 1987 Anglo American band line up. I never bought anything after Tango. Except deluxe issues of the classic era. I also have the CBS albums and the Reprise box set. Behind the Mask and Time I’ve never heard! Say you will is only FM minus Christine McVie but I don’t have that either.
I am glad you took a little time with Tusk. I remember when it came out and I didn't really get it. When I got older I went back thinking maybe I had grown some and I would get it. It has some good parts but I don't get a lot of it. Your explanation cleared it up. Bob Welch deserved better from the band.
I love to see these segments about bands outside of the metal/hard rock spectrum -- I only started to (really) listen to bands like The Stones, Steely Dan etc later in life, but better late than never when it comes to good music
Back when Tusk was released I was managing a record store. I had numerous customers I came to know well enough through their purchases to be able give or be asked for recommendations with a decent success rate. When Tusk was released I realised it was certainly not Rumours Volume II. By that time we had about 30 pre-orders under the counter for collection which were happily collected. When the regulars came in for their copy I would do the right thing and pull them aside and suggest they listen to it first before purchasing as I didn't think it was their cup of tea. None took my advice and a lot of disappointed faces returned later with varying degrees of disappointment. I also agree that the Bob Welch era has been sadly overlooked. It was to me a stepping stone in musical style to the Fleetwood Mac most people came to know.
I suppose I've gotten used to Stevie's voice, but I remember early on saying, "Someone once told this girl she could sing." And she is influential - how many female singers have made it big since her by singing through their noses?
1. Rumours 2. Fleetwood Mac 1975 3. Mirage 4. Tusk 5. Kiln house 6. Tango in the night 7. Then play on 8. Fleetwood Mac 1968 9. Bare Trees 10. Future games
Pete, hope you've gotten a chance to listen to the new box set that came out last year that covers 1969 to 1974. The albums, especially Future Games and Heroes are Hard to Find have never sounded better. And the bonus live album is amazing! Finally an opportunity to hear Bob Welch playing Peter Green songs, and he is fantastic.
I'm with the Tusk crowd. I really do think it's the best thing they ever did. But Lindsey is my favorite member so that's probably a factor. Gotta agree about the Bob Welch era. Lot of good material. The track Future Games is a stunner.
I have been trying to get into the Peter green stuff. The first couple of albums are straight up blues which is ok but not usually what I gravitate towards. I just do not have the love for “then play on” like Pete and so many others do. It felt like elevator music or something I would put on to help me get to sleep. So far I have enjoyed the Bob Welch stuff a whole lot more. I think I will buy those albums.
Excellent show Pete!! Long time coming but it was worth the waiting. We are eager for your ranking of: Neil Young ( maybe just 60s and 70s), Cheap Trick, Black Crowes, Riverside and Big Big Train.
Would have ranked some of the post 75 albums higher. Especially Tusk. That’s way too low here . These albums were the most popular for a reason. Tango In The Night is better than Mirage too in my opinion. Obviously Rumours is the best one, it’s also one of the best albums of all time.
Another awesome album ranking video Pete,I havent heard much of the Bob Welch era ,I will be listening to that for sure.That Mystery to me album cover is awesome
Top 10 Fleetwood Mac Albums: 10. Heroes Are Hard to Find 💿 9. Future Games 💿 8. Tango in the Night 💿 7. Mirage 💿 6. Mystery to Me 💿 5. Penguin 💿 4. Bare Trees 💿 3. FLEETWOOD MAC 💿 2. Then Play On 💿 1. Rumours 💿
Only recently got into the Peter Green era and now I will hunt down those Bob Welch albums too. My 3 favorite FM albums are of course Rumours, Self Titled and Tango In The Night. I agree 100% with Pete on Tusk.
"Future Games", "Bare Trees" and "Mystery to Me" were my go-to Fleetwood Mac albums for the longest time. Nothing against the Buckingham - Nicks era, in fact I saw them in that configuration live twice in my life. Regarding Peter Green, there is a really strange and somewhat frightening video on youtube put out with the band members describing how a strange German millionaire cult latched onto Peter on one of their tours and then kept him as one of their own. He was never the same afterwards.
Yeah, that incident in Germany is part of the problem but I think more of a symptom than the actual cause. Peter was starting to show his inherited mental illness at this at that point and started gravitating towards that sort of thing, pretty common amoung people with his affliction, which severely aggravated and accelerated it, The combination was pretty deadly.
Also a Welch era fan, and Heroes is my favorite of those LPs (Prove Your Love is just gorgeous)...though Future Games is very close! Great ranking video.
My top ten love the Big Mac 1- Rumours 2- Fleetwood Mac S/T 1975 3- Then Play On 4- Heroes Area Hard to Find 5- Tango in the Night 6- Mystery to Me 7- Bare Trees 8- Tusk 9- Mirage 10- Say you Will
