Fleetwood Mac - Bare Trees
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On this episode, we discuss Fleetwood Mac’s sixth album, 1972’s Bare Trees. This album was released during the period between co-founder Peter Green's departure from the band and Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nick's arrival and is easily the most overlooked and underappreciated period in Fleetwood Mac's long history. This period marks a tumultuous time for the band, full of dizzying personnel changes and exploration of new musical directions away from their blues-based beginnings into what would ultimately become one of the most popular bands ever.
Fleetwood Mac is no stranger to drama, and the story of this album is no exception. Guitarist Bob Welch (who would later find success as a solo artist) and keyboardist Christine McVie (nee Perfect) each contributed songs that provide a glimpse into the pop direction the band would take in subsequent albums. However, the unsung leader of the band for this album was a 22-year-old guitarist named Danny Kirwan. While issues with alcohol and his erratic temper would eventually see him fired from the band while on tour in support of this album, Bare Trees is a testament to Kirwin’s talent as a songwriter, a singer, and above all, an unbelievably exceptional and one of a kind guitarist.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
We mentioned Mick Fleetwood’s early band Peter B's Looners, but neglected to mention an even earlier band: The Cheynes. Here is a 17 year old Mick Fleetwood drumming with the Cheynes in the 1965 British short film Mods & Rockers.
One of Mick Fleetwood’s first band was Shotgun Express, featuring a young Rod Stewart of vocals. Listen to their single “If I Could Feel the Whole World Turn.'“
Watch an early live performance of the blues heavy version of Fleetwood Mac (pre-Danny Kirwin), featuring Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer on guitar, and of course the solid rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood on drums and John McVie on bass.
Listen to “Fleetwood Mac,” the instrumental song that (along with the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie) gave the band its name.
Watch some pretty nifty footage of Peter Green and Danny Kirwan rehearsing at Peter Greens home.
Fleetwood Mac’s second LP, released in 1968, was called Mr. Wonderful in the UK and featured a naked Mick Fleetwood on the cover. The US version featured some Danny Kirwin tunes that were not on the original UK release. As such, the album was re-titled English Rose in the US, and swapped a nude Mick Fleetwood for one in drag on the cover.
And here is some live footage of the triple guitar attack of Danny Kirwin, Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer performing “Like Crying” from the LP Then Play On.
Watch Fleetwood Mac perform “Albatross,” the UK’s biggest selling rock instrumental of all time on British TV in 1970.
The Bare Trees era lineup of Fleetwood Mac.
(Pictured L to R) Danny Kirwin, John McVie, Bob Welch, Mick Fleetwood, and Christine McVie.
Bob Welch rerecorded “Sentimental Lady” off of Bare Trees for his first solo LP, 1977’s French Kiss. Mick Fleetwood played drums on the rerecording and Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham sang back up. Buckingham also played guitar and was responsible for the arrangement of the song. This version (some, like us, would say an inferior version) of the song reached the Top 10 on both the U.S. Pop and Adult Contemporary charts. Watch the official promo video for the Welch solo version below.
