Audio CD review:
Fleetwood Mac - Bare Trees

Fleetwood Mac - Bare Trees

Band: Fleetwood Mac Title: Bare Trees Rating: Release Date: 1990-10-25 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Child of Mine 2: The Ghost - Fleetwood Mac, Welch, Bob 3: Homeward Bound - Fleetwood Mac, McVie, Christine 4: Sunny Side of Heaven 5: Bare Trees 6: Sentimental Lady - Fleetwood Mac, Welch, Bob 7: Danny's Chant 8: Spare Me a Little of Your Love - Fleetwood Mac, McVie, Christine 9: Dust 10: Thoughts on a Grey Day - Fleetwood Mac, Mrs. Scarrot

These Trees Bare Fruit With their 1971 LP: "Future Games" a new path was taken by these seasoned veterans of music. By the release of this 1972 record, the mighty Mac had gone through many changes. They had all but abandoned the: 'Heavy' Blues that they were famous for playing, and toned their music down into melodic Folk/Dreamscapes that drifted into new and different places of seashores and wispy breezes. The guitar was as brilliant as ever with Danny Kirwan and American, Bob Welsh's tasty and spooky lead runs. "Bare Trees" the 1972 Record by Fleetwood Mac is one of their very best from the: "Middle Period" of FM {After Peter Green and before the arrival of Buckingham/Nicks. } There was a problem here, Danny Kirwan, was now the frontman and center of the Group. He was very wary of the Spotlight, and was near the edge emotionally, not your average Rock Star, by any means. With ten selections here, 5 of them are Danny's, Bob Welch has 2, and the ever wonderful Christine McVie penned 2 as well. The final cut is a poem by Mrs. Scarrot called: "Thoughts On A Grey Day" which fits the Album's mood perfectly, as this record is about colors and dark shades. It's the songs that make: "Bare Tress" such a great record. "Child Of Mine" is a Rocker from Danny, that takes it's musicial cues from Peter Green, as you can almost feel him in these grooves. "The Ghost" is one of those tunes from Bob, that fill a certain mood, with lot's of echo and a haunting flavor, laid-back and cool. Christine is up to bat with: "Homeward Bound" and it's an uptempo rocker with great piano and organ {Cowbell, included at no extra cost!} "Sunny Side Of Heaven" is an instrumental from Danny, and it is a bit Cinematic in scope {well, I see pictures when I listen to it!} The Title Track: "Bare Trees" is one of Danny's finest compositions, the guitar interplay here is fantastic. "Sentimental Lady" is Bob Welch's most famous song. This one would hit the charts more than once, and help him to establish a Solo career, after leaving Fleetwood Mac in 1974. Christine, scores again with: "Spare Me A Little Of Your Love" another great song from a great writer, Christine was the secret weapon of Fleetwood Mac as she always delivered quality material to the Big Mac. Danny's, final track is called: "Dust" and it's a mellow Folk/Rocker with more of that 'Spooky' double-tracked guitar, and lot's of echo in his voice, this sound is common to Fleetwood Mac music in 1971-72, and it's a very distinctive sound that suits the Band well. At The end is Mrs. Scarrot's reading of her poem: "Thoughts On A Grey Day", and that's is all, as "Bare Trees" comes to a close. This is one of Fleetwood Mac's better recordings, and the last one to feature Danny. As this is still only 1972, there would be so much more Drama to this story called: "Fleetwood Mac" over the next three and a half decades that were to follow this LP entitled: "Bare Trees. " Four Stars. . Gorgeous album... amazon. Watch Video Here: http://www. amazon. com/review/R22PWJPT5CFZWF My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician (check me out on Amazon!) and retro music enthusiast. If you enjoyed this review make sure to check out my Amazon user profile to check out my other reviews. I am always up for making new friends and discussing the music I love!!! . A hidden gem Post British Blues band and yet pre mega super band with Stevie and Lindsey in the lineup. This is a very overlooked album from the "middle years" of Fleetwood Mac. The album does feature Christine McVie who delivers big with Homeward Bound (nothing like the Simon & Garfunkel song) and Spare Me A Little Of Your Love. Perhaps the main attraction on this album is an earlier version of Bob Welch's Sentimental Lady which he would record as a solo artist for a hit a few years later. I like this early version better as it sounds more stripped down or "bare" compared to the slick production it was given for a late 70's sound. Sentimental Lady is mostly what Welch has become known for over the years, but he delivers another great song here with a sort of brooding yet still upbeat track called The Ghost. His smoky, almost Kermit-like vocals work very well in the songs he is featured in. Danny Kirwan get the title track as well as a great acoustic number called Dust. This is one of the best tracks on the album, and I've been surprised that it doesn't show up on compilations. Really, I've only ever seen Sentimental Lady appear anywhere else, and I think that's a travesty because all of the songs I've mentioned in this review deserve to be heard. The album only pales in comparison to some of the enormous hits produced by other Fleetwood Mac albums. If you didn't know who this band was and had nothing else to compare it to, I think it would stand to be received much more favorably. I have always regretted seeing this album lost as a sort of middle child in the Fleetwood Mac family. It deserves much better. For a start, it should be listened to and judged on its own merits; not compared to other Fleetwood Mac albums. . A fine recording In some ways, it's an oddity -- between the earlier blues-band and the later breakout popsters, it captures some of the finest playing and songwriting Mac has ever produced. This is the first Fleetwood Mac recording that I listened to, and it captured me immediately, way back when. I particular like Christine McVie (or Perfect, if you prefer, not sure when she switched names), her husky controlled voice works so well on several of these tracks. Highly recommended. Darker Fleetwood Mac I like Bob Welch's work on this one. Lovely guitar work and moody melodies make this very different than the Fleetwood Mac that would soon surface with personnel changes. You can see a complete list of all Fleetwood Mac discography, or go back to the Fleetwood Mac tabs