Why yes, it is Blues Album of the week time again, I’m glad you asked. This week we go back into the well of Fleetwood Mac and their Then Play On album. The original was released in September 1969, containing 14 songs, this review is based on the 2013 Rhino Records Deluxe Edition. It contains the original 14 songs plus 4 more tunes from the same era. It is also the last album featuring Peter Green, as Mr Green was well on his way down to the depths of mental illness, that would be with him the rest of his life. The 4 “bonus” songs included are “Oh Well” Part 1 and 2, “The Green Manalishi (with the Two-Pronged Crown) and the instrumental “World in Harmony”. Vocals are provided by Peter Green and Danny Kirwan, with Kirwan taking 7 songs and Green with 5. Some highlights include “Coming Your Way”, the delta blues flavored “Show-Biz Blues”, “One Sunny Day”, and of course “Rattlesnake Shake”, this one features Peter’s glorious tone with that subtle out-of-phase sound he got from reverse wiring his Les Paul’s pickups. You can’t wrong with the infectious beat of “Oh Well”. And the future head-banger’s anthem of “Green Manalishi(with the Two-Pronged Crown), which by the way was Peter’s ode to the evils of money. Once again good stuff from Fleetwood Mac.
