Fleetwood Mac The Pious Bird Of Good Omen

Fleetwood Mac's first compilation is a hodgepodge of tracks from their first two albums, singles and sessions where Peter, John and Mick backed up Chicago piano legend Eddie Boyd. Standout tracks include "The Sun Is Shining," "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues," "Albatross" and "Black Magic Woman."
After the spin-off of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in the summer of '67, Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood seemed to have said goodbye to rough-brushed island rock 'n' roll. For this, the newly founded band Fleetwood Mac first indulged in the black blues, whose playing style was so strongly based on that of the role models that the magazine Eye spoke of an "almost ridiculous mimicry". But the chosen course led in the right direction and already in 1969, in the year of release of "The Pious Bird Of Good Omen", the hit parade barometer showed the group ahead of the Beatles and Stevie Wonder at the top end of the scale.
Of course, from the cover version of Little Willie John's "Need Your Love So Bad", which was prepared with creamy string sounds, and other bluesmetrically layered songs speaks intentionally American accent, which does not miss its impressive effect. But the highly independent sound ideas of the group are realized in famous pieces such as the weightless gliding "Albatross" and the "Black Magic Woman" fused from Latin and blues elements. The verdict of having to deal with the best British blues ever played (allmusic.com) is something you like to join when listening.

Features:

• 180g Vinyl

Musicians:

• Peter Green, vocals, guitar, harmonica
• Jeremy Spencer, vocals, slide-guitar, piano
• Danny Kirwen, guitar
• John McVie, bass
• Mick Fleetwood, drums

Selections:

Side A
1. Need Your Love So Bad
2. Coming Home
3. Rambling Pony
4. The Big Boa
5. I Believe My Time Ain't Long
6. The Sun Is Shining
Side B
1. Albatross
2. Black Magic Woman
3. Just The Blues
4. Jigsaw Puzzle Blues
5. Looking For Somebody
6. Stop Messin' Round