We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
From the iconic album art to the solid music within…”Bare Trees”, the sixth LP from Fleetwood Mac delivers the goods. Unfortunately it was the last album for guitarist Danny Kirwan who suffered a nervous breakdown during the subsequent tour and was fired from the band.
Kirwan wrote five of the songs on the record including some really tasty ones. “Dust” and “Child of Mine” are solid and “Danny’s Chant” lets him pull out the wah-wah pedals for a 3 minute jam, but for me the two standout Kirwan tracks are the title track and the instrumental “Sunny Side of Heaven”.
Bob Welch has some winners as well including “Sentimental Lady”, which he re-recorded for his solo LP in 1977. This version may not be as radio friendly but it’s better. Just a great pop song. He also delivers the hynotic “Ghost”, which he later re-recorded as well.
Here is the “French Kiss” version… the better version is below…
Christine McVie gives us two nice tracks…the rocking “Homeward Bound” in which Kirwan & Welch’s layered guitars mix well with McVie’s keyboards. And the ballad “Spare Me A Little Of Your Love” which could have easily been a hit for the 1975 version of the band.
“Spare Me A Little Of Your Love” was covered by both Johnny Rivers and Jackie DeShannon….
Mick Fleetwood and John McVie are as solid as they come to hold down the bottom.
This is a really good record. It’s too bad that Kirwan couldnt be around in the future, although obviously that might have changed music history as we know it.
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