Record Reviews

FLEETWOOD MAC ~ PETER GREEN`S FLEETWOOD MAC BLUE HORIZON 516443 ~ UK ~ Blues 1st album from 1968. Peter Green`s ride to the top of the UK blues revival of the late 60`s was swift and almost Hollywood like. When the young Jewish lad was chosen by John Mayall as a replacement for Eric `the God` Clapton as the lead guitarist for the Bluesbreakers, blues fans were all shook up. But it took just one legendary album with Mayall to kick Green to stardom. When Green left Mayall to form Fleetwood Mac with two other Bluesbreakers alumini (Mick Fleetwood - drums and John McVie - bass), the expectations were extremely high. Fleetwood chose to record for the Blue Horizon label owned by legendary blues producer Mike Vernon. The debut album recorded in late 1967 was released in 1968 to overwhelming applause from the blues community and has been considered a classic ever since. Essential!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

FLEETWOOD MAC ~ MR. WONDERFUL (EXPANDED EDITION) BLUE HORIZON 516444 (Barcode: 5099751644422) ~ UK ~ Blues Recorded: 1968 Released: 2004 2nd album. To create a follow up to the sensational debut album is usually a very tough task for any group, but Fleetwood Mac seemed to have no problem with recording another masterpiece. With the dual lead guitar talents of Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer, who also wrote most of the music (which meant they didn`t need to play any blues standards), there was plenty of talent and enthusiasm to go around. On this album they added piano (Christine Perfect, later to be McVie, `stolen` from the rival blues group Chicken Shack) and a small horn section. This is timeless music.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

FLEETWOOD MAC ~ THE PIOUS BIRD OF GOOD OMEN BLUE HORIZON 516445 (Barcode: 5099751644521) ~ UK ~ Blues Recorded: 1969 3rd album by Fleetwood MacFind albums by this artist. In fact this is not a "proper" album, as when the group announced their intention to departure from Blue HorizonFind albums on this label, the label simply released all the existing material recorded by the group in the meantime, which included the timeless "Black Magic Woman" and of course the #1 single "Albatross", which is one of the greatest instrumentals ever recorded. Although a collection of sorts, this album includes some of Fleetwood Mac´s greatest acheivements, which makes it another essential addition to any blues collection.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

FLEETWOOD MAC ~ BLUES JAM IN CHICAGO VOL.1 BLUE HORIZON 516446 ~ UK ~ Blues First part of a marathon jam session arranged during the New Year 1968/1969 Fleetwood Mac US tour. All this music was recorded in one day (January 4th 1969) at the legendary Chess studios in Chicago, and this was an incredible opportunity for the Fleetwoods to meet and to jam with some of their heros and legendary blues figures, such as Otis Span and Willie Dixon. The result is of course stunning and fortunately documented here for posterity.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

FLEETWOOD MAC ~ BLUES JAM IN CHICAGO VOL.2 BLUE HORIZON 516447 ~ UK ~ Blues Second part of a marathon jam session arranged during the New Year 1968/1969 Fleetwood Mac US tour. All this music was recorded in one day (January 4th 1969) at the legendary Chess studios in Chicago, and this was an incredible opportunity for the Fleetwoods to meet and to jam with some of their heros and legendary blues figures, such as Otis Span and Willie Dixon. The result is of course stunning and fortunately documented here for posterity.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

FLEETWOOD MAC ~ THE ORIGINAL BLUE HORIZON 516448 ~ UK ~ Blues 4th album from 1971, which in fact is a collection of previously unreleased studio tracks recorded in 1967 and 1968 before even their first album was released. Peter Green and the Fleetwoods are in peak form riding through a series of blues standards and some originals. This is a fascinating document of their early days. Not to be missed by any (early) Fleetwood Mac fan!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

CHICKEN SHACK ~ THE COMPLETE BLUE HORIZON SESSIONS BLUE HORIZON 673494 ~ UK ~ Blues Recorded: 1968 - 1970 British producer and blues enthusiast Mike VernonFind albums by this artist started the Blue HorizonFind albums on this label label in 1965 in order to release some American blues recordings and soon after also original British blues Artists appearing on the scene as a result of the British Blues Revival, which happened in the late 1960’s. In 1967 the label signed a distribution deal with a major (CBSFind albums on this label) and took off. Their first act was the excellent group Chicken ShackFind albums by this artist, soon to be followed by no other than Fleetwood MacFind albums by this artist. Between 1967 and 1970 Chicken Shack recorded some of the best and most interesting British blues for the label, all of which is collected here, including of course their four albums: 40 Blue Fingers Freshly Packed & Ready To ServeFind albums with this title (recorded 1968), O. K. Ken?Find albums with this title (recorded 1968), 100 Ton ChickenFind albums with this title (recorded 1969) and AcceptFind albums with this title (recorded 1970). Led by Stan WebbFind albums by this artist, a virtuoso blues guitarist, and featuring the talents of Christine PerfectFind albums by this artist (who was to defect after the first two albums and join Fleetwood Mac after marrying one of their members) they played some of the tastiest and most well developed white blues material ever. The first two albums are pure blues and the next two show increasing rock tendencies, still very much blues based of course. This beautiful Box Set is an absolute must for every blues lover and an indispensable piece of the British blues history.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 3 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

EDDIE BOYD ~ THE COMPLETE BLUE HORIZON SESSIONS BLUE HORIZON 676968 (Barcode: 828767696829) ~ USA ~ Blues Recorded: 1967 - 1968 Released: 2006 US Blues Giant Eddie BoydFind albums by this artist hails from the Mississippi Delta. Like many of his Blues companions, he left the South and settled in Chicago in the early 1940’s, where he developed his original style as pianist and singer, but mostly as a gifted composer of many Blues standards, universally performed all over the world today. In 1965 Boyd decided to leave the US, deeply disenchanted by the segregation and racism still prominent there at the time, and settled in Europe, first in Belgium and then in Finland, where he died in 1994. While in Europe, his career flourished both as a performer and a recording artist. Among his many recordings, the sessions he recorded in 1967-1968 for the UK label Blue Horizon (owned and headed by one of the most important Blues producers Mike VernonFind albums by this artist) stand out as truly remarkable. At that time the greatest UK Blues band Fleetwood MacFind albums by this artist was practically the Blue Horizon “hose” band and accompanied many musicians on their recording sessions. So here it is – some outstanding blues music performed by the Master Eddie Boyd on piano / vocals and Fleetwood Mac (Peter GreenFind albums by this artist – guitar, John McVieFind albums by this artist – bass and Mick FleetwoodFind albums by this artist – drums) supporting him with passion and vigor. For a Blues fan it does not get much better.

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OTIS SPANN ~ COMPLETE BLUE HORIZON SESSIONS BLUE HORIZON 82290 (Barcode: 828768229026) ~ USA ~ Blues Recorded: 1968 - 1969 Released: 2006 This album collects all the recordings by US Blues pianist / vocalist Otis SpannFind albums by this artist recorded for the British Blue HorizonFind albums on this label label owned by producer and Blues connoisseur Mike VernonFind albums by this artist, who was one of the great heroes behind the scenes of the British Blues revival in the mid-1960. Since the British Blues group Fleetwood MacFind albums by this artist also recorded for Blue Horizon, the group met Spann during their 1969 US tour and befriended him, leading to Spann participating on the Fleetwood Mac´s "Blues Jam At ChessFind albums with this title" album recorded during that tour as well as Fleetwood Mac guitarists Peter GreenFind albums by this artist and Danny KirwanFind albums by this artist and bassist John McVieFind albums by this artist playing on Spann´s album "The Biggest Thing Since ColossusFind albums with this title", which is included here in its entirety and with many bonus tracks. Just a year after these sessions took place Spann fell victim to cancer, robbing the Blues fans of any opportunity to hear more of his superb work. This album is classic Blues at its best and an essential part of any serious Blues collection. Highly recommended!

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