Fleetwood Mac – Best Of 1969-1974

4 stars. Groove floor is noisy between tracks. Clearly not audiophile quality but a very enjoyable listen. Some sibilance in the vocals (Hypnotized for example). Pressing is very good. Flat, centered and free of pops and crackles. Mastering is variable as per track due to era and studio. A great collection of FM before the Buckingham/Nicks era. A nice addition to the collection. Recommended.

A really good completion of a hugely overlooked period of Fleetwood Mac’s history. Not a single duff track. A nice solid pressing with no surface noise.

I can not agree more with the two previous posts, particularly the snubbing of Bob Welch as an integral part of the band's history. If anyone out there isn't already a fan of BW who hasn't heard the Heroes Are Hard To Find album, treat yourself to what is arguably his finest work. It's the only FM album with him playing ALL the guitar parts. Bob Weston, who plays all the lead guitars on Penguin & Mystery To Me, is also criminally omitted for his contributions to those two albums. There is one track from each of those LPs that REALLY should have been included: "Revelation" from Penguin, a smoldering jam that rides the edge of completely bursting into flames, featuring a rare, brief, but top-notch, bass solo by John McVie amidst a swirl of guitars and chugging rhythm. The other is "Just Crazy Love" from MTM, a Christine McVie pop GEM that I believe would have put FM into the top 40 (if not top 10) at that time of it's release had the band only had the promotion it needed from the label. I am of the opinion that "Just Crazy Love" or "Bad Loser" is more worthy of inclusion than the borderline syrupy "Prove Your Love".

With a" Best Of" set , there are always, why is this song not on this album. Especially with a band with longevity, and more importantly , different incarnations . Then there's Fleetwood Mac . It has always felt that there was the Great Peter Green and then the mega successful Mac led by Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks and nothing in-between. Danny Kirwan and Bob Welch are left out of the narrative. Heck, Welch wasn't even elected with the rest of the band into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

I will quaval a little. There is no way to hit all the high points even from 69 to 74. However leaving off Kirwan's Dust, or Bob Welch's Bermuda Triangle or Christine McVie's Why leaves me personally wanting. You might have your favorites missing as well

Still this 2 record sets mostly gets it right. With the best of Peter Green's contributions to Then Play On opening Side One, we get two monster songs from Danny Kirwan from the Kiln House follow-up album. Station Man is a stone cold classic. Jewel Eyed Judy, an ode to long time associate Judy Wong, is just as good.

Although I've always liked Sunny Side of Heaven instrumental, Dust or Child Of Mine would have been better representation of the Bare Trees album. I'm not really a fan of the album Penguin, but Did You Ever Love Me is really the one highlight on the album. Having a 70's style Lead Singer per say, in Dave Walker was a misstep.

How's the record quality? Well with cB in the deadwax , you're almost guaranteed a fantastic experience, and Chris Bellman doesn't disappoint. The Sea Foam colored vinyl is nice, or you can get it in standard black vinyl. My Sea Foam green vinyl is really quiet. Allowing nothing but the music to shine. Do yourself a favor, and get a copy. You won't be sorry you did.

this collection is a long time coming. Hopefully the Bob Welch years will finally get their due in the history of this great band. It is criminal that he was not put in the Hall of Fame with everyone else.