Bare Trees

Last updated

Bare Trees
Baretreescd.jpg
Studio album by
Fleetwood Mac
Released6 March 1972 [1]
Recorded1971–1972
Studio De Lane Lea, London
(apart from track 10, recorded at Mrs Scarrott's home in Hampshire)
Genre
Length36:58
Label Reprise
Producer Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac chronology
Greatest Hits
(1971)		Bare Trees
(1972)		 Penguin
(1973)

Bare Trees is the sixth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released in March 1972. It was their last album to feature Danny Kirwan, who was fired during the album's supporting tour. The album peaked at number 70 on the US Billboard 200 chart dated 3 June 1972. [3]

Contents

In the wake of the band's success with the Buckingham/Nicks line-up in the mid-1970s, Bare Trees returned to the US Billboard 200 chart at number 182 dated 6 September 1975. [4] The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 9th 1988. [5]

Mick Fleetwood was particularly impressed with Kirwan's contributions to the album, saying that "Danny had the chops with layering techniques, and the ability to know what's right and wrong in the studio". [6]

Track notes

"Child of Mine" alludes to Kirwan's biological father not having been part of his life (Kirwan was his stepfather's surname). "The Ghost" was later re-recorded by Bob Welch for His Fleetwood Mac Years and Beyond, Vol. 2 in 2006, but this version was only available on the digital edition. The flute noises on "The Ghost" were triggered from a mellotron played by Christine McVie. [7] "Homeward Bound" alludes to Christine McVie's road weariness and desire "for a proper night's rest in her own bed", according to Fleetwood. [8] "Sunny Side of Heaven" is an instrumental, which was later performed with Lindsey Buckingham on guitar for some shows in the mid-1970s. [9]

"Bare Trees" shares a theme with both the album's cover photography by John McVie and the closing poem "Thoughts On a Grey Day." "Sentimental Lady" was released as a single, and was later re-recorded by Welch (with Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, and Buckingham backing him) for his solo album French Kiss . Welch recorded the song again for His Fleetwood Mac Years & Beyond in 2003. "Danny's Chant" features the use of wah-wah guitars. The track is largely an instrumental, although it does feature rhythmic, wordless vocals from Kirwan.

"Spare Me a Little of Your Love" became a staple of the band's live act from 1972 to 1977. It was also covered by Johnny Rivers on his studio album New Lovers and Old Friends in 1975. [10] Jackie DeShannon recorded a version for her 1972 album Jackie although this did not make the final cut and was not released on her All the Love: The Lost Atlantic Recordings album. [11] The lyrics for "Dust" were taken from the first two verses of a poem of the same title, written by Rupert Brooke in 1910. [12] Unlike W. H. Davies, who received a credit for the words to "Dragonfly", Brooke was not credited.

The final track on the album, "Thoughts on a Grey Day", is not a Fleetwood Mac song, but a monaural recorded poem written and read by an elderly woman, Mrs. Scarrott, who lived near the band's communal home, 'Benifold', in southern England. Bob Welch, however, said in a Penguin Q&A in 1999, "The spoken thing Mick does about 'Trees so bare' was written, I think, by this sweet old lady that lived near Benifold ... Mick did an affectionate 'schtick' on her to close the album." [13]

Five of the ten tracks, comprising the majority of the music featured on the album, were written by Kirwan. "Trinity", another Kirwan song recorded at the sessions, was subsequently released in 1992 on the 25 Years – The Chain box set in stereo. [14] The 2020 remastered edition of Bare Trees from the 1969 to 1974 CD box set features the track in an alternate mono mix, alongside the US single mix of "Sentimental Lady", and a live recording of "Homeward Bound".

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Creem B+ [16]
Rolling Stone (favourable) [17]

Commercial performance

Bare Trees debuted at number 175 on US Billboard 200 chart dated 22 April 1972. [18] The album reached its peak at number 70 on the chart dated 3 June 1972, after being on the chart for seven weeks. [19] The album ultimately spent a total of 27 weeks on the chart. [20]

On 9 February 1988, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over a million copies in the United States. [5]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Child of Mine" Danny Kirwan Kirwan5:09
2."The Ghost" Bob Welch Welch3:58
3."Homeward Bound" Christine McVie C. McVie3:20
4."Sunny Side of Heaven"Kirwaninstrumental3:10
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
5."Bare Trees"KirwanKirwan5:02
6."Sentimental Lady"WelchWelch4:35
7."Danny's Chant"KirwanKirwan3:16
8."Spare Me a Little of Your Love"C. McVieC. McVie3:44
9."Dust"KirwanKirwan2:41
10."Thoughts on a Grey Day"Mrs. ScarrottMrs. Scarrott1:46
2020 Remastered bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
11."Trinity" (Mono Version)KirwanKirwan4:08
12."Sentimental Lady" (Single Version)WelchWelch3:02
13."Homeward Bound" (Live)C. McVieC. McVie6:51

Personnel

Fleetwood Mac

Additional personnel

Production

Charts

Chart (1972)Peak
position
Australian Kent Music Report [21] 37
US Billboard 200 [22] 70

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [23] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleetwood Mac</span> British-American rock band

Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band formed in London in 1967 by guitarist and singer Peter Green. Green recruited drummer Mick Fleetwood, guitarist and singer Jeremy Spencer and bassist Bob Brunning, with John McVie replacing Brunning a few weeks after the band's first public appearance at the 1967 National Jazz & Blues Festival in Windsor. The band became a five-piece in 1968 with the addition of guitarist and singer Danny Kirwan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsey Buckingham</span> American guitarist (born 1949)

Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American musician, record producer, and the lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the rock band Fleetwood Mac from 1975 to 1987 and 1997 to 2018. In addition to his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has released seven solo studio albums and three live albums. As a member of Fleetwood Mac, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Buckingham was ranked 100th in Rolling Stone's 2011 list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Buckingham is known for his fingerpicking guitar style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Fleetwood</span> British musician and actor (born 1947)

Michael John Kells Fleetwood is a British musician, songwriter and actor. He is the drummer, co-founder, and leader of the rock band Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood, whose surname was merged with that of the group's bassist John "Mac" McVie to form the name of the band, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Fleetwood Mac in 1998.

<i>Rumours</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Rumours is the eleventh studio album by the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 4 February 1977 by Warner Bros. Records. Largely recorded in California in 1976, it was produced by the band with Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut. The recording sessions took place as the band members dealt with breakups and struggled with heavy drug usage, both of which shaped the album's direction and lyrics.

<i>Fleetwood Mac</i> (1975 album) 1975 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac is the tenth studio album by the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 11 July 1975 in the United States and on 1 August 1975 in the United Kingdom by Reprise Records. It is the band's second eponymous album, the first being their 1968 debut album, and is sometimes referred to by fans as the White Album. It is the first Fleetwood Mac album with Lindsey Buckingham as guitarist and Stevie Nicks as a vocalist, after Bob Welch departed the band in late 1974. It is also the band's last album to be released on the Reprise label until 1997's The Dance; the band's subsequent albums until then were released through Warner Bros. Records, Reprise's parent company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Welch (musician)</span> American musician (1945–2012)

Robert Lawrence Welch Jr. was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who was a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974. He had a successful solo career in the late 1970s. His singles included "Hot Love, Cold World", "Ebony Eyes", "Precious Love", "Hypnotized", and his signature song, "Sentimental Lady".

<i>Heroes Are Hard to Find</i> 1974 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Heroes Are Hard to Find is the ninth studio album by the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 13 September 1974. This is the last album recorded with Bob Welch, who left the band at the end of 1974. It was the first Fleetwood Mac studio album recorded in the United States, in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Kirwan</span> British rock musician (1950–2018)

Daniel David Kirwan was a British musician and guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972. He released three albums as a solo artist from 1975 to 1979, recorded albums with Otis Spann, Chris Youlden, and Tramp, and worked with former Fleetwood Mac colleagues Jeremy Spencer and Christine McVie on some of their solo projects. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1998.

<i>Future Games</i> 1971 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Future Games is the fifth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 3 September 1971. It was recorded in the summer of 1971 at Advision Studios in London and was the first album to feature Christine McVie as a full member. This album was also the first of five albums to feature American guitarist Bob Welch. "He was totally different background – R&B, sort of jazzy. He brought his personality," Mick Fleetwood said of Welch in a 1995 BBC interview, "He was a member of Fleetwood Mac before we'd even played a note."

<i>Kiln House</i> 1970 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Kiln House is the fourth studio album by British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 18 September 1970 by Reprise Records. This is the first album after the departure of founder Peter Green, and their last album to feature guitarist Jeremy Spencer. Christine McVie was present at the recording sessions and contributed backing vocals, keyboards and cover art, although she was not a full member of the band until shortly after the album's completion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Weston (guitarist)</span> British guitarist (1947–2011 or 2012)

Robert Joseph Weston was a British rock guitarist, who was a member of Fleetwood Mac in the early 1970s. He also recorded and performed with a number of other musicians, including Graham Bond, Long John Baldry, Murray Head, Sandy Denny, and Danny Kirwan.

<i>Penguin</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Penguin is the seventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released in March 1973. It was the first Fleetwood Mac album after the departure of Danny Kirwan, the first to feature Bob Weston and the only one to feature Dave Walker.

<i>Mystery to Me</i> 1973 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Mystery to Me is the eighth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 15 October 1973. This was their last album to feature Bob Weston. Most of the songs were penned by guitarist/singer Bob Welch and keyboardist/singer Christine McVie, who were instrumental in steering the band toward the radio-friendly pop rock that would make them successful a few years later.

<i>French Kiss</i> (Bob Welch album) 1977 studio album by Bob Welch

French Kiss is the solo debut by former Fleetwood Mac singer/guitarist Bob Welch. The songs, with the exception of "Sentimental Lady", were intended for a projected third album by Welch's previous band, Paris. However, the group fell apart in 1977 before recording could begin. So instead, Welch used these songs for his debut solo album.

<i>Live</i> (Fleetwood Mac album) 1980 live album by Fleetwood Mac

Live is a double live album released by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac on 5 December 1980. It was the first live album from the then-current line-up of the band, and the next would be The Dance from 1997. The album was certified gold by the RIAA in November 1981. A deluxe edition of the album was released on 9 April 2021.

<i>25 Years – The Chain</i> 1992 box set by Fleetwood Mac

25 Years – The Chain is a box set by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac originally released on 24 November 1992. The set contains four CDs, covering the history of the band from its formation in 1967 to 1992. The set features four new tracks as well as several previously unreleased studio and live tracks from the archives, while some of the classic tracks were included in different and new mixes. The four new songs were "Paper Doll", which was recorded earlier than the others as it was written by and recorded with Stevie Nicks and Rick Vito, both of whom had left the band in 1991, "Love Shines" and "Heart of Stone", both Christine McVie songs, and "Make Me A Mask", contributed by then-former member Lindsey Buckingham. "Love Shines" was released as a single to promote the box set in the UK, whereas "Paper Doll" was the single in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentimental Lady</span> 1972 single by Bob Welch

"Sentimental Lady" is a song written by Bob Welch. It was originally recorded for Fleetwood Mac's 1972 album Bare Trees, but was re-recorded by Welch on his debut solo album, French Kiss, in 1977. It is a romantic song, originally written for Welch's first wife. Welch recorded it again in 2003 for his album His Fleetwood Mac Years & Beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragonfly (Fleetwood Mac song)</span> 1971 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Dragonfly" is a song written by British rock musician Danny Kirwan with lyrics taken from a poem by Welsh poet W. H. Davies. It was originally recorded by Kirwan's band Fleetwood Mac in 1970, and became the first UK single released by the band after the departure of their frontman Peter Green. It was also their first single with Christine McVie as an official member of the group. By the time the song had been released, guitarist Jeremy Spencer had left the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh Well (song)</span> 1969 song by Fleetwood Mac

"Oh Well" is a song by British rock band Fleetwood Mac, released in 1969 and composed by vocalist and lead guitarist Peter Green. It first appeared as a single in various countries in 1969 and subsequently appeared on US versions of that year's Then Play On album and the band's Greatest Hits album in 1971. The song was later featured on the 1992 boxed set 25 Years – The Chain, on the 2002 compilation album The Best of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, and on the 2018 compilation 50 Years – Don't Stop.

References

  1. ↑ "RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America .
  2. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (14 January 2023). "Thinking About Tomorrow Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate . Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Billboard 200 - June 3rd 1972". Billboard . Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "Billboard 200 - September 6th 1975". Billboard . Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  5. 1 2 "RIAA Certifications - Fleetwood Mac". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  6. ↑ Farber, Jim. "Fleetwood Mac's Forgotten Hero". Music Aficionado. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "Bob Welch Q&A Session, November 1999". www.fleetwoodmac.net. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  8. ↑ Fleetwood, Mick; Bozza, Anthony (October 2014). Play On (first ed.). New York, NY: Little Brown and Company. pp. 136–137. ISBN   978-0-316-40342-9.
  9. ↑ Doerschuk, Bob. "From the Archive: Christine McVie". KeyboardMag. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  10. ↑ "Johnny Rivers - New Lovers and Old". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "All the Love: The Lost Atlantic Recordings | Rhino". www.rhino.com. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "148. Dust. Rupert Brooke. Modern British Poetry". Bartleby.com. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "The Penguin Q&A Sessions: Bob Welch, November 8–21, 1999". The Penguin. 21 November 1999. Archived from the original on 10 January 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  14. ↑ Lewry, Peter (1998). Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Recording Sessions 1967–1997. Blandford. p. 52. ISBN   0-7137-2724-1.
  15. ↑ Mason, Stewart. "Bare Trees – Fleetwood Mac". AllMusic . Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2006.
  16. ↑ Christgau, Robert (August 1972). "The Christgau Consumer Guide". Creem . Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  17. ↑ Scoppa, Bud (8 June 1972). "Fleetwood Mac Bare Trees > Album Review". Rolling Stone . No. 110. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  18. ↑ "Billboard 200 - April 22, 1972". Billboard . Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  19. ↑ "Billboard 200 - June 3, 1972". Billboard . Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Chart History - Fleetwood Mac". Billboard . Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  21. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  22. ↑ "Fleetwood Mac Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "American album certifications – Fleetwood Mac – Bare Trees". Recording Industry Association of America.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.