Future Games

Last updated
Future Games
Fleetwood Mac - Future Games.jpg
Studio album by
Fleetwood Mac
Released3 September 1971
RecordedJune–August 1971
Studio Advision, London
Genre
Length42:22
Label Reprise
Producer Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac chronology
Kiln House
(1970)		Future Games
(1971)		 Bare Trees
(1972)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Christgau's Record Guide B [3]

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 [4] 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." [5]

Contents

The album peaked at number 91 on the US Billboard 200 chart dated 18 December 1971. [6] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2000. [7]

Background

After founder and original bandleader Peter Green departed Fleetwood Mac in May 1970, the remaining members recorded the album Kiln House , with bassist John McVie's wife Christine Perfect being a major collaborator during the sessions. She was soon promoted to full-time membership as the band's keyboardist, and began writing and singing her own material with them. While the band was touring the Kiln House album, guitarist and vocalist Jeremy Spencer abruptly quit the band in February 1971 to join the Children of God, a Christian new religious movement founded by David Berg. Fleetwood Mac held auditions for a replacement during the summer and eventually selected Bob Welch after hearing his demo tape. [8]

Without Spencer's Chicago blues and 1950s rock and roll leanings, the band moved further away from blues and closer to the melodic pop sound that would finally break them into America four years later. After the band completed the album and turned it in, the record label said that it would not release an album with only seven songs, and demanded that they record an eighth. "What a Shame" was recorded hastily as a jam to fulfill this request. [9]

Welch's primary guitar at the time was a Gibson ES-345, which he played on the record along with a Fender Stratocaster. [10]

Track notes

There is an early version of "Morning Rain" with the title "Start Again", as recorded in a BBC session on 5 January 1971. [11]

"What a Shame" featured saxophone from Christine McVie's brother John Perfect whose son Dan later co-produced and featured as guitarist/co-writer on McVie's 2004 album In the Meantime .

The title track, written by then-newcomer Bob Welch, [12] was later re-recorded for his 1979 solo album The Other One and again for His Fleetwood Mac Years & Beyond in 2003. The original version is featured in the 2000 movie Almost Famous .

A heavily edited version of "Sands of Time" (b/w "Lay It All Down") was an unsuccessful single in the United States and some other territories. An alternate version of "Lay It All Down" appeared on the 1992 compilation 25 Years – The Chain . The single edit of "Sands of Time" was released on the deluxe edition of the 50 Years – Don't Stop compilation in 2018 and later as a bonus track on the 2020 remastered Future Games from the 1969-1974 box set. Also included on the remastered Future Games from this box set were alternate versions of "Sometimes" and "Show Me a Smile", a much longer alternate version of "Lay It All Down", the full jam of "What a Shame" which included vocals, plus an acoustic demo of another Welch song, "Stone". [13]

Four of the eight tracks were written or co-written by guitarist and vocalist Danny Kirwan.

Artwork

The image on the front cover was photographed by Mick Fleetwood's sister, Sally. On the back are individual shots of the band members, with the exception of John McVie, who instead opted to replace his headshot with one of his photographs of a penguin from the London Zoo, which he visited on a near-daily basis. [4] Early UK and American releases of this album, along with some other country's issues, have a yellow background to the picture of the two children and cover text. All subsequent releases have a green background. The 2013 vinyl reissue by Warner/Rhino available in the Fleetwood Mac: 1969 to 1972 4-LP box set restores the original yellow background to the album artwork, and it was released as a standalone LP two years later. The 1969-1974 CD box set also restores the original yellow background to the album artwork.

Release and reception

Charts and commercial performance

Future Games debuted at number 186 on the US Billboard 200 chart dated 30 October 1971. [14] The album reached its peak at number 91 on the chart dated 18 December 1971, after being on the chart for eight weeks. [6] The album ultimately spent a total of 12 weeks on the chart. [15] On 4 October 2000, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over 500,000 copies in the United States. [7]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Woman of 1000 Years" Danny Kirwan Kirwan5:28
2."Morning Rain" Christine McVie C. McVie5:38
3."What a Shame" Bob Welch, Kirwan, C. McVie, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood instrumental2:20
4."Future Games"WelchWelch8:18
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Sands of Time"KirwanKirwan7:23
2."Sometimes"KirwanKirwan5:26
3."Lay It All Down"WelchWelch4:30
4."Show Me a Smile"C. McVieC. McVie3:21
2020 Remastered bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
9."Sands of Time" (Single Version)KirwanKirwan3:04
10."Sometimes" (Alternate Version)KirwanKirwan5:25
11."Lay It All Down" (Alternate Version)WelchWelch8:18
12."Stone"WelchWelch2:30
13."Show Me a Smile" (Alternate Version)C. McVieC. McVie3:23
14."What a Shame" (Unedited)Welch, Kirwan, C. McVie, J. McVie, FleetwoodKirwan, Welch8:28

Notes: The song timings listed here are not as indicated on all LPs/CDs, since some of the timings on some releases are inaccurate. On some versions of the album (depending on the country of issue), the notes state that the track "Woman of 1000 Years" runs for 8:20, when in fact it runs for 5:28. Similarly, "Morning Rain" is listed as 6:22 and runs for 5:38, while the track "Sometimes" is listed to run for 6:25 and only runs for 5:26. [16]

The opening track was titled "Woman of 1000 Years" on original UK, European and Japanese vinyl pressings, and original cassettes, 8-track cartridges and CD releases in the US, Japan and Europe. It was shown as "Woman of a Thousand Years" on vinyl pressings in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, some European vinyl reissues, as well as later CD releases. Some vinyl releases differed between record sleeve and label.

Personnel

Fleetwood Mac

Additional personnel

Production

Charts

Chart (1971)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [17] 91

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [18] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Sources

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 their first public appearance. Guitarist and singer Danny Kirwan joined the band in 1968. Christine Perfect, who contributed as a session musician starting with the band's second album, married McVie and joined Fleetwood Mac as an official member in July 1970 on vocals and keyboards, two months after Green left the band; she became known as Christine McVie.

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

Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American musician and record producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the 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">Christine McVie</span> British musician (1943–2022)

Christine Anne McVie was an English musician and singer. She was the keyboardist and one of the vocalists and songwriters of Fleetwood Mac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Fleetwood</span> British actor and musician (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>Fleetwood Mac</i> (1975 album) 1975 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac is the tenth studio album by 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 after 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 musician 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 whose greatest success came as 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>Bare Trees</i> 1972 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

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. In the wake of the band's success in the mid-1970s, Bare Trees peaked at number 70 on US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1988.

<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.

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

Penguin is the seventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on March 1, 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>Greatest Hits</i> (1971 Fleetwood Mac album) 1971 greatest hits album by Fleetwood Mac

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac released on CBS Records in the United Kingdom in 1971. The album assembles the band's hit singles in the UK covering the period from the band's beginning in 1968 to 1971, mostly in its original incarnation led by guitarist Peter Green. It peaked at No. 36 on the UK Albums Chart.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">As Long as You Follow</span> 1988 single by Fleetwood Mac

"As Long as You Follow" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Performed by Christine McVie and written alongside her then-husband, Eddy Quintela, the song was one of two new tracks on the band's 1988 greatest hits album, along with "No Questions Asked". Lead guitarist Rick Vito singled out the guitar solo on "As Long as You Follow" as his best work with Fleetwood Mac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold Me (Fleetwood Mac song)</span> 1982 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Hold Me" is a 1982 song by the British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac. It was the first track to be released as a single from the band's thirteenth album Mirage. Written by Christine McVie and Robbie Patton, McVie and Lindsey Buckingham shared lead vocals on the song. The single reached #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the band's first to break the top five since 1977.

<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 a full 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 English-American 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skies the Limit</span> 1990 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Skies the Limit" is a single released in 1990 by British-American band Fleetwood Mac, from their album Behind the Mask. While the single did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, it did reach number 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 40 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The moderate success of "Skies the Limit" and "Save Me" helped to push their parent album into the US and Canadian top 20, albeit only briefly.

References

  1. ↑ Holtje, Steve (1998). "Fleetwood Mac". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 444-434.
  2. ↑ Allmusic review
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: F". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved 24 February 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  4. 1 2 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.
  5. ↑ Swanson, Dave (3 September 2016). "45 Years Ago: Fleetwood Mac Play 'Future Games'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Billboard 200 – December 18, 1971". Billboard . Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  7. 1 2 "RIAA Certifications - Fleetwood Mac". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  8. ↑ Brunning, B (1998): Fleetwood Mac – The First 30 Years. London: Omnibus Press p37
  9. ↑ "Deep Dive: Fleetwood Mac, FUTURE GAMES | Rhino". www.rhino.com. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  10. ↑ Saulnier, Jason (4 May 2010). "Bob Welch Interview, Fleetwood Mac Guitarist on Nashville Flood". Music Legends Online. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  11. ↑ Live at the BBC 5-1-71 (CD running order). Fleetwood Mac. Reprise. 1971.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Fricke, David (21 June 2012). "Bob Welch's Missing Music: The Fleetwood Mac Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  13. ↑ Lewry, Peter (1998). Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Recording Sessions 1967–1997. Blandford. p. 52. ISBN   0-7137-2724-1.
  14. ↑ "Billboard 200 - October 30, 1971". Billboard . Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  15. ↑ "Billboard Chart History - Fleetwood Mac". Billboard . Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  16. ↑ Future Games (CD booklet notes). Fleetwood Mac. Reprise. 1971.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ "Fleetwood Mac Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  18. ↑ "American album certifications – Fleetwood Mac – Future Games". 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.