written by Joe Panackia, August 26th, 2004
This album expounds primarily on up-tempo blues tracks fronted either by Peter Green or Jeremy Spencer.
"Stop Messin' 'Round" is the benchmark by which all those Freddie King-type numbers are to be judged, (including Freddie's). The sound and phrasing of Peter Green's guitar is simply awesome. Add the horns and piano, and you've got a classic. That same fiery combination appears in the titles, "Rollin' Man", "If You Be My Baby", and "Lazy Poker Blues" with the rhythm varying slightly. "Trying So Hard To Forget" is the slowest tune on the album. "Love That Burns" is an extraordinary Peter Green slow blues number. Listening to Christine (Perfect) McVie"s piano fade out at the end of the song, will give you chills.
Jeremy Spencer's "I've Lost My Baby" may be the finest interpretation of Elmore James ever put on wax. The blues master's "Hawaiian Boogie" is transformed into "Evenin Boogie", and there are four tracks based on Elmore's "Dust My Broom" guitar riff, that title being one of them.
Mick Fleetwood and John McVie were proving themselves to be the best blues rhythm section in the business.
It has been reported that the sessions for the first album (Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac) and "Mr. Wonderful" was one continuous project. The overall sound of course is quite different. On the first album, the equipment (instruments, mikes, etc.) was plugged directly into the tape deck. For "Mr. Wonderful", a PA, and speakers, were set up in the studio to create a more live sound, reminiscent of a 1940's recording studio; thus producing an ideal environment for recording this music.
Mr. Wonderful is a great blues album. |
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Fleetwood Mac - Mr. Wonderful (1968), 2004 Columbia 5164442
