Fleetwood Mac Early LP's to Spawn Two Releases In August

A pair of upcoming releases will revisit the early days of Fleetwood Mac, before Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham helped propel the band to international stardom. August 20 will see the arrival of an expanded, remastered CD version of the group's 1969 album, Then Play On, and a box set boasting high-quality vinyl LPs of the first four albums Fleetwood Mac released on Reprise Records.

Then Play On is the band's third studio effort and the last to feature founding frontman and lead guitarist Peter Green. It also marked the arrival of guitarist/singer Danny Kirwan. The reissue boasts the original 14-song U.K. track list and running order, as well as four bonus songs. The extra tunes, which originally were available as singles around the time of Then Play On's release, are "Oh Well" parts one and two, "The Green Manalishi (with the Two Prong Crown)," and "World in Harmony." The latter song has never been available on CD before. Then Play On: Expanded Edition also features new liner notes penned by respected rock journalist David Fricke.

The box set, titled Fleetwood Mac: 1969-1972, features 140-gram vinyl versions of Then Play On minus the bonus tracks 1970's Kiln House, 1971's Future Games and 1972's Bare Trees. Also included is a 7-inch single with "Oh Well Pt. 1" backed with "Oh Well Pt. 2." The albums are housed in sleeves replicating the original artwork and come packaged in a black slipcase.

The era highlighted in the box set was a transitional time for Fleetwood Mac, which shifted from a blues-influenced outfit guided by Green to a more pop-oriented group. During this period, mainstays Mick Fleetwood and Jon McVie saw Green's exit, the arrival and departure of singer/guitarist Jeremy Spencer, and the addition of singer/guitarist Bob Welch and singer/pianist Christine McVie, both of whom also wrote for the band.

Then Play On: Expanded Edition sells for the suggested price of $18.98, while Fleetwood Mac: 1969-1972 vinyl box set is listed at $79.98.