Revisiting the blues and the blues-oriented classic songs of Fleetwood Mac, iconic rock drummer and band co-founder Mick Fleetwood has assembled a hand-picked quartet of musicians, The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, who've cre... more »ated this stunning new live recording. Equal parts blues rave-up and loving homage to the early incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, BLUE AGAIN is a showcase for Fleetwood, who has teamed up on this recording with guitarist and lead vocalist Rick Vito, bassist Lenny Castellanos and keyboardist Mark Johnstone. This powerhouse blues project features versions of early Peter Green-penned hits such as 'Black Magic Woman,' 'Albatross' and 'Rattlesnake Shake' as well as original material composed by Rick Vito (with a rollicking version of Elmore James' 'Shake Your Moneymaker' included for good measure).
Produced by Mick Fleetwood and Rick Vito, BLUE AGAIN was recorded live at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, Missouri in February of 2008. The immaculate recording gives the songs a vibrant, modern immediacy which transcends easy nostalgia. Says Mick in the liner notes: 'Over my career I've been called a pop star and a rock star, yet in my inner heart, I will always be part bluesman. On my journey from blues to a life of rock n roll, I've always remembered where I started.' BLUE AGAIN is both an original musical tour de force and a respectful tribute to Fleetwood Mac (in the midst of celebrating their 40th Anniversary), initiated by the sole member of the band to be in every incarnation from the beginning.
A companion DVD is scheduled for release in Fall 2009.« less
Revisiting the blues and the blues-oriented classic songs of Fleetwood Mac, iconic rock drummer and band co-founder Mick Fleetwood has assembled a hand-picked quartet of musicians, The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, who've created this stunning new live recording. Equal parts blues rave-up and loving homage to the early incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, BLUE AGAIN is a showcase for Fleetwood, who has teamed up on this recording with guitarist and lead vocalist Rick Vito, bassist Lenny Castellanos and keyboardist Mark Johnstone. This powerhouse blues project features versions of early Peter Green-penned hits such as 'Black Magic Woman,' 'Albatross' and 'Rattlesnake Shake' as well as original material composed by Rick Vito (with a rollicking version of Elmore James' 'Shake Your Moneymaker' included for good measure).
Produced by Mick Fleetwood and Rick Vito, BLUE AGAIN was recorded live at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, Missouri in February of 2008. The immaculate recording gives the songs a vibrant, modern immediacy which transcends easy nostalgia. Says Mick in the liner notes: 'Over my career I've been called a pop star and a rock star, yet in my inner heart, I will always be part bluesman. On my journey from blues to a life of rock n roll, I've always remembered where I started.' BLUE AGAIN is both an original musical tour de force and a respectful tribute to Fleetwood Mac (in the midst of celebrating their 40th Anniversary), initiated by the sole member of the band to be in every incarnation from the beginning.
A companion DVD is scheduled for release in Fall 2009.
CD Reviews
Get The USA Version not the Import!
Rock Lover | Hollywood, CA | 02/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Exceptional record by an Iconic performer and his team. Reviewed as "FLAWLESS" by international press. A must have record! The USA edition of this record is released on 3/17/09 and now available for pre-order from Amazon.com. The "Import" is not available in the USA and ordering this results in a note telling you to wait for availability which, if you order from this page, won't happen in the USA! Either use the Amazon link below or type "FLEETWOOD BLUE AGAIN" in the Amazon search bar and select the 2009 (not the 2008) release. It has a photo of Mick blurred on his drum set in full color! You'll love the USA version and will be supporting the artists who made it possible and Amazon who makes it available. Hope this helps those of you who love the blues!!!![...]"
Goin' back to what you loved in the first place
J. M. Jacobs | East Helena, MT, USA | 05/18/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mick Fleetwood was one of many British kids who listened to the Blues in person as a teenager at the tours of black musicians and bands that were brought to Great Britain in the early 60's and he was changed forever.
When he first came over to America, one of the first places he went was Chess Records and got to play with Muddy Waters et al while he was there. I know that, if that were me, I'd be changed forever, too.
With "Blue Again" we get to hear a master musician once again playing the music of his youth, the bedrock style of all the music he's played since. From my personal experience, when you hear someone play music they love, it's simply different... and better.
And so it is here.
In this incarnation of a band featuring Mick Fleetwood on drums, he's got a lot of help from Rick Vito on lead guitar and vocals. I've never heard of Mr. Vito prior to this disc, but I do hope THIS band with him in it is good for a couple more discs before they hang it up or break up, as is the usual case.
Vito's style and sound is that of classic Fender Strat down and dirty Blues. While he's closer to Stevie Ray than Robert Cray, you're going to hear some smokin' Blues licks kicked out with fire in the belly.
To me, the two standout tunes are Fleetwood Boogie and Black Magic Woman, but there's not a bad one in the bunch. Great road food for the CD player in your outfit... just slam this one in and watch the miles clip by with a big ol' Cheshire Cat grin on your face.
Thanks, Mick and the boys, for giving us one 'from the heart.' In this day and age, compared to other Blues music newly released, it feels pretty damn good."
Blues Rockabilly
kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 01/07/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"THIS IS QUITE A SUPRISE. MUCH BETTER THAN I EXPECTED.
This album is 65 minutes long. It is all live, except the final track. The sound quality is very good. The album cover is cheap looking but there is a nice booklet that gives a quick and sometimes incorrect history of Fleetwood Mac (they have Danny Kerwin leaving the band before Peter Green...but Green left before either Kerwin or Spencer, although he did come back for a concert tour after those two left).
Of course you know that Mick Fleetwood is the drummer for Fleetwood Mac (after a stint in John Mayall's Blues Breakers). He was a blues drummer, before Fleetwood Mac went pop after the fifth Fleetwood Mac album (depending on which albums you count).
He is joined by Rick Vito who played on Fleetwood Mac's Behind the Mask album (after Lindsey Buckingham had left the group). Behind the Mask had a Rockabilly flavor to it.
This album is driven by Vito's playing and vocal styles and Fleetwood's history. You can see by the track listing that there are a number of songs that Fleetwood Mac played in the early days. Some of the songs were written by Peter Green (the first leader of Fleetwood Mac) and one is an American blues standard that the band used to play (they did a soujern to Chicago to play with the Blues greats). There are some Vito composed songs, and these are more Rockabilly than Blues.
It is a good selection of songs and they are all played well. And it isn't just a copy of the originals. The songs are played in new and interesting ways.
If you are expecting Rumors, you might not like this. If you were a fan of Fleetwood for any other time besides the Buckingham Nicks years you will probably love this.
I am very leery of rave reviews for this type of album. There are people who give rave reviews just on the concept and not the music. They say, wow, this is Mick Fleetwood going back to his roots and playing old Peter Green tunes, so it must be good. I thought it would be mediocre, but it is much better than I expected.
"
Excellent--Fleetwood's new work is fresh, fun & powerful blu
El Gato | Sierra foothills, USA | 04/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Returning to the blues, Fleetwood's work is fresh and has evolved in powerful new ways. We heard Mick's NPR interview and ordered the new CD immediately and are NOT disappointed. "Blue Again" is a keeper and a mood lifter on any day, not just the blue ones."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1