Search - Peter Green :: The Anthology

Value For Money

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 03/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I suppose that every fan of Peter Green is going to have his/her own list of what should have been included and what should have been excluded on The Anthology. Some favor Green's work with Fleetwood Mac, some his work with John Mayall and still others prefer his late seventies/early eighties solo work or even his work with the Splinter Group. But if you are considering a purchase, look at it this way: unless you are an absolute fanatic about Peter Green, there is bound to be something here in his work you haven't yet heard.

That's how it is for me. I own, or thought I owned, a recording of almost everything he did with Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, the Splinter Group and solo yet there are at least a dozen tunes here I had never heard (and may never have otherwise heard) until I bought this. There is more than four and a half hours of excellent or at least interesting music that you get for a paltry sum. The box set comes with a well-designed (but not well-bound) booklet filled with pictures, commentary, and album info. If you like Peter Green, what more could you ask for?

I like the variety here as the listener has the opportunity to live through Green's many moods in one sitting. For my money, I'd say that some of Green's later work with Fleetwood Mac is what makes him stand out as a blues artist. Some of the songs are so downright depressing that you may be forgiven thinking that Green was preparing to take the pipe as soon as he finished playing. Listen to Love That Burns. Now THAT'S the blues. But Green is competent as well in other genres as he shows on the cuts like Don't Goof With the Spook that to me is evocative of the goth-prog of Nick Cave. Overall, you should be delighted with what is included here even if you don't get everything you want.

There has been a lot of griping about the packaging, but that has nothing to do with the quality of the music. One of the discs in my set came loose during shipping and there were a couple of scratches on it, but it plays just fine. My chief complaint is the handsome booklet that came apart page by page as I turned them. Unless you buy it directly from amazon, returns can be a hassle with no way to easily recover return postage.

With The Anthology, the fan gets value for money. At the price I paid, my cost was less than seven dollars per disc. Now how reasonable is that? I've noticed that the price fluctuates quite a bit, so wait until it becomes available in the price range you are comfortable with, then buy one! The Anthology is one set you will enjoy for years to come."

The Green Manalishi

Dr. Thomas E. Parker | Chico, CA | 12/26/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is an excellent set. The early work, to my mind, confirms that Peter Green was equal to Clapton's best early work. They both burned with intensity and surprise, and they both had tone dripping from every note. The total picture, though, shows that Peter Green never lost that intensity, whereas Clapton, in his post Delaney & Bonnie work, did. There are moments when it's still there with Clapton (Derek), but Peter Green has the Robert Johnson hauntedness that fuels some of the best blues. Sure, the fire of the 20 year old burns differently than the fire of the older, life-worn wanderer, but it's fire just the same. And a revelation since I hadn't heard any of the later work. I'd read about it and assumed it was lackluster. It's not. Green's touch, phrasing, tone, still have it. And this set is your chance to have it too. If you're onto Greeny and want a very fine compilation, consider The Anthology, you can't go wrong."

Essential blues for the enthusiast

Mr. Greg R. Corrigan | Brisbane, Australia | 04/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the greatest blues guitarists ever. Tragic that his flame didn't burn long enough and was dulled by depression and drugs. Such classics came from his hand as Albatross, Black Magic Woman, Oh Well, and Man of The World. And there's so many more. With John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, the pedigree of early Fleetwod Mac shines through. John McVie regards Green as the best guitarist ever. This anthology then tracks Green through his long and varied career. If you like English blues with its roots in the swinging 60s and 70s and have one old Peter Green song or album in your collection then this Anthology is a must. If you like treacly Lindsay Buckingham, Stevie Nicks west coast 'sound then maybe this collection isn't for you."