Mystery to Me
| Mystery to Me | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Fleetwood Mac | ||||
| Released | 15 October 1973 | |||
| Recorded |
Spring-Summer 1973 Rolling Stones Mobile Unit | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 47:49 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Producer | Fleetwood Mac & Martin Birch | |||
| Fleetwood Mac chronology | ||||
| ||||
Mystery to Me is the eighth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released in 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 playing a major role in edging the band's sound towards the radio-friendly pop-rock that would make them highly successful a few years later. Although the album only sold moderately and produced no hit singles, "Hypnotized" did become an FM radio staple for many years. In the wake of the Buckingham/Nicks led line-up's success a few years later, it achieved Gold status in 1976.
Background
The album is the end of an era in two ways: it is their last album recorded in England and the last to have two guitarists in the line-up until Behind the Mask. As with the previous album Penguin, the group hired the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio and brought it down to Hampshire in order to record their album at Benifolds, their communal house. Dave Walker was asked to leave during the sessions and none of his contributions ended up in the final release.
The title comes from a line in the chorus of "Emerald Eyes".
Tour
During the band's American tour of 1973, they appeared on the Midnight Special, but during the venture, it became clear that Bob Weston was having an affair with Mick Fleetwood's wife Jenny. Although Fleetwood tried to carry on playing with Weston, regardless of the extramarital issues, it soon became clear that something had to give and after a gig in Lincoln, Nebraska, he told the McVies and Welch that he could no longer play with Weston in the line-up. John Courage, the band's road manager, fired Weston and put him on a plane back to the UK. With the tour cut short, the band also went back to England to break the news to their manager Clifford Davis, who was so angry that he sent another bunch of musicians on the road as Fleetwood Mac, claiming that he owned the name.
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[2] |
| Rolling Stone | (negative)[3] |
Track listing
| Side one | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Emerald Eyes" | Bob Welch | 3:37 |
| 2. | "Believe Me" | Christine McVie | 4:12 |
| 3. | "Just Crazy Love" | C. McVie | 3:22 |
| 4. | "Hypnotized" | Welch | 4:48 |
| 5. | "Forever" | Bob Weston, John McVie, Welch | 4:04 |
| 6. | "Keep On Going" | Welch | 4:05 |
| Side two | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "The City" | Welch | 3:35 |
| 2. | "Miles Away" | Welch | 3:47 |
| 3. | "Somebody" | Welch | 5:00 |
| 4. | "The Way I Feel" | C. McVie | 2:43 |
| 5. | "For Your Love" | Graham Gouldman | 3:44 |
| 6. | "Why" | C. McVie | 4:55 |
- Notes
- "For Your Love" was originally recorded by The Yardbirds, and Fleetwood Mac's cover version replaced a Bob Welch song "Good Things (Come to Those Who Wait)" on the album at a very late stage in production. Some albums came with a lyric inner sheet still showing "Good Things" instead of "For Your Love". The song was also released as a single. Although Fleetwood Mac's version of "Good Things" has never been released, it was later re-recorded by Welch and released as "Don't Wait Too Long" on his solo album Three Hearts.
- "Hypnotized" was the B-side of "For Your Love". It was a minor US radio hit, often getting more airplay on AOR stations than the A-side. It later was covered on The Pointer Sisters' 1978 album Energy.
- "Keep On Going" was written by Bob Welch, but sung by Christine McVie because Welch decided her voice was better suited to the song than his. This was one of very few occasions when a member of Fleetwood Mac composed a song which was sung by another member.
Personnel
- Fleetwood Mac
- Bob Welch – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar on "Keep on Going"[4] lead and backing vocals
- Bob Weston – electric guitar, slide guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Christine McVie – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
- John McVie – bass guitar
- Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion
- Additional personnel
- Richard Hewson – string arrangements
- Production
- Producer: Fleetwood Mac and Martin Birch
- Engineer: Martin Birch
- Assistant Engineers: Desmond Majekodunmi, Paul Hardiman
- Photography by Clive Arrowsmith
- Cover design and art direction by Modula
- Recorded on the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio
- Mixed at Advision Studios, London
Charts
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top 200 | 67 |
| Canadian Albums Chart | 82 |
Certification
| Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[5] | Gold | 750,000^ |
|
*sales figures based on certification alone | ||
References
- ↑ Elias, Jason. "Mystery to Me – Fleetwood Mac". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2006.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert (March 1974). "The Christgau Consumer Guide: Fleetwood Mac: Mystery to Me". Creem. Retrieved 14 January 2012. Relevant portion posted in a revised version with a new rating at "Fleetwood Mac: Mystery to Me > Consumer Guide Album". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ↑ Fletcher, Gordon (3 January 1974). "Fleetwood Mac Mystery to Me > Album Review". Rolling Stone (151). Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ↑ http://www.fleetwoodmac.net/penguin/qa/bobwelch_qa2.htm
- ↑ "American album certifications – Fleetwood Mac – Mystery To Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 19 May 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
