Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Mystery to Me

 
Album Review: Mystery to Me

  • Artist: Fleetwood Mac
  • Rating: StarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1973 10
  • Total Time: 47:49
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

At this point, the band was best-known as a British blues unit. Slowly but surely the band was becoming more acclimated with a production style that was reminiscent of the California pop sound. With the majority of the blues and psychedelic behind them, Mystery to Me finds Fleetwood Mac in a more ruminative vein. American guitarist Bob Welch established that path. Despite the all-encompassing ethos, Welch's songwriting skills made him walk a fine line between the mystical and the silly. But luckily most everything works here. The leadoff song, the laid-back "Emerald Eyes" matches Welch's spacey lyrics and vocals as Christine McVie provides great backing help. The album's best track, the gorgeous and lyrically strong "Hypnotized" has Welch matching an effortless, soothing croon with jazzy guitar riffs. Throughout Mystery to Me the amazing and almost telepathic drums and bass of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie give this effort more panache and muscle than was represented on this effort's predecessor, Bare Trees. The best Bob Welch offering, "Keep on Going," has a strong, soulful string arrangement and Christine McVie's customary sensual and poised vocals. The only weak spot is the ill-advised cover of "For Your Love" that's steeped in hackneyed, post-psychedelic style. Mystery to Me's interesting sound is directly attributed to the fact that it was recorded on the Rolling Stones Mobile Unit. This effort is custom-made for those who like thoughtful offerings and is a valuable set in the scheme of the band. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Emerald Eyes Bob Welch Fleetwood Mac (3:37)
Believe Me Christine McVie Fleetwood Mac (4:06)
Just Crazy Love Christine McVie Fleetwood Mac (3:22)
Hypnotized Bob Welch Fleetwood Mac (4:48)
Forever John McVie, Robert Welch Fleetwood Mac (4:04)
Keep on Going Bob Welch Fleetwood Mac (4:04)
The City Bob Welch Fleetwood Mac (3:35)
Miles Away Bob Welch Fleetwood Mac (3:47)
Somebody Bob Welch Fleetwood Mac (5:00)
The Way I Feel Christine McVie Fleetwood Mac (2:46)
For Your Love (Lyrics) Graham Gouldman Fleetwood Mac (3:44)
Why Christine McVie Fleetwood Mac (4:56)

Credits

Fleetwood Mac (Producer), Fleetwood Mac (Main Performer), Bob Welch (Guitar), Bob Welch (Vocals), Mick Fleetwood (Percussion), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), John McVie (Bass), Martin Birch (Guitar), Martin Birch (Producer), Martin Birch (Engineer), Paul Hardiman (Engineer), Paul Hardiman (Assistant Engineer), Richard Hewson (Mixing), Bob Weston (Guitar), Bob Weston (Slide Guitar), Desmond Majekodunmi (Engineer), Desmond Majekodunmi (Assistant Engineer), Clive Arrowsmith (Photography)
Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
Wikipedia: Mystery to Me
Top
Mystery to Me
Studio album by Fleetwood Mac
Released 15 October 1973
Recorded Mid-1973
Genre Rock
Label Reprise
Producer Fleetwood Mac & Martin Birch
Professional reviews
Fleetwood Mac chronology
Penguin
(1973)
Mystery to Me
(1973)
Heroes Are Hard to Find
(1974)

Mystery to Me is a studio album by British 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.

Contents

Track listing

  1. "Emerald Eyes" (Bob Welch) – 3:37
  2. "Believe Me" (Christine McVie) – 4:06
  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) – 4:04
  7. "The City" (Welch) – 3:35
  8. "Miles Away" (Welch) – 3:47
  9. "Somebody" (Welch) – 5:00
  10. "The Way I Feel" (C. McVie) – 2:46
  11. "For Your Love" (Graham Gouldman) – 3:44
  12. "Why" (C. McVie) – 4:56

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.

Credits

Fleetwood Mac

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

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mystery to Me" Read more