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List Price: $11.98 | | Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Salesrank: 23046
Released: October 25, 1990 |
| Our Price: $7.09 |
| Used Price: $5.41 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Then Play On Track Listing:
1. Coming Your Way
2. Closing My Eyes
3. Showbiz Blues
4. My Dream
5. Underway
6. Oh Well
7. Although the Sun Is Shining
8. Rattlesnake Shake
9. Searching for Madge
10. Fighting for Madge
11. When You Say
12. Like Crying Like Dying
13. Before the Beginning
Editorial Review:
Before they set sail for California and a new life as consummate pop songsmiths, Fleetwood Mac were pedigreed British blues rockers with roots in Britain's seminal John Mayall's Blues Breakers and their hearts orbiting Chicago and the Mississippi Delta. One of the few surviving albums from that ill-fated, earlier Mac, Then Play On captures them at a potent turning point: the original two-guitar quartet, with founder Peter Green's sinuous leads complemented by Jeremy Spencer's shimmering slide guitar, had been augmented by third guitarist Danny Kirwan, a Green protégé. Buttressed by Mick Fleetwood's muscular yet restrained drumming and John McVie's steady-as-a-heartbeat bass lines, this edition of the band reveled in moody, compelling guitar showpieces that savor texture and line over sheer speed or volume. Accordingly, the lyrics don't benefit from close study, but the guitars surely do--and when the quintet launches into the best-remembered track here, the classic "Oh, Well" (which reunites the separate electric and acoustic sections originally released as two sides of a single), it's understandable that Green, in his day, was mentioned comfortably in the same breath with Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. --Sam Sutherland
Then Play On Reviews:
"If Music Be The Love Of Food....THEN PLAY ON!" 
2009-08-08 - Yes, that's the saying from which Fleetwood Mac named their third album in 1969. Curious, but play on they did. And in doing so created what is ultimately the masterpiece for the Mark II line up of Fleetwood Mac. This would be the last album to feature founding member and leader Peter Green (though he did make an uncredited appearance on 1973's "Penguin"). Peter went out in style....musically speaking, not personally. No longer content to just play Chicago style blues, Peter was adamant to branch out and try new things. Mick Fleetwood states that "Then Play On" is Fleetwood Mac's first true album and is one of his favorites. The album is missing one member however, guitarist Jeremy Spencer. The band had originally planned to release an E.P. simultaneously with the album by the band's alter ego, Earl Vince and The Valiants, led by Jeremy Spencer. The E.P. was to be a take off on American radio programs featuring Jeremy as "Bill Schlitz," the host. The program featured Jeremy posing as different bands who were supposedly appearing on the radio show (one of them being a San Francisco psychedelic rock band called "The Electric Orange Squitters" followed by a hilarious imitation by Jeremy of British blues rocker John Mayall). The entire E.P. can be heard on "The Vaudeville Years: 1968-1970" double CD set. Jeremy's absence did not hamper the album though. Peter and Daniel Kirwan's material made for a startling, innovative record that was entertaining from start to finish and that only slightly touched on the blues style the band was known for at this point.
However, fans of this album have been deprived of the original layout for "Then Play On" since 1970! The album was released in the U.K in September of 1969 and in October for the U.S. Both releases featured a very different track sequence when originally first issued. For the first U.S. release, Reprise omitted Daniel Kirwan's "One Sunny Day" and "Without You," both of which had already seen American release by Epic Records on "English Rose." The original U.S. track sequence, released October 1969, was as follows:
1. Coming Your Way
2. Closing My Eyes
3. Fighting For Madge
4. When You Say
5. Show-Biz Blues
6. Underway
7. Although The Sun Is Shining
8. Rattlesnake Shake
9. Searching For Madge
10. My Dream
11. Like Crying
12. Before The Beginning
In September/November of 1969, the band released "Oh Well Pt. 1&2" as the A and B side of their non-album single. The song was a hit in both the U.K. and the U.S., so Reprise decided to cash in on the single's success and re-release "Then Play On" with a track sequence to include "Oh Well" sometime in early 1970. Both "When You Say" and the beautiful "My Dream" were cut from the track line up and "Oh Well" was tacked onto the end of side one. "Show-Biz Blues" was now moved up to track 3 on the first side, "Fighting For Madge" was now sequenced directly AFTER "Searching For Madge" on side two. Reprise managed to make a mess of a band's masterpiece by being money hungry. It's a shame because if you've heard the original version of the album, you'll be astounded by how much more evenly it flows and makes sense. For a smoother and more enjoyable ride, program your CD with the original track line up listed above and place "Oh Well" either after "Underway" or at the very end. I prefer it after "Underway" myself.
Green had five songs on the original release, six if you count "Oh Well." Daniel Kirwan also had five songs, with the "Madge" jams being credited one each to John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Both Peter and Daniel's songs gave each a run for their money! Daniel showcased his heavier side with the jungle beat driven "Coming Your Way" but for the most part, Daniel's songs are more gentle in nature. Those being the sad "When You Say," the instrumental "My Dream," the bluesy "Like Crying," and the crooner styled "Although The Sun Is Shining." Peter starts off his songs with the haunting, near the point of death tinged "Closing My Eyes." He follows that with the down home blues of "Show-Biz Blues," the Hendrix like instrumental "Underway," and the re-release features his magnum opus "Oh Well." On side two, he managed one of the first overtly descriptive songs about male masturbation with "Rattlesnake Shake" ("Now I know this guy. His name is Mick. Now he don't care if he ain't got no chick!") and again back to his death bed with the ghostly "Before The Beginning." Both of the "Madge" jams are heavy and spliced into sections for a fun listen (at one point a bizarre orchestra interlude comes barreling forth into the song for no reason at all).
By all accounts "Then Play On" is one of Fleetwood Mac's best and definitely the best album from their early years. No Fleetwood Mac collection is complete without this one so it has my highest recommendation! The Fleetwood Mac Reprise catalog from 1969 to 1974 is long overdue for a proper, updated remastering job with "Then Play On" especially needing some attention! Reprise/Rhino Records....are you reading this?!
Made From A Record ??????? 
2009-03-12 - I had read a review stating that the mastering was poor on this CD before I purchased it. I usually remaster CDs to my own liking anyway. I found that in the quiet sections of "Oh Well" there was much surface noise from a record and at the end of track two, there were actually some clicks. I am not sure why Warners would release a CD made from a record or maybe Caimen purchased CDs from a pirate. You can't buy these tracks on Itunes so having the album is great, but I would prefer a CD from the original master tracks.
Wonderful album
2008-07-29 - Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3TNTY5F5XYY30
One for the road
2008-03-28 - A beatiful record despite the sound quality (cd). After more than 250 plays (both vinyl and cd)it's still is a magical album. Where is the re-mastered version?
The best of the early group
2008-02-07 - I've been listening to this one on my iPod since I got it and have no intention of taking it out of rotation. This is dynamic--it would be great with the inclusion of "Oh Well" alone. It's a real pity that the Buckingham/Nicks era of Fleetwood Mac has all but buried the fine accomplishments of Peter Green and Danny Kirwan. "Then Play On" is every bit as sophisticated and adventurous as "Rumours", just a lot more blues-based. Check out "Hollywood Blues" for example. Or "My Dream" for something more gentle. This album also shows off the prowress of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie; no holding back here! The one questionable element is Jeremy Spencer--is he present? (Some reviewers say he is not, but I'm not sure). Still, this should be an essential part of any collection. As far as the quality of the transfer--it doesn't sound that bad to me, but maybe that's something to be left to the audio experts. If there's a better version out there, great, but get a copy somehow. A worthwhile investment.
