Albatross (instrumental) explained

Albatross
Cover:Albdut.jpg
Caption:Dutch single reissue: L–R: Kirwan, Green, McVie, Fleetwood (back), Spencer (front)
Type:single
Artist:Fleetwood Mac
B-Side:Jigsaw Puzzle Blues
Released:22 November 1968
Recorded:October 1968
Studio:CBS, London[1]
Genre:
Length:3:07
Label:Blue Horizon (BH 57-3145)[7]
Producer:Mike Vernon
Prev Title:Need Your Love So Bad
Prev Year:1968
Next Title:Man of the World
Next Year:1969

"Albatross" is a guitar-based instrumental by Fleetwood Mac, released as a single in November 1968,[8] later featuring on the compilation albums The Pious Bird of Good Omen (UK)[9] and English Rose (US).[10] The piece was composed by Peter Green.[8]

Composition

Santo & Johnny's "Sleep Walk" (1959) reportedly inspired Peter Green for his 1968 instrumental "Albatross",[11] although the composition also resembles Chuck Berry's 1957 instrumental "Deep Feeling", itself derivative of the 1939 recording "Floyd's Guitar Blues" by Andy Kirk and his 12 Clouds of Joy, featuring guitarist Floyd Smith.[12] In Green's biography [Celmins 1998], an early inspiration for "Albatross" was said to have been "a group of notes from an Eric Clapton solo, played slower."[13]

The composition and its arrangement suggest a relaxing sea setting, with cymbals imitating the sound of waves (Mick Fleetwood played his drum kit using timpani mallets to give a muted sound) and a dreamy solo from Green's guitar. It contains four chords, E, Emaj7 (or G#m/E), A/E, and F#m, played by Green on his Fender Stratocaster into a Matamp Series 2000. Green had been working on the piece for some time before the addition to the band of 18-year-old guitarist Danny Kirwan. Slide guitarist Jeremy Spencer was not generally inclined to work with Green, who had felt unable to realise the overall effect that he wanted. With Kirwan's input, Green completed the piece and it was recorded just two months after Kirwan joined, without Spencer present.[14] Although he was not a part of the recording sessions, Spencer was shown in video material miming to Green's slide guitar parts. Kirwan's instrumental "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues" was chosen for the B-side in most territories.[8] "Albatross" has been re-released many times as a single in various countries, with many different B-sides.

As a boy, Green studied the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by the poet Coleridge whose tale of an Albatross inspired the instrumental.[15] The album The Pious Bird of Good Omen, which includes "Albatross", has a cover that features a nun with an albatross, alluding to the symbology among sailors and Coleridge's poem.

This composition is one of only a few tracks by the original line-up of Fleetwood Mac that is included on their later "greatest hits" and "best of" compilations. "Albatross" is the only Fleetwood Mac composition to inspire a Beatles song, "Sun King" from 1969's Abbey Road. George Harrison commented in a 1987 interview that the Beatles used "Albatross" as a starting point to construct a new song. "At the time, 'Albatross' (by Fleetwood Mac) was out, with all the reverb on guitar. So we said, 'Let's be Fleetwood Mac doing Albatross, just to get going.' It never really sounded like Fleetwood Mac... but that was the point of origin."[16]

Commercial performance

The song was a success in several countries and remains Fleetwood Mac's only number-one hit in the UK Singles Chart, spending one week at the top in January 1969.[17]

"Albatross" was re-released in the United Kingdom in April 1973 as part of a CBS Records series entitled "Hall of Fame Hits",[18] and enjoyed a second UK chart run, peaking at number 2.[7] [17]

As of 2019, "Albatross" has sold over 900,000 copies in the UK.

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1968–1969)Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart[19] 45
Canadian AC Chart[20] 16
UK Singles Chart1
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles4
Chart (2020-2023)Peak
position
UK Physical Singles Chart[21] 8
UK Singles Sales Chart[22] 17
UK Vinyl Singles Chart[23] 8

Legacy

One of the earliest uses of the tune was on the soundtrack for the Rainer Werner Fassbinder sci-fi virtual reality film World on a Wire (1973). It was featured (along with "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues") in 1979's Rock 'n' Roll High School. Mick Fleetwood told Rolling Stone magazine that it was also used by the BBC on a wildlife program before it was a hit.[24] The piece was also used as the background music to Marks & Spencer's 2005 advertising campaign. The song was used again by Marks & Spencer in 2019.[25]

In March 2005, Q magazine placed "Albatross" at number 37 in its list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Tracks".[26]

Notes and References

  1. February 1969 . BI's Chart Fax . . 2 . 17.
  2. Web site: Allison . Rapp . April 8, 2021 . Watch David Gilmour Perform Fleetwood Mac's 'Albatross' . . April 20, 2021 . Steel guitar for a performance of Fleetwood Mac's instrumental classic 'Albatross'....
  3. Web site: Tom . Ewing . September 9, 2006. Fleetwood Mac - "Albatross". . June 11, 2022.
  4. Web site: Tom . Ewing . September 9, 2006. Fleetwood Mac - "Albatross". . June 11, 2022.
  5. Alexis . Petridis . Alexis Petridis . Fleetwood Mac's 30 greatest songs – ranked! . . 19 July 2022.
  6. Thinking About Tomorrow Edition. Hit Parade Music History and Music Trivia. Slate. Molanphy. Chris. January 14, 2023. February 10, 2023.
  7. Book: Rice, Jo. 1982. The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits. 1st. Guinness Superlatives Ltd . Enfield, Middlesex. 123. 0-85112-250-7.
  8. Web site: Fleetwood Mac - Albatross. 1 June 2021. 45cat.com.
  9. Web site: The Pious Bird of Good Omen - Fleetwood Mac | Songs, Reviews, Credits. AllMusic. 1 June 2021.
  10. Web site: English Rose - Fleetwood Mac | Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic. 1 June 2021.
  11. Book: Rooksby, Rikky . 2004 . Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Guide to Their Music . Omnibus Press . 17 . 1-844494-27-6 .
  12. Book: Kutner, John. 2010. 1000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press. 264. 978-0857123602.
  13. Book: Celmins , Martin . Peter Green: Founder of Fleetwood Mac . 1995 . Castle . 74 . 1-898141-13-4 .
  14. Fleetwood Mac . The Vaudeville Years . The Vaudeville Years . CD booklet notes . 1998 . Receiver Records .
  15. Web site: 22 November 2021 . The Story Behind Fleetwood Mac Song 'Albatross' . 26 August 2023. faroutmagazine.co.uk . en-US.
  16. Web site: The Beatles Interview Database . 2009 . Abbey Road – 'Sun King' . 4 April 2021.
  17. Web site: Albatross | full Official Chart History. Officialcharts.com. 1 June 2021.
  18. Web site: Fleetwood Mac - Albatross. 1 June 2021. 45cat.com.
  19. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - March 31, 1969.
  20. Web site: RPM Top 40 AC Singles - March 24, 1969.
  21. Web site: Official Physical Singles Chart 27 April 2023 - 3 May 2023. 26 August 2023 . Official Charts.
  22. Web site: Official Singles Sales Chart 27 April 2023 - 3 May 2023. 26 August 2023 . Official Charts.
  23. Web site: Official Vinyl Singles Chart 27 April 2023 - 3 May 2023. 26 August 2023 . Official Charts.
  24. The True Life Confessions of Fleetwood Mac . 24 March 1977 . . 28 July 2020.
  25. Web site: M&S revives its famous 'food porn' ad campaign. Marianne. Calnan. 3 April 2019. The Grocer. 1 June 2021.
  26. 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Ever! . March 2005 . . Rocklist.net . 20 February 2014.