Watch Fleetwood Mac’s Iconic 1970 UK TV Performance Of ‘Albatross’

Relive Peter Green’s supremacy as we look at this amazing performance of “Albatross” by Fleetwood Mac. The video can be seen below.

Peter Green was a guitar maestro, known for his quirks around the instrument. While we see Fleetwood Mac as this commercially successful British-American band, nothing could take away early blues beginnings of the group from when Peter Green was still the bandleader. And for that, it was “Albatross” that marked their significance as a band with potential.

The groundbreaking rock song was among the first recordings focus on emotion than on technical skill. “Albatross” established Green as the influential guitar-playing innovator that he was; a pioneer that influenced everybody.

With cymbals mimicking the sound of sea waves (Mick Fleetwood played his drum rhythm with timpani mallets to give it a muted sound) and a dreamy guitar solo from Green, the composition and arrangement suggest a relaxing beachside setting.

The song, although not a frequent in any Fleetwood Mac concerts, is the only no. 1 hit in the UK Charts, spending a week there back in 1969. It was then re-released in 1973 as a double A-side altogether with “Need Your Love So Bad.” Once again, it achieved success at the charts; peaking at no. 2.

Below, we can see one of the very few live versions of the song at the TV music program Top of the Pops. Check it here.