May-June 2007

Artist: JEREMY SPENCER

Title: PRECIOUS LITTLE

Label: BLUESTOWN/BLIND PIG BPCD 5106

Release Date: JULY 2006

By Dennis Roger Reed

Most people know of the band Fleetwood Mac as a pop rock group, one of the most popular in the mid and late 1970s. There is another Fleetwood Mac that only shares two of the same members, but left a legacy arguably as strong as the later incarnation, although as an electric blues band with emerging pop overtones.

Fleetwood Mac began in 1967 as somewhat of an offshoot of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, as three of the original four members had been in the recent employ of Mr. Mayall. The former Bluesbreakers, bassist John McVie, drummer Mick Fleetwood and guitarist/vocalist Peter Green, were joined by a 19 year old blues guitarist, pianist and singer named Jeremy Spencer. Spencer had the ability to play American blues legend Elmore James' songs uncannily like James, a somewhat astonishing fact considering that Spencer was a young white Brit. Fleetwood Mac soon added Danny Kirwan as the third guitarist, and the world was their oyster for a short period of time. However, Green began to mentally unravel due to the pressures of rock success, and left the group. They soldered on for another album sans Green, but during a U.S. tour in 1971, Spencer left his hotel to visit a bookstore in Los Angeles, but did not return for that night's concert. It turned out that he had joined a sect called the Children of God, a group with which he remains affiliated to this day. Green was begged back to finish the tour, but the first incarnation of Fleetwood Mac was on the ropes. The personnel changes made by McVie and Fleetwood eventually created the pop supergroup that to many, eclipsed the memory of the first Fleetwood Mac.

Spencer did several solo records, but the music business took a back seat to his work with the Children of God, who are now known as the Family. Although he did play music, he did not return to the recording studio until a gig at the Notodden Blues Festival in Norway in 2005. Festival promoters connected Spencer to a Norwegian blues band, and Spencer was so impressed with their talent that they entered the studio and Precious Little is the result.

Spencer was well known not only for his slide guitar work, but also his entertaining takes on 1950s rock and roll. Although he throws in Please Don't Stop which was a hit for Fabian, for the most part he eschews the Buddy Holly influenced side of his work. Spencer had the ability to sing sweetly or roughly, and his mature voice leans towards the former. This is not strictly a blues recording, but more a blues influenced recording. Spencer pays tribute to Elmore James with a nice reading of James' It Hurts Me Too. His slide work has improved greatly, something Spencer attributes to deciding to play with his fingers instead of a pick. Although the electric guitar is used on this recording, Spencer uses acoustics, including an old Dobro^TM spider bridge guitar, to great effect. Tune choices are interesting. Spencer revisits the classic Corrina Corrina as Serene Serene. One of the more intriguing songs is Maria De Santiago, which Spencer had brought into the project as an instrumental. Encouraged to add lyrics, this song has a blues undercurrent, but Spanish guitar mixes well with blues slide work, and the song has a wistful, haunting quality.

Much of the appeal of this project lies in the relaxed, confident manner that Spencer approaches his work. The instrumental work and vocals are exemplary. His lyrics are not his strongest talent, but for the most part they convey simple truths and comfort. And the project includes the remarkable work of a group of extremely talented Norwegians who can play the blues with the best. This is a pleasing return from a long lost talent.