Future Games

Future Games is the fifth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 3 September 1971. It was recorded in the summer of 1971 at Advision Studios in London[3] and was the first album to feature Christine McVie as a full member. This album was also the first of five albums to feature American guitarist Bob Welch. “He was totally different background – R&B, sort of jazzy. He brought his personality,” Mick Fleetwood said of Welch in a 1995 BBC interview. “He was a member of Fleetwood Mac before we’d even played a note.” [4]

This article is about the 1971 Fleetwood Mac album. For the 1977 Spirit album, see Future Games (Spirit album). For the video game company, see Future Games (video game developer).
Future Games
Studio album by
Fleetwood Mac
Released3 September 1971
RecordedJune–August 1971
StudioAdvision Studios, London, England
GenreSoft rock
Length42:22
LabelReprise
ProducerFleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac chronology
Kiln House
(1970)		 Future Games
(1971)		 Bare Trees
(1972)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB[2]

The album peaked at number 91 on the US Billboard 200 chart dated 18 December 1971.[5] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2000.[6]

Background

Without the 1950s leanings of departed guitarist Jeremy Spencer, the band moved further away from blues and closer to the melodic pop sound that would finally break them into America four years later. After the band completed the album and turned it in, the record label said that it would not release an album with only seven songs, and demanded that they record an eighth. "What a Shame" was recorded hastily as a jam to fulfill this request.

Welch's primary guitar at the time was a Gibson ES-335, which he played on the record along with a Fender Stratocaster.[7]

Track notes

There is an early version of "Morning Rain" with the title "Start Again", as recorded in a BBC session on 5 January 1971.[8]

"What a Shame" featured saxophone from Christine McVie's brother John Perfect whose son Dan later co-produced and featured as guitarist/co-writer on McVie's 2004 album In the Meantime.

The title track, written by then-newcomer Bob Welch,[9] was later re-recorded for his 1979 solo album The Other One and again for His Fleetwood Mac Years & Beyond in 2003. The original version is featured in the 2000 movie Almost Famous.

A heavily edited version of "Sands of Time" was an unsuccessful single in the United States and some other territories. This version was also released on the deluxe edition of the 50 Years – Don't Stop compilation in 2018.

An alternate version of "Lay It All Down" appeared on the 1992 compilation 25 Years – The Chain.

Artwork

Early UK and American releases of this album, along with some other country's issues, have a yellow background to the picture of the two children and cover text. All subsequent releases have a green background. The 2013 vinyl reissue by Warner/Rhino available in the Fleetwood Mac: 1969 to 1972 4-LP box set restores the original yellow background to the album artwork and it was released as a standalone LP two years later.

Release and reception

Charts and commercial performance

Future Games debuted at number 186 on the US Billboard 200 chart dated 30 October 1971.[10] The album reached its peak at number 91 on the chart dated 18 December 1971, after being on the chart for eight weeks.[11] The album ultimately spent a total of 12 weeks on the chart.[12] On 4 October 2000, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over 500,000 copies in the United States.[13]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Woman of 1000 Years"Danny Kirwan5:28
2."Morning Rain"Christine McVie5:38
3."What a Shame"Bob Welch, Kirwan, C. McVie, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood2:20
4."Future Games"Welch8:18
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Sands of Time"Kirwan7:23
2."Sometimes"Kirwan5:26
3."Lay It All Down"Welch4:30
4."Show Me a Smile"C. McVie3:21
2020 Remastered bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Sands of Time (Single Version)"Kirwan3:04
10."Sometimes (Alternate Version)"Kirwan5:25
11."Lay It All Down (Alternate Version)"Welch8:18
12."Stone"Welch2:30
13."Show Me a Smile (Alternate Version)"C. McVie3:23
14."What a Shame (Unedited Jam)"Welch, Kirwan, C. McVie, J. McVie, Fleetwood8:28

The song timings listed here are not as indicated on all CDs, since some of the timings on some releases are inaccurate. On some versions of the album (depending on the country of issue), the notes state that the track "Woman of 1000 Years" runs for 8:20, when in fact it runs for 5:28. Similarly, "Morning Rain" is listed as 6:22 and runs for 5:38, while the track "Sometimes" is listed to run for 6:25 and only runs for 5:26.[14]

Personnel

Fleetwood Mac

Additional personnel

Production

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart Position
US Billboard 200[15] 91

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: F". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 24 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. Mick Fleetwood (30 October 2014). Play On: Now, Then and Fleetwood Mac. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 978-1-4447-5326-4.
  4. Swanson, Dave. "45 Years Ago: Fleetwood Mac Play 'Future Games'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  5. "Billboard 200 - December 18, 1971". Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  6. "RIAA Certifications - Fleetwood Mac". Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  7. Saulnier, Jason (4 May 2010). "Bob Welch Interview, Fleetwood Mac Guitarist on Nashville Flood". Music Legends Online. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  8. Live at the BBC 5-1-71 (CD running order). Fleetwood Mac. Reprise. 1971.CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. Fricke, David (21 June 2012). "Bob Welch's Missing Music: The Fleetwood Mac Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  10. "Billboard 200 - October 30, 1971". Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  11. "Billboard 200 - December 18, 1971". Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  12. "Billboard Chart History - Fleetwood Mac". Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  13. "RIAA Certifications - Fleetwood Mac". Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  14. Future Games (CD booklet notes). Fleetwood Mac. Reprise. 1971.CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. "Allmusic: Future Games : Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums". allmusic.com. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  16. "American album certifications – Fleetwood Mac – Future Games". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 

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