1970 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Kiln House is the fourth studio album by British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 18 September 1970 by Reprise Records. This is the first album after the departure of founder Peter Green, and their last album to feature guitarist Jeremy Spencer. Christine McVie was present at the recording sessions and contributed backing vocals, keyboards and cover art, although she was not a full member of the band until shortly after the album`s completion.[3]

Background

The album title is taken from the name of a converted oast house in Truncheaunts Lane, near Alton in Hampshire. The house was leased by the band, who lived there communally with their families for a six-month period in 1970. Mick Fleetwood married Jenny Boyd at the house on 20 June 1970.[4]

Spencer, who played on only one track during the recording of the previous album, Then Play On, played a much more active role during the Kiln House sessions. His retro 1950s homages and parodies dominate the album, although Danny Kirwan`s songs are almost equally prominent.[5] Spencer was particularly influenced by rockabilly and music from the Sun Records record label.[6] "Buddy`s Song" is a cover of a song first recorded by Bobby Vee in 1963, which itself was a partial cover of "Peggy Sue Got Married" with new lyrics listing a number of Buddy Holly song titles. The song is credited to Buddy Holly`s mother, who received the writing credit after Buddy`s funeral from the original composer, Waylon Jennings.[3] Fleetwood Mac`s cover of "Hi Ho Silver" was based on a recording titled "Honey Hush" from Johnny Burnette`s Rock and Roll Trio.[6] Johnny Burnette`s nephew, Billy Burnette, later joined Fleetwood Mac in 1987.[7]

An early version of Kirwan`s instrumental "Earl Gray", entitled "Farewell", was later released on the compilation The Vaudeville Years.[8]

Spencer recalled that the album and ensuing tour were met with hostility in the UK.[6] However, Kiln House was received much more favorably in North America, where it peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard 200 album chart on 7 November 1970[9] and No. 67 in Canada`s RPM Magazine, December 19, 1970.[10] At the time, Kiln House was Fleetwood Mac`s best-seller in the US.[6]

Five days before they were set to depart for their American tour, the band asked Christine McVie to join Fleetwood Mac. Following five days of rehearsals, the band left for America on 26 July. McVie said that the band was met with apprehension for about 20% of their performances, particularly amongst those who missed Peter Green. "I think the audience are wondering what we are going to be like. Before Peter ran the band. Now there is no leader, we just take turns. Obviously, some of the people miss Peter`s guitar playing. But then, the sound is different now and other people have said that they don`t even notice he`s missing."[11]

Track listing

• "Hi Ho Silver" (a.k.a. "Honey Hush") is incorrectly credited to Fats Waller and Ed Kirkeby, in confusion with another song (Waller died ten years before this song was written).
• "Purple Dancer" is referred to as such only on the 2020 remastered album; on all prior releases it is titled "The Purple Dancer".

Personnel

Fleetwood Mac

• Jeremy Spencer – guitar, slide guitar, piano, vocals
• Danny Kirwan – guitar, vocals
• John McVie – bass guitar
• Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Christine McVie – Wurlitzer 200A, piano, backing vocals (uncredited)

Production

• Producer – Fleetwood Mac
• Engineer – Martin Birch
• Cover drawing – Christine McVie

Charts