2000 Great Songs #1328: Future Games

1971's Future Games was the first album from Fleetwood Mac's Bob Welch era. After founding guitarist Peter Green left, his co-founder Jeremy Spencer hung around for one further LP, 1970's pretty solid Kiln House, but with his departure the namesake rhythm section brought in the American singer/songwriter Welch (while Christie McVie became an official member as well), ushering in a sound pretty far removed from the band's original blues roots.

The record's title track is a fine introduction to what Welch brought to the band, for better and for worse. His music could be lovely and pastoral, but also rather bland. This epic-length track is both, though the blandness works in its favor, giving the languid, psychedelic tune space for some jam-band-like sprawl, a meandering yet pretty jazz-tinged piece (with shades of CSN) that sounds great just lilting away in the background.

Live version (audio only):

Updated & shortened Bob Welch solo version:

Electronica cover version from MGMT:

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