Writer: Peter Green
Producers: Fleetwood Mac
Recorded: Early 1969 in England
Released: Fall 1969
| Players: | Peter Green–vocals, guitar Jeremy Spencer–guitar Danny Kirwan–guitar John McVie–bass Mick Fleetwood–drums |
| Album: | Then Play On (Reprise, 1969) |
Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood founded Fleetwood Mac in 1967, after the two musicians played in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. John McVie, another Bluesbreakers alumnus, joined shortly thereafter.
The band was named after an unreleased instrumental the musicians performed with the Bluesbreakers.
“Oh Well, Part 1” reflects Green's decision to renounced his Jewish faith and embrace Christianity.
After making that decision, Green began performing on stage in long, white, messianic robes.
“Oh Well,” Fleetwood Mac's seventh single, hit Number Two on the U.K. pop chart and Number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It was the group's only U.S. hit until the release of the Fleetwood Mac album in 1975.
“Oh Well, Part Two” was a nine-minute instrumental that featured guitar, cello, and flute.
Green's girlfriend, Sandra, played flute on the second part of the song.
The Then Play On album was Fleetwood Mac's first for the Reprise label, beginning a long association with the Warner Bros. conglomerate.
Then Play On peaked at Number 109 on the Billboard 200 and at Number Six on the U.K. album chart.
Then Play On was Green's last album with the band. He left Fleetwood Mac in the spring of 1970, overwhelmed by pop stardom and the effects of LSD and other substances.
At one point, Green announced that he planned to give all his earnings to charity.
In 1969, Fleetwood Mac outsold both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in Europe.
The group was named Britain's Number One Progressive Group by Melody Maker magazine.
