Then Play On

Then Play On is the third studio album by Fleetwood Mac, originally released on 19th September 1969. This album marked the debut of guitarist Danny Kirwan as a full band member and was the final album with Peter Green. Although Jeremy Spencer remained an official band member, his contribution was limited to a few piano elements, according to Mick Fleetwood in a 1990 interview with Q magazine.

The album expanded beyond the band’s earlier electric blues style, incorporating influences from folk rock, hard rock, and psychedelia. It peaked at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart, continuing the band’s streak of Top 20 albums and becoming their third consecutive Top 10 release.

The title “Then Play On” is derived from William Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night, echoing the album’s exploration of diverse musical styles. It also marked Fleetwood Mac’s transition to Reprise Records, a relationship that lasted until their 1975 eponymous album, after which they moved to Warner Records.

Initially, the US release of the album omitted two tracks previously included on the compilation album English Rose. Subsequent US pressings added the hit single “Oh Well”. The 2013 remastered edition includes all previous versions’ tracks along with additional material like “The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)” and its B-side “World in Harmony”.

Then Play On departed from Fleetwood Mac’s previous live studio recordings, incorporating overdubbing and editing techniques. It featured improvised tracks like “Underway”, “Searching for Madge”, and “Fighting for Madge”, which were compiled by Peter Green from extensive jam sessions.

The album’s artwork, a mural by English artist Maxwell Armfield originally designed for a London mansion’s dining room, remains iconic. Reception at the time was mixed, but contemporary reviews have become more favourable over time, with retrospectives often highlighting its musical breadth and experimental approach.