Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits (1989)

When the average music fan thinks of Fleetwood Mac, images of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham usually automatically come to mind, as well as the pop perfection of such mega-sellers as Rumours. But the late-'60s/early-'70s version of Mac was a completely different band stylistically: a blues outfit led by guitar great Peter Green. And this is the era that the 2002 compilation Best of the Best (Gold) focuses on. It's rather humorous to think of how many casual fans must have picked up this set expecting "Rhiannon," but instead received such bluesy tours de force as "Albatross." However, that's not to say that the "Peter Green-era" Fleetwood Mac wasn't exceptional in its own right, as such standout tracks as "Coming Home," "Stop Messin' Round," and "Love That Burns" exemplify. In fact, Green's Mac was much more authentic sounding than other blues-based rock bands that were lighting up the charts around this time (Cream, Led Zeppelin, etc.). Best of the Best (Gold) is a fine summary of Fleetwood Mac's bluesy, and oft-overlooked, past.