Back in the swinging '60s, Fleetwood Mac was originally formed by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers guitarist Peter Green and drummer Mick Fleetwood as a classic British blues-rock band. Guitarist Jeremy Spencer was a founding member of Mac, adding an essential edge to the band's first two bluesy LPs with his Elmore James-influenced slide-guitar sound.
Spencer left the band in 1971 to pursue other avenues, but he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Fleetwood Mac on the basis of his musical contributions to the band's first five albums and, you know, being an original member as well. Spencer has continued to write and play music during the years, but he jumped back into the spotlight big-time in April 2012 when he released Bend In The Road, a limited edition two-album vinyl set for International Record Store Day.
On August 28, 2012 Spencer's Bend In The Road will be released on CD with new packaging and a somewhat different track listing. The original double-vinyl set included 17 songs, four of which were exclusive to the LP, while the CD version of Bend In The Road offers up 14 songs, including the CD-exclusive "Homework." The album is a collection of guitar-driven roots 'n' blues tunes produced by Spencer and guitarist Brett Lucas of the Detroit band the Boa Constrictors, who back of the British blues-rock legend in the studio.
Bend In The Road is Spencer's first album since 2006's Precious Little, and only his second new set in almost 33 years. Critics are already falling all over themselves to praise Spencer's new effort, so it would be well worth your time to check out Bend In The Road for a taste of authentic British blues-rock sounds.
Photo courtesy Propelz
Comments
“Spencer left the band in 1971 to pursue other avenues…”
Those other avenues included joining a religious cult that believes in incest and child sex. A British judge in a well known child custody case involving the Children of God cult he joined in LA, found as a matter of fact that Jeremy Spencer sexually abused several children including his own daughter. Jeremy is still a member of that cult, now known as The Family International, and is a major propagandist for fundamentalist Christianity.
I have to agree with Rev. Gordon. I bought the Bend in the Road LP and thought it was absolutely wonderful! Looking forward to more from Jeremy. His music is timeless.
Contrary to Mr. Bulwer’s assertions above, I can find no evidence, no “matter of fact” that Jeremy Spencer “sexually abused several children” although there have been many allegations against both Spencer and the religious organization that he has been a member of since 1971.
Bulwer is a Canadian lawyer and human rights advocate and a former member of the Children of God who “escaped,” so he has an agenda of his own. Personally, Spencer’s alleged acts, if true, are indeed horrible. But this is a blues music website, and it is on this music that we focus our attention. This is not a forum for slander and allegations.
Readers wanting any more information on either Spencer or Bulwer are welcome to look it up for themselves, but future comments that aren’t about the music will be deleted.
Thanks for the nice review! I’m really proud of the music that Jeremy and I recorded and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as we did making it! Just a note: I am from Detroit but I’m not part of a band called the Boa Constrictors. Im a member of bands and artitst including Bettye Lavette, Saint Cecilia, Lucas, Thornetta Davis and others. It’s all on Brettlucas.com.
Thanks!
Brett
As a responsible radio presenter I have also heard accusations aimed at Jeremy, but no evidence or tangible proof has ever been produced and I tend to agree with what “BLUES SAYS” that Mr. Bulwer has a personal agenda, one he should pursue elsewhere and either put up or shut up and regardless of what opinions about Jeremy abounds it is his music which is the subject for comment and as a musician and radio presenter of more than 50 years standing – this CD is worthy of the highest possible accolade and places Jeremy right back at the very top a fact that he showed with his 2006 offering “Precious Little” and confirmed with “A Bend In The Road”
Personally I cannot wait for the next CD
Jan ‘Bas’ Johansen