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Track Listings
| 1. Remember Me |
| 2. Bright Fire |
| 3. Dissatisfied |
| 4. (I'm A) Road Runner |
| 5. The Derelict |
| 6. Revelation |
| 7. Did You Ever Love Me |
| 8. Night Watch |
| 9. Caught In The Rain |
Product Description
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Customer Reviews
If "Penguin" is not among Fleetwood Mac's strongest albums it says something about their resilience that it even got made, considering the upheavals preceding it. And "Penguin" does contain a few gems which more intrepid FM explorers might like to discover. Bob Welch (guitar/vocals) and Christine McVie (piano/vocals) were consolidating their positions, being relatively new recruits themselves. Their best moments display a growing confidence. Welch's "Night Watch" is brooding and atmospheric, whilst his "Bright Fire" glistens and shimmers. McVie's "Remember Me" is a strong early example of the catchy pop-rock songs that would become a key feature of later FM albums.
As for the new boys, Bob Weston contributed an attractive, contemplative composition in the shape of "Caught in the Rain". He also deports himself well on guitar throughout. A few Fleetwood Mac old school die-hards might allege he wasn't as good as Danny Kirwan, and even older school die-hards would dismiss anyone who wasn't Peter Green, but if you listen without prejudice (let me say now I am not a George Michael fan) you hear a very talented musician in his own right. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of the other new boy, Dave Walker. Quite why FM thought they needed a "lead singer" when they already possessed the fine voices of Bob Welch and Christine McVie is unclear. In the event Walker's contribution was pretty minimal. His throaty r'n'b assault on "(I'm a) Road Runner" and "Derelict" could well be the sound of that car in which Fleetwood Mac were always crashing.
So "Penguin" is not exactly essential but nor is it without charm. The rest of the band would soon realise that Dave Walker was a spare part, if not actually a liability, and he would be shown the door within months. The "Penguin" line-up, minus Walker, would go on to record "Mystery to Me", which is not only a big improvement on "Penguin" but a major (and sadly neglected) achievement in Fleetwood Mac's history as a whole.
Overall this is a fairly average record, however, it does contain some really marvellous Christine McVie songs that are as good as anything that she did later. 'Remember me' and 'Dissatisfied' are both great, bittersweet songs in Christine's trademark minor key. 'Did you ever love me' - a co-composion with Bob Welch - is even better a wonderful, very catchy Carribean-flavoured song featuring steel drums - it received lots of airplay but sadly wasn't a hit.
Elsewhere the under-used Dave Walker does a good version of the Junior Walker song 'Roadrunner' playing Walker's sax parts on harp. Bob Welch's 'Night Watch' apparently includes guitar from an uncredited Peter Green.
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