Top 10 Peter Green songs

One is the wildly successful, still-ongoing Buckingham/Nicks version. But before that, there was the original line-up, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac. This lasted from 1967-70, a period during which the band were regarded as leading blues rockers. And they recorded some indelible tracks. Here are the best.

10) Need Your Love So Bad (1968)

A hit single for the Mac, reaching No.31 on the UK chart, this cover of the Little Willie John song is calm and classy, and offers an early showcase not only of Peter Green's guitar brilliance but also the depth of his vocal ability.

9) Stop Messin' Around (1968)

An original Peter Green piece, this appeared on the Mr Wonderful album. Although it has much in common with so many other British blues songs of the era, what makes Stop Messin' Around stand out is the sheer euphoria and depth of the music. The band genuinely sound as if they're plugged into the American Deep South.

8) Searching For Madge (1969)

Written by bassist John McVie, the track may start out as a seemingly simple blues number, but it quickly turns into a more psychedelic routine. Not only do Peter Green and Danny Kirwan lay down some significant guitar parts, but Mick Fleetwood's drumming is also excellent. It's an impressive, almost free-form instrumental.

7) Shake Your Moneymaker (1968)

A wild ride through the Elmore James song, with Jeremy Spencer doing a fine job on vocals. The band tears through it with plenty of energy, and while they never lose respect for the original composition, the four of them nonetheless add their own sense of character and drive.

6) Rattlesnake Shake (1969)

Green once admitted that this song from Then Play On was about masturbation - well, the title kind of gives it away! A commanding display of what the band did best - musically, that is - it has plenty of room for the musicians to dig into extended jam sections. But the studio version is tight, groovy and fun.

5) Black Magic Woman (1968)

Yes, to most people this is more recognisable as a Santana song, since they had the bigger hit with it. But the original Fleetwood Mac version has all the trademarks that make Black Magic Woman a classic. The chiming, near-Latin shuffle offsets the typically stripped-down blues. The combination is inspired.

4) Albatross (1968)

An instrumental single that topped the British charts, this is a brilliant example of how Green and Kirwan complemented each other. Majestic, haunting, it genuinely inspired the Beatles' Sun King and retains its power to transport you. One of the great rock instrumentals, its impact is unmatched.

3) Man Of The World (1969)

One of the most heart-wrenching and haunting songs of Peter Green's era, it's a story of yearning. It's about someone who believes he has everything except what he wants most: a partner. Green delivers the vocals with a slow sense of emptiness, which is underscored by the band's low-key, sympathetic gentleness

2) Oh Well (1969)

This is two songs in one. The first part is a high-speed blues workout with vocals, while the second is a more classically inspired instrumental. The opening section is heavy enough to be proto-metal and has some riffage flashing from Green and Kirwan. The latter part is more fluid. The combination, however, is inspired.

1) Green Manalishi (With The Two-Prong Crown) (1969)

This is among the last songs Green wrote before leaving the band. A relentless riff drives the rhythm, while Green wails almost impenetrable lyrics. At the time, he was taking a lot of acid, but he always insisted it was about the evils of money. Later covered by Judas Priest, it's an unforgettable bridge between blues, psychedelia and metal.

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