"Fleetwood Mac in Chicago" is a double album released by British Blues band, Fleetwood Mac, in December 1969. It is a recording of the band's live performances interconnected with the blues legends who significantly influenced their style. Recorded at Chess Records Ter-Mar Studio in Chicago, it was Chief Records executive and blues promoter Samuel Charters' idea to link the excited but stumbling crew of Fleetwood Mac with established American blues musicians.
The band for these recordings included members Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, John McVie, Danny Kirwan, and Mick Fleetwood. They were joined by accomplished blues musicians Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Honeyboy Edwards, Otis Spann, and Walter "Shakey" Horton, among others. This melting pot of talent combined to engender a distinct sound presenting the primacy of American blues with the energetic youthfulness of the British performers.
The album's songs include renditions of classic blues like "I Got the Blues," expressing the influence of authentic blues on Fleetwood Mac's sound. An expanded version of the album, titled "Blues Jam at Chess," was re-released as a part of the band’s major body of work in 2004, which incorporated additional overtures indicative of the characteristic synergy between Fleetwood Mac and their blues predecessors. This collaboration highlighted the unification between the old and the new, providing a unique depth to the understanding of Fleetwood Mac's sound, making "Fleetwood Mac in Chicago" a compelling and essential album for both fans and blues aficionados alike.
