Although slide guitarist Jeremy Spencer was not a part of the recording sessions, he was featured in television appearnces miming to Green's slide guitar parts. It was also the band's first single release to feature guitar work from new member Danny Kirwan. The composition and its arrangement suggest a relaxing sea setting, with cymbals imitating the sound of waves ( Mick Fleetwood played his drum kit using timpani mallets to give a muted sound) and a dreamy solo from Green's guitar. Santo & Johnny's 'Sleep Walk' (1959) reportedly inspired Peter Green for his 1968 instrumental 'Albatross', although the composition also resembles Chuck Berry's 1957 instrumental 'Deep Feeling', itself derivative of the 1939 recording 'Floyd's Guitar Blues' by Andy Kirk and his 12 Clouds of Joy, featuring guitarist Floyd Smith. A reissue of the single peaked at No 2 in 1973, held off the top spot by 10cc's Rubber Bullets. It also topped the charts in the Netherlands. It stayed there for a week in early 1969 before being displaced by The Move's Blackberry Way.
It marked not only their first UK Top 10 hit but their only No 1 in their native country's singles chart.
Albatross is an instrumental piece composed by Peter Green, released as Fleetwood Mac's fourth single on November 22nd 1968.
