"Man of the World" is a song recorded by Fleetwood Mac in 1969, and composed by vocalist and lead guitarist Peter Green.[1] After the group signed to Immediate Records that year, the label collapsed shortly after the single's release. As such, "Man of the World" is the only Fleetwood Mac single under the Immediate Records label.[2]
The single peaked on the UK Singles Chart at No. 2 on 7 June 1969, spending a total of 14 weeks on the listing.[4] It also entered the Dutch Top 40 on 26 April 1969 and peaked at No. 12. The song also reached the top five in Norway and Ireland.
The song was not released in the US until 1976, when DJM Records released it as a single with "Best Girl in the World" as its B-side. Record World said of the release that "an exquisite pattern of guitars re-establishes the early trademark."[5] "Best Girl in the World" was pulled from the non-US version of Kirwan's album Second Chapter, released in 1976.[6] The 1976 UK re-release of "Man of the World" had the title track of Second Chapter as the B-side.[7] The song has also been re-released in many countries as a 'Golden Oldies' single.[citation needed] The song was also issued in Australia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain on Immediate Records; Lebanon and Malaysia on Stateside Records and Yugoslavia on Jugoton.
Decades later, Mick Fleetwood commented about Green's then mental health state, "It's a very prophetic song. When he made those songs, we had no idea that he was suffering internally as much as he was. But if you listen to the words, it's crucifyingly obvious what was going on. But a beautiful song. A poignant song."[8]
Original B-side ("Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked in Tonite")[edit]
The B-side of the original "Man of the World" single was "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked in Tonite", credited to Earl Vince and the Valiants – in reality Fleetwood Mac performing under a different name.[1] The song was composed and sung by Jeremy Spencer,[1] the only member of the band who did not appear on the A-side. The song was later covered by the UK punk band The Rezillos on their debut album, Can't Stand the Rezillos[9] and later featured on Jackass: The Music, Vol. 1.[10]
"Man of the World" was used by Ian Broudie as the basis – melody and the final lyric line – for an album track, "I Wish I Was in Love", on The Lightning Seeds' album Tilt (1999).[11] The track is credited accordingly as co-written by Peter Green.[12]
