The Cover Uncovered: Fleetwood Mac’s unexpected visual gem, ‘English Rose’

Posted On February 10, 2025February 10, 2025

By 1969, Fleetwood Mac had created quite a complex identity, though not by choice. With two studio albums under their belt, they had already achieved a couple of notable milestones, the most obvious being their seamless combination of blues, folk, and rock. With a robust core comprising Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, and Jeremy Spencer, the group experienced a turning point with English Rose, the compilation album with a cover as unexpected as the years that followed.

To put this into perspective, the band had toyed with album covers as an extension of artistic expression with the previous two albums, though not to the same extent. Except for the seemingly mundane aesthetic that highlighted their debut, sophomore record Mr. Wonderful hinted at a playfulness the Mac had yet to exhibit, all thanks to Fleetwood’s off-kilter suggestion.

Although many of the songs seemed to mirror the debut almost identically, at least sonically and melodically, the album cover appeared to signal a new artistic direction for the band, showcasing their desire to stand out with unexpected boldness. For example, while it would have been just as fitting to choose another “normal” cover, like the one for their debut, the second album featured a naked Fleetwood in a black hat, pulling a shocked expression in front of the camera—an image that felt both surprising and attention-grabbing.

Save for some pushback from the label about the kind of message they wanted to send with Mr. Wonderful, Fleetwood seemed to strike again with the release of English Rose. This time, he leaned even more into his mischievous side, donning drag attire—makeup, a wig, a dress, and red feathers—while pulling a playful, carefree face that you’d expect to send your friends late at night after a few drinks.

Except for the obvious reasons why this is one of the most memorable and familiar Fleetwood Mac album covers, it seemed to arrive in stark contrast with the music, further highlighting the band’s desire to captivate attention even among those who had yet to hear their music. They could have enhanced their desire to be taken more seriously, but instead, they opted for visual whimsy, continuing the earlier tonality set by the aesthetic for Mr. Wonderful.

Perhaps there was a broader reason for this beyond the effervescence, especially since the compilation seemed to be half made up of songs from the second record, which Fleetwood had initially used to test the waters. This time, however, he went full steam ahead with his vision, not just conceptually but visually as well, with English Rose standing out with a more obvious vividness.

For instance, they could have just as easily adhered to the conventional rock aesthetic of the time, which would have suited their sound, but this cover instead presented an unexpected approachability, making their music even more accessible than initially anticipated. The band would later prove their innovative capabilities in more obvious ways, with covers that stand out as some of the most impactful cultural touchstones, but English Rose was more than just an experiment—it signalled unpredictability with an edge, like the band were constantly on the cusp of doing something shocking.

At this particular juncture, this was, of course, something of an empty promise, but there’s no denying its suggestiveness of something more artistically compelling afoot. Many like-minded musicians and bands at the time played it safe, especially regarding their sleeves, which were also almost always created with heavy guidance from their labels. However, with Fleetwood poised and ready to deliver ideas no one else had thought of, it ensured the band always arrived with a certain energy that was difficult to pin down, even back then.

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