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Fleetwood Mac — Rattlesnake Shake
Album: Then Play On
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1222









Released: 1969
Length: 3:27
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Baby, if you got to rock
I got to be your rockin' horse
Baby, think you'd like to roll
Make me your diggin' mole
They're shakin' the world
When it's time to crash
But when I get home tonight
I guess I got to shake myself

You need some love
You must have the blues
Ain't but the one thing
A good man can do
He do the shake
The rattlesnake shake
Man, do the shake
Yes, and jerk away the blues
Now, jerk it

Now, I know this guy
His name is Mick
Now, he don't care when he ain't got no chick
He do the shake
The rattlesnake shake
Yes, he do the shake
And jerks away the blues
Now, jerk it
Comments (88)add comment
please get a picture of the fleetwood mac lineup that matches the song...
 linden wrote:

I'm not sure what this song is about. It's too subtle for me.




 stevetheshoe wrote:
DoctorHooey wrote: Really not the same band only the same Bass Player and Drummer. They kept the name going for years with many different people.


True. Yet if you listen to a random sample of the totality of their work, over the years, you'll find that they recorded primarily blues numbers without the vocals by Stevie and Christine that took them elsewhere so effectively.
Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac....Simply awesome...
RIP Peter Green. You brought so much greatness to the world of music.
 DoctorHooey wrote:

Wow, it's so hard to imagine this being the same band that did "You Make Lovin' Fun"



it's not
JUST STAYING
This song reminds me of one of my old girlfriends, she was smooth as silk but I never understood what she was about.
 linden wrote:

I'm not sure what this song is about. It's too subtle for me.



Once I read the lyrics, the meaning really clicked.  Got to hand it to Peter. Or something.
The Best Fleetwood !! no top 40 here. love it
Picture on the right shows Fleetwood Lite, no offense.
7.2 What a joke!
Excellent!!  
 whatsupdude wrote:

For all of you who are using the word "masturbation", it's called beating off!


Why do you know from personal experience:)
peter green on guitar
For all of you who are using the word "masturbation", it's called beating off!
 On_The_Beach wrote:

The songwriter seems to be very much in touch with himself.



Or as they say, "they're playing my song"!
 linden wrote:

I'm not sure what this song is about. It's too subtle for me.


I presume he is an Appalachian serpent handler; very religious.
I'm not sure what this song is about. It's too subtle for me.
 len17 wrote:
Plays (last 30 days): 1   
 
Be careful what you wish for... 
 len17 wrote:
Plays (last 30 days): 1   
 

I love this song. Shades of Billy Gibbons?
Well, golly gosh, what a naughty song! 

Thank you for this and many others, Peter Green - you left too soon but with a fine legacy in your wake xx.
Mr Green's mistakenly installed out of phase pickup was part of his signature tone - lucky us
RIP to another great....Keep Rocking Mr. Green!! LLRP
Life changing album in freshman year of college, still love it!
 keller1 wrote:
Good tune.

Mick Fleetwood will never be mistaken for Buddy Rich but he comes up with some interesting grooves.
 I would say thank God for that. 

 dwhayslett wrote:

He does seem very happy with himself.  Or self-gratified, if you will.  Or perhaps just wants to be.
 
or he just wants to rub one out cuz he can
Plays (last 30 days): 1   
Plays last 30 days... 1    {#Frown}
 On_The_Beach wrote:
The songwriter seems to be very much in touch with himself.

 
He does seem very happy with himself.  Or self-gratified, if you will.  Or perhaps just wants to be.
I would imagine once women joined the band this sort of thing ceased
{#Devil_pimp}zesty !
The songwriter seems to be very much in touch with himself.
 mandolin wrote:
...when will this brilliant album get a proper CD release?..

...i mean, it's only been 25 years since this substandard master thrown together in half-considered haste just to get something out the door in support of a brand-new format...

 
Why couldn't they have done it right at the time?  They put out so many CDs in a hurry without much care to the final product.  Second and third-generation masters, etc.


Great song from a great album.  Probably their best.
Yessss...hissss!

 
romeotuma wrote:


Yessss...  what a brilliant classic...  love it...

 
 


 Land_Shark wrote:
And here I thought this was ZZ Top at first listen ... who woulda thunk it?
 
Would be interesting to hear their take on the tune.

 romeotuma wrote:

This song celebrates the joys of masturbation...  great song...

 

 Or perhaps the dregs of being without a shaker. . . .
An all-around great album.
Peter Green makes everything soooooo much better! Shame.
i would say " don't stop' ;-)
 jonahboo wrote:
NOW WE'RE TALKIN'
 

Absolutely {#Clap}
...when will this brilliant album get a proper CD release?..

...i mean, it's only been 25 years since this substandard master thrown together in half-considered haste just to get something out the door in support of a brand-new format...

NOW WE'RE TALKIN'
blech!

Like almost all blues: Let's play these inane figures for three minutes and call it a song. 
{#Stupid}In case there was any doubt as to what this song is about . . .

. . . but when I get home tonight
I guess I got to shake myself
You need some love
You must have the blues
Aint but the one thing
A good man can do
He do the shake
The rattlesnake shake
Man, do the shake
Yes, and jerk away the blues
Now, jerk it
Now, I know this guy
His name is mick
Now, he don't care
when he ain't got no chick
He do the shake
The rattlesnake shake
Yes, he do the shake
And jerks away the blues
Now, jerk it
I live in Dallas where we have almost as many blues bands as you can shake a stick at. Rattle Snake Shake is a common part of a blues band repertoire around here. I have two friends whose bands both do the song.
keller1 wrote:
Good tune.

Mick Fleetwood will never be mistaken for Buddy Rich but he comes up with some interesting grooves.

Mick Fleetwood is a driving rock and roll drummer, one of the things that is common to early and later Mac bands is his drivin' beats, he's one of the best

Good tune.

Mick Fleetwood will never be mistaken for Buddy Rich but he comes up with some interesting grooves.
And here I thought this was ZZ Top at first listen ... who woulda thunk it?
I like Leo and Peter. madaxeman wrote:
is the correct answer.
Alpine wrote:
The real deal! Leo Kottke go home.
is the correct answer.
DoctorHooey wrote:
Wow, it's so hard to imagine this being the same band that did "You Make Lovin' Fun"
Really not the same band only the same Bass Player and Drummer. They kept the name going for years with many different people.
Wow, it's so hard to imagine this being the same band that did "You Make Lovin' Fun"
The real deal! Leo Kottke go home.
Makes the previous Leo number look plastic, but by far preferred Taj!
lennier wrote:
I just LOVE hearing old Mac!
I still have the LP.
catsoup wrote:
There are so many good Fleetwood Mac songs, why play this one?
"I know this guy, his name is Bill."
I have a live CD of FM with Green (Boston, I believe) and yes, they are blowin'! (I don't mean chunks!) Excellent stuff!
mperry wrote:
Good points. A couple of addendums: This late '60's lineup of the Mac WAS commercially successful - they had very good record sales. Peter Green was thought by many to be a more accomplished guitarist than many of the other ax-gods of the time and the rhythm section of Fleetwood on drums and McVie on bass was potent and tight. Proof? Treat your ears to Fleetwood Mac Live At The Boston Tea Party. Amazing stuff from these shows in 1970, not long before Green left the band, with good work also from Jeremy Spencer and Danny Kirwan. Two cd's, each one featuring a different complete set/show. The second set is even better than the excellent first. The studio version of Rattlesnake Shake PALES in comparison to the fiery groove on "Live at the Boston Tea Party". Thrilling virtuosity during a 22 minute jam that is NOT boring (as jamming too often can be). It is just an incredible piece of music that I cannot recommend highly enough.
Took the words right out of my mouth.
philip_randle wrote:
Nice to hear proper Fleetwood Mac after that bad version of Oh Well
Jacques wrote:
Guys... I didn't particularly think this was a great tune or a memorable melody, but I'm glad I got a glimpse into the earliest years of Fleetwood Mac, a glimpse I wouldn't have enjoyed anywhere else. Now Bill, how about playing "Hypnotized" the first Fleetwood Mac tune I rememebr, although I was very young... Cheers Jacques Radio Paradise - What Radio Could Have Been.
Rattle Snake Shake not memorable? Read the lyrics and then think a bit.
zipfactory wrote:
I thought it was ZZ Top....
Nice to hear proper Fleetwood Mac after that bad version of Oh Well
I am really enjoying hearing the pre-Stevie Nicks era of Fleetwood Mac. Don't get me wrong, I like that era just fine, but I am loving this stuff. Will have to add some older FM to my collection soon. Great stuff. Thanks for continuing to broaden my musical horizon RP :) As a matter of fact, think I'll rewind my RealPlayer so I can listen to this again!
Aaaah...Greeny.....
Originally Posted by Jacques: Guys... come on, Radio Paradise isn't about playing "Rhiannon" back to back with "You Make Love Fun", taken from what was surely Fleetwood Macs' most commercial period. Radio Paradise is about playing that obscure Fleetwood Mac song from 1969, before they ventured from the blues based sound they had then. Believe or not they were born out of the same bluse revival that saw Cream and Led Zeppelin, but Fleetwood Mac never rose to the heights these two former groups did. I'd never heard "Rattlesnake Shake" before either, and there are much better Fleetwood Mac songs, but you can hear those at other times on Radio Paradise, I think Bill has room for all of them. There are countless commercial stations where you can be bathed non-stop in repetitious droning top-40 playlists, composed with the sole purpose of carrying you to the next commercial break. This is a different form of radio, and it has place for "Rattlesnake Shake", which meant something to those who wrote and to the generation who heard it. This tune has probably not been aired in 20 years - this is a treat, not a bore. I didn't particularly think this was a great tune or a memorable melody, but I'm glad I got a glimpse into the earliest years of Fleetwood Mac, a glimpse I wouldn't have enjoyed anywhere else. Now Bill, how about playing "Hypnotized" the first Fleetwood Mac tune I rememebr, although I was very young... And before anyone labels me as an old hippie (which is nothing to sneer at...) I was barely 7 when this tune came out... they were old to me then. So was anyone over 4 feet tall come to think of it... But I digress... Cheers Jacques Radio Paradise - What Radio Could Have Been.
Good points. A couple of addendums: This late '60's lineup of the Mac WAS commercially successful - they had very good record sales. Peter Green was thought by many to be a more accomplished guitarist than many of the other ax-gods of the time and the rhythm section of Fleetwood on drums and McVie on bass was potent and tight. Proof? Treat your ears to Fleetwood Mac Live At The Boston Tea Party. Amazing stuff from these shows in 1970, not long before Green left the band, with good work also from Jeremy Spencer and Danny Kirwan. Two cd's, each one featuring a different complete set/show. The second set is even better than the excellent first. The studio version of Rattlesnake Shake PALES in comparison to the fiery groove on "Live at the Boston Tea Party". Thrilling virtuosity during a 22 minute jam that is NOT boring (as jamming too often can be). It is just an incredible piece of music that I cannot recommend highly enough.
A nice score!
I just LOVE hearing old Mac!
Originally Posted by Jacques: Guys... come on, Radio Paradise isn't about playing "Rhiannon" back to back with "You Make Love Fun", taken from what was surely Fleetwood Macs' most commercial period. Radio Paradise is about playing that obscure Fleetwood Mac song from 1969, before they ventured from the blues based sound they had then.
You are right, and I like the early Fleetwood Mac the best. For example Bare Trees, but I still think this song is not one of their best.
Guys... come on, Radio Paradise isn't about playing "Rhiannon" back to back with "You Make Love Fun", taken from what was surely Fleetwood Macs' most commercial period. Radio Paradise is about playing that obscure Fleetwood Mac song from 1969, before they ventured from the blues based sound they had then. Believe or not they were born out of the same bluse revival that saw Cream and Led Zepplin, but Fleetwood Mac never rose to the heights these two former groups did. I'd never heard "Rattlesnake Shake" before either, and there are much better Fleetwood Mac songs, but you can hear those at other times on Radio Paradise, I think Bill has room for all of them. There are countless commercial stations where you can be bathed non-stop in repetitious droning top-40 playlists, composed with the sole purpose of carrying you to the next commercial break. This is a different form of radio, and it has place for "Rattlesnake Shake", which meant something to those who wrote and to the generation who heard it. This tune has probably not been aired in 20 years - this is a treat, not a bore. I didn't particularly think this was a great tune or a memorable melody, but I'm glad I got a glimpse into the earliest years of Fleetwood Mac, a glimpse I wouldn't have enjoyed anywhere else. Now Bill, how about playing "Hypnotized" the first Fleetwood Mac tune I rememebr, although I was very young... And before anyone labels me as an old hippie (which is nothing to sneer at...) I was barely 7 when this tune came out... they were old to me then. So was anyone over 4 feet tall come to think of it... But I digress... Cheers Jacques Radio Paradise - What Radio Could Have Been.
There are so many good Fleetwood Mac songs, why play this one?
Definitley not one of Fleetwood Mac\'s best.