PETER GREEN SPLINTER GROUP (Artisan Recordings SARCD 101) We were rummaging through the used bin the other day and found this British import. Being a huge Green fan from his days with Fleetwood Mac and having heard his horrible post-Mac stuff, I was apprehensive. Surprise! Greenie's back. The first two tracks feature acoustic renditions of "Hitchhiking Woman" and "Travelling Riverside Blues," while the rest is from live gigs in the UK. He even covers songs from his past: "The Stumble" from the Mayall days, and "Homework" from Mac. It's on the live tracks that the differences between Green then and now are most apparent. Gone are the echoey, moody solos, which are now replaced by less flashy guitar work, but still present is the familiar (though older) voice. While this isn't "Green Manalishi," after hearing for years that we had no chance of ever hearing him again, I'm grateful he and his music are still with us. Welcome back, Peter G. (Aug. '98)