Posted on 11/30/2022 12:39:03 PM PST by nickcarraway
Christine McVie was a member of Fleetwood Mac long before Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined and transformed them from a lumbering '60s British blues band into one of the '70s' biggest acts. She joined the group in 1970 and slowly evolved into one of its strongest songwriters.
Once Buckingham and Nicks got on board in 1975, McVie stepped up, even more, writing and singing some of Fleetwood Mac's biggest hits. Even if she occasionally got lost outside of the spotlight that was increasingly aimed at the California couple, McVie often contributed standout cuts on milestone records like Rumours and Tusk.
Our list of the Top 10 Christine McVie Fleetwood Mac Songs proves that Buckingham and Nicks were just part of the singer-songwriter powerhouse that fueled the band.
10 "Love in Store" From: 'Mirage' (1982) The opening track of 1982's Mirage sets the tone for the relatively scaled-back album (following the overly ambitious Tusk), coasting along a warm and cozy McVie melody. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks provide heavenly harmonies, but "Love in Store" is mostly McVie's song, right down to her welcoming, worn-in vocal.
Love in Store (2016 Remaster) 9 "Songbird" From: 'Rumours' (1977) McVie's Rumours solo showcase features mainly just piano and vocals with very spare backing. "Songbird" is one of her loveliest compositions and one of her most personal, which explains the intimate performance she gives. Nestled between "Go Your Own Way" and "The Chain" on the multiplatinum album, the song serves as a calm before and after the storms.
Songbird (2004 Remaster) 8 "Think About Me" From: 'Tusk' (1979) Tusk, Fleetwood Mac's double-record follow-up to the career-defining 'Rumours,' is generally viewed as a Lindsey Buckingham project - from the album's general epic sprawl to its intricate production. Backed by Buckingham, "Think About Me" is a tight, compact and surprisingly tough rocker by McVie, who usually countered her bandmate's biting sour notes with a soft sweetness.
Think About Me (2015 Remaster)
7 "Little Lies" From: 'Tango in the Night' (1987) Like "Everywhere," "Little Lies" bears the superpolished production favored by just about everyone in the mid-'80s. But McVie's gently rocking song - co-written with her husband at the time, Eddy Quintela - packs a mighty hook. Released as a single, "Little Lies" made it to No. 4, which tied it as Fleetwood Mac's biggest hit since "Don't Stop," and their last Top 10.
Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies (Official Music Video) 6 "Over My Head" From: 'Fleetwood Mac' (1975) Fleetwood Mac's superstar era pretty much kicked off with this Top 20 single (the band's first Top 40 hit) from their self-titled 1975 reboot. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks gave the veteran British blues group the pop smarts it needed to hit the charts, but the band led its charge with McVie's "Over My Head," which set the template for her role in the band's storied singer-songwriter trio as the one who wrote its best soft rockers.
Over My Head 5 "Hold Me" From: 'Mirage' (1982) As on a few other cuts on our list of the Top 10 Christine McVie Fleetwood Mac Songs, she gets ample support from Lindsey Buckingham on "Hold Me," the first single from the band's first album of the '80s. But McVie co-wrote it (with British singer-songwriter Robbie Patton) and guides it through the subtle twists and turns. The song became one of the band's biggest hits, making it to No. 4.
Fleetwood Mac - Hold Me (Official Music Video)
4 "Say You Love Me" From: 'Fleetwood Mac' (1975) "Over My Head" may have launched Fleetwood Mac Mach 5 (or whatever number they were on at this stage), but "Say You Love Me" confirmed their status as pop stars. Stevie Nicks' "Rhiannon," Fleetwood Mac's second single, reached No. 11 and was the group's biggest song up until then, but McVie's cut (also a No. 11 hit) helped send the No. 1 album on its way to multi-platinum glory.
Say You Love Me 3 "You Make Loving Fun" From: 'Rumours' (1977) By the time "You Make Loving Fun" was released as Rumours' third single, the album was well on its way to becoming one of the bestselling LPs ever. The song celebrates McVie's affair with a member of Fleetwood Mac's tour crew, which probably thrilled her bass-playing bandmate ex. But Rumours was built on that type of friction.
You Make Loving Fun (2004 Remaster) 2 "Everywhere" From: 'Tango in the Night' (1987) In spite of its very '80s production, Lindsey Buckingham's last album with the band's most famous and successful lineup contains some of its most sophisticated pop songs. McVie's "Everywhere," released as the LP's fourth single, reached No. 14, their last Top 20 hit. It's a typically shimmering piece of music from the band, which was splintering beyond repair at the time.
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere (Official Music Video)
1 "Don't Stop" From: 'Rumours' (1977) McVie's biggest hit with Fleetwood Mac (only "Dreams," the band's sole No. 1, was bigger) is really a group song. At least in performance, where Lindsey Buckingham shares a huge chunk of lead vocals. But McVie wrote it, and it carriers her imprint, from the big piano-powered melody to the finely tuned (and super-tuneful) interplay of the verse and choruses.
I listened to Rumours many times when it was probably one of a handful of albums my brother had. We were rarely allowed such indulgences in my teenage years, but he was older than me by several years and left those behind when he moved out of the house.
Songbird was always my favorite of hers.
RIP - great voice.
I can now let it be known publicly that when she was recording “Over My Head” she was thinking about me.
“Go Your Own Way” didnt make the top 10??
Blasphemy!!!
Also, a very underrated tune is “Temporary One”
It’s sad when someone dies.
This is no attack on her.
But FW made the world a much worse place.
Just horrible in every aspect.
They were the vanguard of the culture war on the other side.
Destroyed society and ushered in our brainless pc totalitarian society.
Her song “Everywhere” was made popular again recently when Chevrolet put the song in their commercials.
Funny. A lot of guys probably feel that way about that one. I think it is a song many women would say fits their man.
Lighten up Francis.
Always loved ‘The Chain’ and ‘Tusk’.
I’m sure there’s a nice Country and Western station you can be listening to.
FW?
maybe switch radio stations.
Thanks. Lol.
FM.
“They were the vanguard of the culture war on the other side.
Destroyed society and ushered in our brainless pc totalitarian society.”
A bit overwrought.
I once had a conversation with Jeff Pollard just as he was starting out on his new life as a Christian minister. He seemed burdened by his former role as lead singer for Louisiana Leroux. I told him how much I liked “New Orleans Ladies” and he would have none of it. He thought he had led many down the wrong path, perhaps had caused some to dabble in drugs. I told him to ease up on himself and that his music had never inspired me to go and use drugs. Never occurred to me.
Was never a fan, but she was talented…
It’s a spirit that was ushered in.
I don’t think Christine McVie was trying to destroy society.
It’s not her fault we began to essentially worship pop stars and use drugs, although their examples did contribute.
And it’s not just her band.
The 70’s and these Maga bands was complete debauchery.
was “Don’t.. Stop.. thinkin’ about tomorrow” used as a Democrat campaign song? What year was that?
“ was “Don’t.. Stop.. thinkin’ about tomorrow” used as a Democrat campaign song? What year was that?”
Oh yes.
1992. Clinton’s campaign song.
The pseudo profound but inane lyrics match the emptiness of the liberal mind.
Not great range (like Kate Bush or Judy Collins), but a very strong voice - perfect for blues-based music.
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