Over the weekend, Mick Fleetwood confirmed what he called “the worst-kept secret” in music: Christine McVie has returned to Fleetwood Mac after a 16-year absence. There’s no official word yet on whether or not we’ll get a tour, an album, or (hopefully) both in 2014. Christine supposedly retired in 1998 because she didn’t enjoy the grind of the road, but apparently her appearance with the band at London’s O2 Arena last September changed her mind.
I never thought I’d get the chance see one of my favorite bands fully together again– even late last year, Stevie Nicks had indicated that she expected McVie to remain retired. I guess it’s true: you can never break the chain.
Let’s celebrate Christine’s return to the Mac with ten of my favorite McVie tracks!
Fleetwood Mac: “Why” (McVie)
From the album Mystery To Me
Warner Brothers Records, 1973
Christine joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970, and her songwriting continued to get better and better with each album. “Why” is a great deep cut from Mystery To Me, and I would love to hear the reunited Mac revisit this song. They played a superb version of it on the first tour with Lindsey & Stevie in 1976– see for yourself!
Those three voices together…amazing.
Fleetwood Mac: “Say You Love Me” [Single Version] (McVie)
Original version from the album Fleetwood Mac
Warner Brothers Records, 1976
I love this special version of “Say You Love Me,” mixed (as Mick would say) “to sound great on a car radio.” The vocals have some extra reverb, and there’s also some bonus Buckingham guitar. “Say You Love Me” reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.
Fleetwood Mac: “World Turning” (McVie/Buckingham)
From the album Fleetwood Mac
Warner Brothers Records, 1975
My Dad introduced me to Fleetwood Mac sometime in late 1975/early 1976. I lived in the San Fernando Valley with my Mom, and Dad had an apartment about thirty miles away in Long Beach. I remember him having to hustle me back to the valley after one of my weekend visits because he was going to see Fleetwood Mac that night. I had never heard of the band, so he played me “World Turning” in his 280ZX and turned it up loud. The eight-year-old Analog Kid was hooked for life.
Fleetwood Mac: “You Make Loving Fun” [Alternate Version] (McVie)
From the album Rumours (2004 Deluxe Edition)
Warner Brothers Records, 2004
The 2004 remaster of Rumours contains a second disc of alternate takes and demos, and one of my favorites is this rough version of “You Make Loving Fun.” Stevie’s backups on this version are fantastic, although they eventually decided not to use them on the released version.
“You Make Loving Fun” was the fourth Top 10 hit from the Rumours album.
Fleetwood Mac: “Think About Me” [Single Version] (McVie)
Original version from the album Tusk
Warner Brothers Records, 1979
Another punchier single mix for a great McVie song. “Think About Me” peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it should have been a huge hit. Again, the vocal interplay between McVie and Buckingham is stellar. I would love to hear this one live in 2014.
Fleetwood Mac: “Over And Over” (McVie)
From the album Tusk
Warner Brothers Records, 1979
“Over And Over” was the opening track on Tusk, an album that I consider to be one of the boldest releases in music history. The band was under intense pressure to match the success of Rumours, and instead they issued a double album filled with idiosyncratic pop masterpieces. I remember buying this at the small record counter at my local Skaggs-Albertson’s grocery store in Plano, and it cost me a whopping $15.98. In 1979, you could buy a bicycle for $15.98. It was still worth it.
Fleetwood Mac: “Love In Store” (McVie/Recor)
From the album Mirage
Warner Brothers Records, 1982
After the “failure” of Tusk (only four million copies sold? How terrible!), Fleetwood Mac’s next album was a more starightforward rock record. Christine again had the honor of leading off the album with “Love In Store,” and the song was also the third single from Mirage (it peaked at #22). Again, the harmonies!
One of my biggest musical regrets is that I missed the Mirage tour. I was in tenth grade at the time, and I wasn’t old enough to drive yet. I couldn’t convince any of my friends to go with me, so I missed a prime opportunity to see my first Mac concert. I would have to wait fifteen years for another chance to see the classic lineup together.
Fleetwood Mac: “Isn’t It Midnight” (McVie/Buckingham)
From the album Tango In The Night
Warner Brothers Records, 1987
Christine contributed two big hits to 1987’s Tango In The Night (“Everywhere” and “Little Lies”), but “Isn’t it Midnight” isn’t far behind those two classics in my book. I love Lindsey’s eerie backup vocals, and his guitar solos certainly do not suck either.
Fleetwood Mac: “As Long As You Follow” (McVie/Quintela)
From the album Greatest Hits
Warner Brothers Records, 1988
“As Long As You Follow” was one of two new songs on the 1988 Greatest Hits album. Lindsey Buckingham had left the band prior to the tour for Tango In The Night, so this is the first Mac recording to feature new band members Billy Burnette and Rick Vito. “As Long As You Follow” only reached #43 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it has become a fan favorite over the years.
Fleetwood Mac: “Skies The Limit” (McVie)
From the album Behind The Mask
Warner Brothers Records, 1990
“Skies The Limit” is my favorite song from Behind The Mask, Fleetwood Mac’s first full-length album following Buckingham’s departure. It was only a minor hit on the Adult Contemporary chart, but I love the breezy feel of this underrated McVie gem.
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Bonus Tracks!
The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.
Fleetwood Mac: “Everywhere” [Extended Version] (McVie)
From the 12″ single Everywhere
Warner Brothers Records, 1987
Vinyl rip courtesy of DJ Paul T and Burning The Ground: http://burningtheground.net/
Fleetwood Mac: “Little Lies” [Extended Version] (McVie/Quintela)
From the 12″ single Little Lies
Warner Brothers Records, 1987
Vinyl rip courtesy of DJ Paul T and Burning The Ground: http://burningtheground.net/
Christine McVie: “Got A Hold On Me” (McVie)
From the album Christine McVie
Warner Brothers Records, 1984
Christine McVie: “Love Will Show Us How” (McVie)
From the album Christine McVie
Warner Brothers Records, 1984
The Analog Kid 
Honest Injun, I was just fixin’ to email you about this news and get your reaction. The Second Disc just posted their Reissue Theory of Tango In The Night. Love playing that game.
Still waitiing for your High Hopes review. You must be neck deep in that one.
Thanks for the link! Very cool stuff. I have been waiting for a “Tango” reissue for years. Same with “Mirage.”
I am digging the Bruce. Fallon was great last night!
Good stuff, if I may, a few more:
From the horribly overlooked “Mystery to Me” album – Belive Me, just a flat out great rocker; Just Crazy Love – a little fast, but basically the blueprint for all Christine’s biggest mid-tempo hits (Say You Love Me, Don’t Stop, Think About Me); Why – fantastic album closer, very Elton John feel to it; and from “Fleetwood Mac” – Warm Ways, that song still makes me happy in the right places, don’t know why, she’s just so damn sexy in an understated way on that one
Love “Warm Ways” as well! My brother and his wife had their first dance to it.
Needless to say, this has been my favorite of your Blogs. You introduced me to material of theirs that I had never heard before! Thank you for the memories, son.
Glad you liked it! If they tour this summer (and most think they will), we must attend together…
I’m thinking Honda Center! Maybe Austin? That would be really cool! Keep your eye out!
Son of a biscuit! I’m looking right at the blog, staring at your first post of “Why”, and it just doesn’t register. I’m an idiot, but the other two songs are great as well. Also, you may already have it, if not, try to track down the unreleased version of Lindsey Buckingham’s “Gift of Screws” album, not the official one. One of the most brilliant albums I’ve ever heard, it’s fantastic.
I’ve had the bootleg “Gift Of Screws” for years. One of the best boots of all time. Lindsey is a freaking genius.