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Originally Posted by Macfan4life
One snippet that was interesting was about being under contract to do another record so they "had" to record Mirage. That explains why Stevie had only a mini tour and her album was still charting when she had to return to the Mac. The timing was always odd to me. I have read both of Mick's book and that part was never mentioned.
In a Todd Sharpe interview earlier this year, he said that Christine was under contract to record a solo album. She confided in him that she did not want to do it. So Chris asked Todd to write and be a partner in it and help establish her solo band.
Little details mean a lot. The Mac was probably under contract to do one more album before 1983 or something. After the Tusk tour, they had a one year break before getting back to the studio. Warner Brothers also had Christine under contract to get a solo album out after the Mac contract expired.
It all makes perfect sense now. It seemed strange the band did not give Stevie the time to enjoy her successful solo album. But Stevie knew the time frame and did all she could during the break and was in France as required under the contract. Loyalty to the band, yes. But also obligated to do it. That part is never mentioned  |
There's another reason too. Mick was already developing big financial problems by 1981 ~ that's why he moved to Monaco shortly after the Tusk tour ~ so he needed a new FM album to make some good money quick. It was especially urgent since he was not a songwriter, so he didn't earn royalties during downtime like Stevie, Lindsey and Christine did.