Blog Critics Magazine: Blue Horizon

[michelej1]

December 19, 2008 by David Bowling, Blog Critics Magazine

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/12/19/132510.php

Before there was Christine McVie and before Fleetwood Mac became international superstars there was Christine Perfect.

Christine Perfect would rise to fame to England as the keyboardist/vocalist for the rock/blues group Chicken Shack. She would be honored as English female vocalist of the year two times and leave the band in 1969. By 1970 she married bassist John McVie and joined his group Fleetwood Mac. As a writer, singer, keyboardist for the band she would contribute to several of the best selling albums of all time including Rumours which has sold close to twenty million copies.

In between her membership in Chicken Shack and Fleetwood Mac she would record a number of tracks for the Blue Horizon Label, but would issue only one solo album for the company. Now The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions has gathered together all 16 tracks from her time with the label including four that have remained unreleased.

This is not the complete pop Christine McVie of her classic Fleetwood Mac Days. Rather she is a gritty, blues style vocalist. Despite this, many of the songs hint at the musical evolutionary road that she would travel during the next ten years. She wrote nine of the sixteen tracks and much of the music would show the beginning of a pop leaning which would increasingly dominate her compositions.

The first two tracks set the tone for the album. “Crazy ‘Bout You Baby” features her smooth flowing keyboards and some subtle brass in support of a bluesy vocal. “I’m On My Way” is a slow blues number with a sultry style and minimal instrumental backing.

“No Road Is The Right Road” is the strongest of her original compositions. There is some nice piano and bass interplay with a classic vocal delivery. The old Chuck Jackson rhythm and blues song, “And That’s Saying A Lot,” provides the vehicle for one of the sexiest songs of her career. “Wait and See” is a moody track with minimal piano backing.

A couple of the unreleased tracks take her in a different direction which may be why they were left off the album. “Tell Me You Need Me” has more of a guitar based rock sound. “Hey Baby” is a catchy boogie rock number and may be the most accessible track on this release. It features some Jerry Lee Lewis type piano runs. The single version of the Clyde Otis penned tune, “I’m Too Far Gone,” is converted into a torch song.

The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions should be of interest to fans of Christine Perfect/McVie, Fleetwood Mac and those who appreciate the fusion of rock and blues. It also catches an important long time contributor to one of rock’s enduring groups at a crossroads of her career while providing some good music as well.

[nicepace]

Originally Posted by michelej1

“No Road Is The Right Road” is the strongest of her original compositions.

That song is one of my favorites as well. Good to see it get some positive notice.

Thanks for posting!