Her most underrated song

[Bryan]

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/christine+mcvie

It's got to be ''Come A Little Bit Closer'' , sounding so good on that tumblr player.
Damn they need to remaster all the pre-Rumours stuff NOW

[TrueFaith77]

Sugar Daddy!

[ButterCookie]

Prove Your Love.

I had Rowan make me an 8 minute loop of the ahh ahh's in the intro because I love it that much...

[mezzoforte]

Prove Your Love.

I had Rowan make me an 8 minute loop of the ahh ahh's in the intro because I love it that much...

My sister and I share a wall, and she's ready to vomit every time she hears those ahh ahhs. I had that song on constant repeat for months! Possibly my favorite Chris of all.
Still, I think it's often thought of as a standout from Heroes, no?

I'm casting my vote for the criminally underrated "Love in Store." What a perfect opener! Perfectly snappy, with lovely harmonies. I start every workout with it; it just puts me in the best mood.

Honorable mentions: "Bad Loser," "Honey Hi," "Isn't it Midnight"

[HejiraNYC]

^^ I think I w0uld join your sister in prodding the wall with a broomstick! Of all of Chris's wonderful songs, that's the one song of hers that makes my skin crawl. It's like an acid trip gone wrong...

My absolute favorite is "Ask Anybody." It has to be about Dennis Wilson. "...they say that I should walk out, but that's not what I want... somehow, some way he'll change and we'll try it all over again... without all the pain..." Such sad, hopeful but delusional words. Poor Chris :distress: . She manages to capture an elegiac mood that is uplifting in an odd way. The Steve Winwood solo always gets me.

"Morning Rain" is my go-to feelgood song. So simple, but so rocking. "There's no use being dissatisfied... you'll never know until you try." :nod:

[mezzoforte]

^^ I think I w0uld join your sister in prodding the wall with a broomstick! Of all of Chris's wonderful songs, that's the one song of hers that makes my skin crawl. It's like an acid trip gone wrong...

My absolute favorite is "Ask Anybody." It has to be about Dennis Wilson. "...they say that I should walk out, but that's not what I want... somehow, some way he'll change and we'll try it all over again... without all the pain..." Such sad, hopeful but delusional words. Poor Chris :distress: . She manages to capture an elegiac mood that is uplifting in an odd way. The Steve Winwood solo always gets me.

"Morning Rain" is my go-to feelgood song. So simple, but so rocking. "There's no use being dissatisfied... you'll never know until you try." :nod:

:eek:

Sometimes, Edward, I cannot believe we're friends!

"Ask Anybody" doesn't do much for me, but then, I really haven't given Christine McVie much of a shot. I should get around to that one...

I've been listening to Christine Perfect a bunch lately, and I might add "When You Say" to my list. Maybe it's just because it sounds so different from the rest of that album, but I absolutely consider it the standout track. Danny Kirwan did a wonderful job with that one.

[ButterCookie]

I've been listening to Christine Perfect a bunch lately, and I might add "When You Say" to my list. Maybe it's just because it sounds so different from the rest of that album, but I absolutely consider it the standout track. Danny Kirwan did a wonderful job with that one.

I am making hissing and spitting noises in the general direction of that song. To quote Ollivander, "No, no definitely not." The violins are out of tune, it's morbid and just ick. Erased from my memory, iPod and the needle is swiftly drawn right over the top of it on the vinyl. It is, as a song, as her hair is to those crimpers.

[Sleepless-Child]

I'd say Honey Hi, which is my absolute favorite Christine song.
I'm not sure about Honey Hi being THAT underrated though, i saw it got some love over the last few months, on the Rumours forum polls...which is quite nice :).
I also don't get the hate for Sugar Daddy which is musically amazing. Classic FM.

[Jondalar]

The Challenge, Brown Eyes, Honey Hi, As long as you follow, Sugar Daddy

[BombaySapphire3]

Spare Me a Little of Your Love. though I understand it is considered a classic it's just not as well known as the post 1975 hits.

[GypsySorcerer]

"Never Make Me Cry" - Took me a bit to warm to the song, but now I love it.
"Calumny"
"Honey Hi"

[PenguinHead]

The song Prove Your Love is a lost gem; it's just classic Christine.I love it. I think it's one of her most well-written songs. It delves a little deeper.

I want to be inside your heart
That's the place, the place for me
But I can understand it won't be easy
You've got to prove, prove your love to me
You've got to prove, prove your love to me

I can't say it aint easy to let you heart run wild
So if you want to please me, then don't act like a child
But I can understand it won't be easy
You've got to prove, prove your love to me
You've got to prove, prove your love to me

It doesn't matter if your far away
Or right here by my side
That's the way that I feel about it
We can't let the whole thing slide

So if you can't see me right where you are
Then why don't you send for me, baby, by the nearest star
But it won't be easy
And you've got to prove, prove your love to me
You've got to prove, prove your love to me

[MacShadowsBall]

Spare Me a Little of Your Love. though I understand it is considered a classic it's just not as well known as the post 1975 hits.

That's one of my favorite Christine and Pre-Rumous era songs. In general most of her Pre-BN songs are underrated and tragically ignored. :(

[bombaysaffires]

Spare Me a Little of Your Love. though I understand it is considered a classic it's just not as well known as the post 1975 hits.

Must be something in the screen names, Bombay, coz I love this one too!!:)

[aleuzzi]

I'd say Honey Hi, which is my absolute favorite Christine song.
I'm not sure about Honey Hi being THAT underrated though, i saw it got some love over the last few months, on the Rumours forum polls...which is quite nice :).
I also don't get the hate for Sugar Daddy which is musically amazing. Classic FM.

All of this is spot on.

Come a Little Bit Closer and (especially) Prove Your Love are excellent but in need of more effective arranging. She sang so well on those! But her vocals are somewhat washed out by thick strings, etc... Come would be SO much better simply stripped down, perhaps to just an acoustic guitar. And Prove Your Love could benefit from a slightly more uptempo arrangement.

IMO, her best performance on Heroes is Bad Loser.

[holidayroad]

Prove Your Love is my very favorite song by Christine. It definitely deserves more recognition!!

[jbrownsjr]

Bad Loser

I love the different feel Mick gives it. She sings with a bit more anger than sadness.

[michelej1]

I think her Time and BTM songs would have made such a huge splash if they'd been released by the Rumours era of the group. They would have gotten tons of air play and would be an indelible part of pop culture today. Instead, I just hear, tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies . . . everywhere I go.

Save Me, Estoril, Behind the Mask and throw Heart of Stone in there too.

Great stuff. And I've already said the same thing about Calumny and Northern Star a zillion times, but since she didn't write them, I wouldn't necessarily include them here.

Michele

[jbrownsjr]

Gosh Sooner or Later too.. Love that tune..

[Villavic]

I'm casting my vote for the criminally underrated "Love in Store." What a perfect opener! Perfectly snappy, with lovely harmonies.

"Love in Store" was included in the Mirage tour so it wasn't that underrated, imho. As "Isn't it midnight", I feel it was underrated but at least it was included in the Tango tour.

Well the issue is underrated by who? People, media, or the band itself? My previous sentences were based in the band itself.

My list would be:

Never Make Me Cry
Warm Ways
Wish you were here
Do you know

[aleuzzi]

Bad Loser

I love the different feel Mick gives it. She sings with a bit more anger than sadness.

Yeah! There's a knowing edge to her delivery there, and a sly sophistication. It's a hot song. Would have loved to have heard either Danny or Lindsey's stinging guitars on it.

[aleuzzi]

Great stuff. And I've already said the same thing about Calumny and Northern Star a zillion times, but since she didn't write them, I wouldn't necessarily include them here.

Michele

I used to think she was best at singing her own tunes, but her performances on those two ITM songs are so amazing I had to change my mind. Seriously, her vocals there are career highs in a career full of them.

[aleuzzi]

"Love in Store" was included in the Mirage tour so it wasn't that underrated, imho. As "Isn't it midnight", I feel it was underrated but at least it was included in the Tango tour.



Love In Store was never played again, as far as I know, right? I wish it was. Isn't it Midnight was played on two tours--Tango and Mask. Why oh Why was it not included in The Dance? It would have been a great up tune.

[David]

One More Night
When the Train Comes Back
Temporary One
I'm on My Way
Heart of Stone

[HomerMcvie]

Do you know

This was a particular gem in my life. I can still link everything that was going on in my life at that time, to Do You Know. Young love!:o:(:D:sorry:

DYK meant everything to me....

[HomerMcvie]

One More Night
When the Train Comes Back
Temporary One
I'm on My Way
Heart of Stone

No Love Shines? Really? That, and As Long As You Follow, are absolute perfektion.

[holidayroad]

Gosh Sooner or Later too.. Love that tune..

I agree!! It's the best song on Time. I guess it's sad that it is on Time. That means fewer fans have heard it.

[On Ice]

Christine has so many gems it's hard to select which ones are the most underrated. I would agree about her Heroes and Time contributions. This is some of her most creative writing and it's truly a shame that Bad Loser isn't receiving much deserved multiple spins on classic rock radio! Sooner or Later also should have been a massive hit, and would've been if it had been recorded by the fab 5, same could be said for all of her Time performances, really, very good.

[cliffdweller]

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/christine+mcvie

It's got to be ''Come A Little Bit Closer'' , sounding so good on that tumblr player.
Damn they need to remaster all the pre-Rumours stuff NOW

Yup. Love this song to death. Also "Why" has always been a big favorite of mine and just about every song of hers on Tusk, which I don't feel get enough credit. A lot of people don't like "Honey Hi" but I think it's such an underrated gem of a song.

[michelej1]

I love Honey Hi and it fits perfectly on that album. If it had appeared on Mirage or somewhere else, then I don't think I would appreciate it so much. The drum beat is hypnotic, but peaceful too, mirroring the simplicity of the lyrics. It would have been a beautiful thing to see Mick and Christine performing this live.

Michele

[Sleepless-Child]

I love Honey Hi and it fits perfectly on that album. If it had appeared on Mirage or somewhere else, then I don't think I would appreciate it so much. The drum beat is hypnotic, but peaceful too, mirroring the simplicity of the lyrics. It would have been a beautiful thing to see Mick and Christine performing this live.

Michele

And don't forget those beautiful harmonies! I'd just love to see them doing this together, the way they did "Say you love me" on The Dance, all of them lined up in the front of the stage, looking happy :). That's what this song is to me, a real band effort. With the individualities starting to show on Tusk, this song always reminded me how bound they ar...were.

[michelej1]

I have to assume that they meant Did You Ever Love Me here in this review of a recital by Dr. Dan Moore. Here is an excerpt.

http://uimusicrising.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/a-pan-tacular-percussion-performance/

I know what you’re thinking, saxophones in a steel band? The horns actually provided an interesting timbral characterist that was quite nice. Second, they played an arrangement of Fleetwood Mac’s “Could You Ever Love Me?” featuring Dr. Moore on the marimba with two exciting solo sections. Leaving smiles on the audience’s faces, they ended their portion of the concert with a medley of the Muppet Show Movie that featured a rogue percussionist during the “Mahna-mahna” portion of the piece.

[nicepace]

My vote goes to "Homeward Bound." Great piano, very believable emotion. And a real rocker, something we didn't get too often from Christine.

[Fannymac]

"Over And Over", followed VERY closely by "Come A Little Bit Closer."

[michelej1]

And don't forget those beautiful harmonies! I'd just love to see them doing this together, the way they did "Say you love me" on The Dance, all of them lined up in the front of the stage, looking happy :).

And they came back and did Farmer's Daughter the same way. So beautiful. A lovely way to end things, only I blame Ms. Perfect for not telling me it was the end, so I could have acted accordingly.

It reminds me of a passage in Wicked when all the college friends are having a post-funeral gathering: good food, drink and company. Abundant laughter. And the narrator says if they had known that it would be the last time they'd all be together, maybe they would have lingered a little longer over dinner. It gave me a chill to read that and it put me in mourning, even though nothing bad had happened in the book yet and the characters didn't suspect how their futures would divide them.

Of course, the RRHOF was the real ending for FM. And much later in Wicked, when the little girl, Nor, asks if the witch ever returned, the mother says, "Not yet." That's what I will say of FM: not yet.

Michele

[Jondalar]

Can we write to Chris and have any hopes of hearing back from her?

[jbrownsjr]

I agree!! It's the best song on Time. I guess it's sad that it is on Time. That means fewer fans have heard it.

Agreed!! It was so different. I get mad at Mick for not kicking up a huge fade out drum solo. Because the intensity builds and builds to the end and he sort of peters out...

[Sleepless-Child]

And they came back and did Farmer's Daughter the same way. So beautiful. A lovely way to end things, only I blame Ms. Perfect for not telling me it was the end, so I could have acted accordingly.

It reminds me of a passage in Wicked when all the college friends are having a post-funeral gathering: good food, drink and company. Abundant laughter. And the narrator says if they had known that it would be the last time they'd all be together, maybe they would have lingered a little longer over dinner. It gave me a chill to read that and it put me in mourning, even though nothing bad had happened in the book yet and the characters didn't suspect how their futures would divide them.

Of course, the RRHOF was the real ending for FM. And much later in Wicked, when the little girl, Nor, asks if the witch ever returned, the mother says, "Not yet." That's what I will say of FM: not yet.

Michele

Really nice.
And nice comparison, and i always wanted to see the musical...
"Not yet" usually gives some hope. But this is the kind of thing you say to a gullible little girl not to upset her, and i'm not a child anymore...so it makes me sad, especially when you talk about The Dance.
But hey :)!

[michelej1]

Really nice.
And nice comparison, and i always wanted to see the musical...
"Not yet" usually gives some hope. But this is the kind of thing you say to a gullible little girl not to upset her, and i'm not a child anymore...so it makes me sad, especially when you talk about The Dance.
But hey :)!

I know what you mean, but actually in Wicked it was said to frighten the child because the witch was, ostensibly, evil.:laugh:

I think we'll see Christine again. Whether or not it's with the other 4 or with all of the remaining 4, is a different question.

Thinking of underrated songs, certainly Why is very famous among fans. I've even seen it come in #1 in polls of all FM songs, but it's too bad that the public in general knows nothing about it.

Michele

[jbrownsjr]

I know what you mean, but actually in Wicked it was said to frighten the child because the witch was, ostensibly, evil.:laugh:

I think we'll see Christine again. Whether or not it's with the other 4 or with all of the remaining 4, is a different question.

Thinking of underrated songs, certainly Why is very famous among fans. I've even seen it come in #1 in polls of all FM songs, but it's too bad that the public in general knows nothing about it.

Michele

I agree, Why is completely underrated within the general public. I played it for my best friend recently and he had tears in his eyes afterward. He loved it.

[Villavic]

Isn't it Midnight was played on two tours--Tango and Mask. Why oh Why was it not included in The Dance? It would have been a great up tune.

I agree. I'd choose Isn't it Midnight instead of Over my Head or even the new Temporary One.

I consider extremely underrated songs never played on the radio and never included in concerts, like Stevie's Storms until the Unleashed tour.

About Christine, I'd love to see Mystified played live.

[David]

And don't forget those beautiful harmonies! I'd just love to see them doing this together, the way they did "Say you love me" on The Dance, all of them lined up in the front of the stage, looking happy :). That's what this song is to me, a real band effort. With the individualities starting to show on Tusk, this song always reminded me how bound they ar...were.We have one audio recording of this great song in rehearsal for the '79 tour. Here's the upload along with a rehearsal of "That's All for Everyone" for the same tour.

http://www.sendspace.com/filegroup/N%2BI2v8MEkzL0NIfBZZs%2Fbg

[PenguinHead]

I think her Time and BTM songs would have made such a huge splash if they'd been released by the Rumours era of the group. They would have gotten tons of air play and would be an indelible part of pop culture today. Instead, I just hear, tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies . . . everywhere I go.

Save Me, Estoril, Behind the Mask and throw Heart of Stone in there too.

Great stuff. And I've already said the same thing about Calumny and Northern Star a zillion times, but since she didn't write them, I wouldn't necessarily include them here.

Michele

Great, insightful points!
.
Christine was on her game with the batch of songs she gave to the Time album. Unfortunately it was a transitional period of the band where things were in a bit of a flux, so those songs were destined to fall into semi-obscurity.

If the context had been different, those songs would have a higher profile, and sit comfortably with the rest of her lauded song catalog.

[PenguinHead]

Yeah! There's a knowing edge to her delivery there, and a sly sophistication. It's a hot song. Would have loved to have heard either Danny or Lindsey's stinging guitars on it.

There is a rare live bootleg version of Bad Loser- one of the few times they performed it on the Heroes tour.

[Sleepless-Child]

I know what you mean, but actually in Wicked it was said to frighten the child because the witch was, ostensibly, evil.:laugh:

I think we'll see Christine again. Whether or not it's with the other 4 or with all of the remaining 4, is a different question.

Thinking of underrated songs, certainly Why is very famous among fans. I've even seen it come in #1 in polls of all FM songs, but it's too bad that the public in general knows nothing about it.

Michele

Oh :laugh:. so does that mean that Chris is evil and we should all be afraid of her coming back??
Right i don't see "Why" as an underrated song, every educated Fleetwood Mac knows and loves this song :).
It's also one of the songs that my friends unfamiliar with FM prefer, especially that Midnight Special for some reason.

We have one audio recording of this great song in rehearsal for the '79 tour. Here's the upload along with a rehearsal of "That's All for Everyone" for the same tour.

http://www.sendspace.com/filegroup/N%2BI2v8MEkzL0NIfBZZs%2Fbg


Thank you, that's amazing! I had no idea they rehearsed this. I can see now why they didn't play it live, it seems to be quite difficult, with the double-tracked vocals and all...but it actually sounded pretty good, especially Lindsey's guitar. Would have loved a more stripped down though.

[bombaysaffires]

We have one audio recording of this great song in rehearsal for the '79 tour. Here's the upload along with a rehearsal of "That's All for Everyone" for the same tour.

http://www.sendspace.com/filegroup/N%2BI2v8MEkzL0NIfBZZs%2Fbg

thanks for posting, great to hear.. don't think any other song live has just Christine and Stevie.... interesting that Lindsey isn't on the chorus at all...

[Blueletter18]

I love Come a Little Bit Closer, Honey Hi, and Over My Head- Over My Head is actually my favorite.

[BombaySapphire3]

I love Come a Little Bit Closer, Honey Hi, and Over My Head- Over My Head is actually my favorite.

I wouldn't really consider Over My Head underrated.It's the first hit of the "Rumours 5" band and has been played in concert regularly up until Christine's departure.

[michelej1]

I wouldn't really consider Over My Head underrated.It's the first hit of the "Rumours 5" band and has been played in concert regularly up until Christine's departure.

Yes, you can even hear that one one the radio still. I think it got its due.

Michele

[MacShadowsBall]

What about one of my favorites "Oh Daddy"? Also her Behind the Mask songs are just as good/catchy as her Tango songs, esp Save Me and Skies the Limit. :cool:

[David]

What about one of my favorites "Oh Daddy"? Also her Behind the Mask songs are just as good/catchy as her Tango songs, esp Save Me and Skies the Limit. :cool:

Well, I love me some "Skies the Limit." That one is always on my mind when I think about or play Christine on piano.

[bangdrum]

I would say Prove Your Love, Love In Store, Save Me, Love Shines, and everything off Time are underrated songs. I want to say Spare Me A Little too, but I don't know if it's really underrated. It is one of my favorite Chris songs though.

[AncientQueen]

Homeward Bound
Why
Get Like You Used To Be
Sugar Daddy is a great song, no matter how much hate it gets :)
The perfect little gem that is Got a Hold On Me

Christines work in FM before the Rumours incarnation is generally criminally underrated. Her piano playing, singing and songwriting between 1970 and 1974 is outstanding, stellar.

[Blueletter18]

Yes, you can even hear that one one the radio still. I think it got its due.

Michele

Yeah, you're right- I just always hear SYLM and YMLF much more on the radio.

[Blueletter18]

Homeward Bound
Why
Get Like You Used To Be
Sugar Daddy is a great song, no matter how much hate it gets :)
The perfect little gem that is Got a Hold On Me

Christines work in FM before the Rumours incarnation is generally criminally underrated. Her piano playing, singing and songwriting between 1970 and 1974 is outstanding, stellar.

YES, wonderful choices- I always kind of forget about Why until I hear it again and remember how special it is.

[mezzoforte]

Really? I think "Why" might be Christine's only pre-'75 song that gets the attention it deserves. It's widely considered one of her finest songs, and because we have a version with B and N, it's appreciated even by those chiffonheads who haven't explored the earlier years.

[Blueletter18]

I just meant that I personally tend to forget about it (the original) for a while when I'm caught up in the Rumours-era stuff.

[MacShadowsBall]

Really? I think "Why" might be Christine's only pre-'75 song that gets the attention it deserves. It's widely considered one of her finest songs, and because we have a version with B and N, it's appreciated even by those chiffonheads who haven't explored the earlier years.

Back in 2010, "Why" won favorite Christine Pre-Rumours era song. It's definitely in my top 10 FM-Christine. True too about the Midnight Special performance in 1975/76.:cool:

[Johnny Stew]

I've always felt that "Just Crazy Love" is one of Chris' most under-rated songs. I love the bejesus outta that track, but I rarely ever hear anyone mention it.

[Johnny Stew]

That, and As Long As You Follow, are absolute perfektion.

I couldn't agree more. I had a get-together at my house last Saturday, and I had my iPod in its dock, on shuffle. "As Long As You Follow" came on and I turned to a good buddy of mine, who's a total music aficionado (and a musician), and mentioned that it's my favorite Christine song. He looked at me like I had three heads and said, "really? This one is your favorite?" He feels it was just a throwaway, obligatory new song for the 'Greatest Hits' compilation, but I think it's one of the best things Christine -- and Fleetwood Mac -- has ever recorded.

[BombaySapphire3]

He feels it was just a throwaway, obligatory new song for the 'Greatest Hits' compilation,. You sure he didn't hear "No Questions Asked"?

[Johnny Stew]

You sure he didn't hear "No Questions Asked"?

:lol: I'm sure!

[HomerMcvie]

You sure he didn't hear "No Questions Asked"?

What day does the garbage man do pickup?:wavey:

(I really want that vomiting emoticon over here)

[nicepace]

I've always felt that "Just Crazy Love" is one of Chris' most under-rated songs. I love the bejesus outta that track, but I rarely ever hear anyone mention it.

Agreed. Christine herself expressed a particular liking for that song.

[David]

Agreed. Christine herself expressed a particular liking for that song.

Nice to see you back, Sharon. :wavey:

[michelej1]

Back in 2010, "Why" won favorite Christine Pre-Rumours era song.

I was on another board where Why won #1 Fleetwood Mac song, period. But I think only focused FM fans know the song. Of course, they like it a lot, but it would be nice if all the people who know Little Lies were familiar with Why.

Michele

[Richard B]

No one ever seems to talk about Heroes Are Hard To Find. Yes, it was a single, but doesn't get much attention. Love, love the song and that fun horn section.

[Blueletter18]

No one ever seems to talk about Heroes Are Hard To Find. Yes, it was a single, but doesn't get much attention. Love, love the song and that fun horn section.

ME TOO, it's awesome. All of her other songs on Heroes were outstanding too.

[jbrownsjr]

ME TOO, it's awesome. All of her other songs on Heroes were outstanding too.

I love Heroes too!!

[Blueletter18]

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/christine+mcvie

It's got to be ''Come A Little Bit Closer'' , sounding so good on that tumblr player.
Damn they need to remaster all the pre-Rumours stuff NOW

YES I was thinking the same thing! It seems like her voice is almost lost in the mix- I'd like to see it brought out more if they ever get around to remastering that stuff.

[David]

No one ever seems to talk about Heroes Are Hard To Find. Yes, it was a single, but doesn't get much attention. Love, love the song and that fun horn section.
I was just flipping through my songbook (with Heroes & the white album) last night, and I settled on that one. Played it a bit and sang loud enough that the dog was embarrassed. It's a great song, actually. Enormous potential for live performance, but I don't think it ever made it to the stage.

[chiliD]

I was just flipping through my songbook (with Heroes & the white album) last night, and I settled on that one. Played it a bit and sang loud enough that the dog was embarrassed. It's a great song, actually. Enormous potential for live performance, but I don't think it ever made it to the stage.

Well, it would've been cool with all those USC Marching Band horns, eh? :shrug: :nod:

[jbrownsjr]

Well, it would've been cool with all those USC Marching Band horns, eh? :shrug: :nod:

I think that would have fit in rather nicely. The one complaint I have with live recordings of Tusk is that the frequencies of the brass get lost in the mix. Unless you really tune into it. I always thought the horns should be so much up front in the mix much like Earth Wind or even Genesis on No Reply at All...

[HejiraNYC]

I didn't want to start a new thread about it, but I thought it was super cool that Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters namedropped Christine in an article he wrote for The Huffington Post today. The Scissor Sisters were clearly influenced by pre-Rumours Fleetwood Mac!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jake-shear/music-industry-change_b_1453954.html

... I used to go to a record store about three times a week and scour shelves for the classic rock CDs that I didn't have already. I was always on the hunt to discover new and rare albums, tending to like artists' stranger, forgotten records. It was a score whenever I came across, you know, something like the Christine Mcvie solo record.

[seanthompson]

'Keep On Going' from 'Mystery To Me'!

[David]

What do you guys think of "Do You Know"? Is it poignant and beautiful? or is it saccharine and insubstantial?

[HomerMcvie]

What do you guys think of "Do You Know"? Is it poignant and beautiful? or is it saccharine and insubstantial?

DYK was my favorite song on BTM. I was very much in love at the time, and that song held a very special place in my heart...

[michelej1]

What do you guys think of "Do You Know"? Is it poignant and beautiful? or is it saccharine and insubstantial?

I vote for the latter.

Michele

[David]

I vote for the latter.

Michele
Well, I hadn't heard it for about 50 years so I just went to YouTube to listen to it, and now ... well, I'm not sure what I think of it. I've spoken of Greg Ladanyi's cauliflower ear before, but I'm trying to discount that nonsense in the hopes of "hearing" the song bare so I can judge it rather than Ladanyi.

I just don't know what to make of it. I know I like it but I don't know whether it's any good.

[Bryan]

What do you guys think of "Do You Know"? Is it poignant and beautiful? or is it saccharine and insubstantial?

It's amazing, & people are too quick to pan songs that aren't on mega-hit million selling albums.I keep an open ear to everything

[aleuzzi]

What do you guys think of "Do You Know"? Is it poignant and beautiful? or is it saccharine and insubstantial?

On paper it delicate, quite pretty. In execution is is overproduced, saccharine-slick in a way that doesn't complement Christine's earthy, imperfect voice.

[aleuzzi]

It's amazing, & people are too quick to pan songs that aren't on mega-hit million selling albums.I keep an open ear to everything

I love a lot of Christine's non-hits. A LOT of them. In fact, songs like Honey Hi, Hollywood, Only Over You, Oh Daddy, and Brown Eyes are among my favorites of hers. I just really hate the production job on all the songs from Mask.

[TheSorcerer]

Honey Hi - I love the harmonies. I also think Heart of Stone is underrated.

[WatchChain]

Come A Little Bit Closer
The Smile I Live For
Just Crazy Love
Never Make Me Cry
Wish You Were Here
Honey Hi (perfect harmonies with Stevie Nicks)
Get Like You Used To Be
Love In Store

[Phil]

In my opinion, Christine barely put a hoof wrong until the Mirage album. That's when my adoration for her songwriting abilities and vocal prowess began to wane. I think most of her output since 1982 has been insubstantial and pedestrian with the occasional highlight in the form of Isn't It Midnight, As Long As You Follow, Behind The Mask and Heart Of Stone.
I liked aspects of the 1984 solo album, but the production was so mundane overall, which was a shame when you consider that she had composed a decent batch of songs on that outing.
This comment is bound to alienate the majority of you, but I found Christine's vocals on the Tango album to be wispy, non-engaging and lightweight. It almost seemed as though she was mimicking Lindsey's vocal stylings at the time, lending a synthetic sheen to her songs.
I also thought Christine's contributions to the Time album were the nadir of her career - this was songwriting by numbers, prosaic and perfunctory in the extreme.
In The Meantime just further cemented her deterioration as a songwriter and features the dullest production of all time. Once again, I realise I'm on my own here, but I consider her vocals to be truly awful on this occasion. I've never been able to play this album all the way through, it's just too embarrassing for everyone concerned (most of all, the listener).
I definitely feel as though Christine was underrated from her origins in Chicken Shack all the way through to the Heroes Are Hard To Find album, before finally being properly recognised from the White Album onwards. Her work during this period (1967 - 1974) had been consistently brilliant and she continued to produce stellar work all the way through to Tusk in 1979. Her first side-step occurred with One More Night and yet, I still found it difficult to resist. It was from 1982 onwards that she began to lose my interest, but I still yearn for one last burst of greatness from her, perhaps courtesy of the ever-looming final Mac album...

[SteveMacD]

It's amazing, & people are too quick to pan songs that aren't on mega-hit million selling albums.I keep an open ear to everything
It's amazing that you assume it matters to David what album it was on.

[SteveMacD]

Well, I hadn't heard it for about 50 years so I just went to YouTube to listen to it, and now ... well, I'm not sure what I think of it. I've spoken of Greg Ladanyi's cauliflower ear before, but I'm trying to discount that nonsense in the hopes of "hearing" the song bare so I can judge it rather than Ladanyi.

I just don't know what to make of it. I know I like it but I don't know whether it's any good.

I'm not sure it's poignant, but I also don't think it's either saccharine and insubstantial. It IS a beautiful pop song, and it is possibly the best moment on that record.

"Behind The Mask" is the album that could have been.

[redbird]

In my opinion, Christine barely put a hoof wrong until the Mirage album. That's when my adoration for her songwriting abilities and vocal prowess began to wane. I think most of her output since 1982 has been insubstantial and pedestrian with the occasional highlight in the form of Isn't It Midnight, As Long As You Follow, Behind The Mask and Heart Of Stone.
I liked aspects of the 1984 solo album, but the production was so mundane overall, which was a shame when you consider that she had composed a decent batch of songs on that outing.
This comment is bound to alienate the majority of you, but I found Christine's vocals on the Tango album to be wispy, non-engaging and lightweight. It almost seemed as though she was mimicking Lindsey's vocal stylings at the time, lending a synthetic sheen to her songs.
I also thought Christine's contributions to the Time album were the nadir of her career - this was songwriting by numbers, prosaic and perfunctory in the extreme.
In The Meantime just further cemented her deterioration as a songwriter and features the dullest production of all time. Once again, I realise I'm on my own here, but I consider her vocals to be truly awful on this occasion. I've never been able to play this album all the way through, it's just too embarrassing for everyone concerned (most of all, the listener).
I definitely feel as though Christine was underrated from her origins in Chicken Shack all the way through to the Heroes Are Hard To Find album, before finally being properly recognised from the White Album onwards. Her work during this period (1967 - 1974) had been consistently brilliant and she continued to produce stellar work all the way through to Tusk in 1979. Her first side-step occurred with One More Night and yet, I still found it difficult to resist. It was from 1982 onwards that she began to lose my interest, but I still yearn for one last burst of greatness from her, perhaps courtesy of the ever-looming final Mac album...

I was always struck by how Christine was able to evolve from era to era of the band, and wondered if perhaps my lack of enthusiasm for her later songs (Mirage onward for me as well, although a few of her Tusk songs fail to captivate me too) is a product of Christine trying to be commercial for evolving markets. If she ever records with the band again I want to hear her play the blues.

[aleuzzi]

In The Meantime just further cemented her deterioration as a songwriter and features the dullest production of all time. Once again, I realise I'm on my own here, but I consider her vocals to be truly awful on this occasion. I've never been able to play this album all the way through, it's just too embarrassing for everyone concerned (most of all, the listener).


We live on different planets. Her ITM songs and vocals are outstanding. Far superior, imo, to the 1984 record. Career highlights, in fact.

[Phil]

I accept this and realise that I am in the minority regarding my views, but believe me, I truly wanted to like In The Meantime. I bought it on the day of release and was praying it would mark a return to form (in my opinion), but alas, it was not to be. I lament what I consider to be the loss of Christine's talents. Such a shame.

[SteveMacD]

I didn't like ITM more than 1984 s/t, but I thought it had a few good songs. Like Stevie and Lindsey, I think Christine is best within the context of Fleetwood Mac than as a solo artist.

[Phil]

SteveMacD, I actually disagree in part. I do believe Christine's songs are definitely superior within the band context, often benefiting from Lindsey's guiding hand, particularly in terms of inventive arrangements. I also think that the three part harmonies lift her songs beyond the mundane. For example, imagine Little Lies without Lindsey's arrangement and the backing vocals during the chorus? It would have just blended in with the rest of the songs on the 1984 solo album - decent, but not earth-shattering. Little Lies as it stands is an enjoyable ditty, but majorly assisted by the flourishes afforded by the band.
However, I think that both Lindsey and Stevie (to a lesser extent) are more adventurous in their solo outings and often reap the rewards as a result. Stevie's collaboration with Dave Stewart certainly made for an eclectic album, whether you like the final result or not. By her normal standards, In Your Dreams constituted veritable experimentation.

[michelej1]

I enjoyed Meantime, but I thought Dan Perfect's production on some of those songs was so cheesy and horrible it was hard to take. I always said I would have called my lawyer and written him out of the will if I'd been Christine.

Yet, to me the most beautiful songs on that album were written by Dan and his light production touch was perfect on Calumny and Northern Star as good there as it was heavy-handed elsewhere. I just don't think he should have produced the uptempo tunes. Even for the 1980s the backup vocals on Bad Journey would be too much, but 20 years later, I found them absolutely criminal.

But from the example of his writing we got, I would be interested in having Christine do more of his songs, just with a different producer.

Michele

[HomerMcvie]

Dan and his light production touch was perfect on Calumny and Northern Star as good there as it was heavy-handed elsewhere. I just don't think he should have produced the uptempo tunes. Even for the 1980s the backup vocals on Bad Journey would be too much, but 20 years later, I found them absolutely criminal.

But from the example of his writing we got, I would be interested in having Christine do more of his songs, just with a different producer.

Michele
Calumny and Northern Star are the two TRUE gems on the album. Bad Journey is my least favorite song on it!

[Gailh]

I don't think Dan Perfect can be completely blamed for the production on ITM.

Christine was the senior partner, the much more experienced musician so the final decisions would or should have been hers

Anyway I like the album

Gail

[aleuzzi]

Now I'm in the minority: I love "Bad Journey."

I had some problems with the album's production, but this had to do with Christine's tendency to do too many repetitions in a song. The same problem with the chorus of "Got a Hold on Me." Most of the songs on ITM could be cut down by anywhere from 30-60 seconds. "Anything is Possible," "Forgiveness" and "Givin' it Back" are notable exceptions. And "Calumny" deserves its length.

Anyway, "Forgiveness" is pretty much a perfect song in my book--and so well arranged, I'd forgive the drawn out repetition at the end of the "Friend" (album version--the acoustic version is perfect).

But, I have to agree with SteveMacD: she's better in the context of the group, as are all of the individual members of Mac.

[jbrownsjr]

Now I'm in the minority: I love "Bad Journey."

I had some problems with the album's production, but this had to do with Christine's tendency to do too many repetitions in a song. The same problem with the chorus of "Got a Hold on Me." Most of the songs on ITM could be cut down by anywhere from 30-60 seconds. "Anything is Possible," "Forgiveness" and "Givin' it Back" are notable exceptions. And "Calumny" deserves its length.

Anyway, "Forgiveness" is pretty much a perfect song in my book--and so well arranged, I'd forgive the drawn out repetition at the end of the "Friend" (album version--the acoustic version is perfect).

But, I have to agree with SteveMacD: she's better in the context of the group, as are all of the individual members of Mac.

I love Bad Journey. I love the lyrics, I adore the backing vocals and her voice is so cool on it. I don't like the "Bad Journey" chant. uhhhh

[michelej1]

I had some problems with the album's production, but this had to do with Christine's tendency to do too many repetitions in a song.

I didn't notice the repetition, but the hackneyed metaphors and phrases in Liar nearly disabled me.

I actually like the tune, very catchy, but the words are . . . shameful, high school sophmore, really.

-jack of hearts
-shining knight
-heart of darkness
-dice
-gambler
-clown
-walls came tumbling down

Did someone give her a cliche book for Christmas? And a good cliche is fine. In fact, some of the greatest lyrics spring from a twist in a cliched phrase, but there were no twists in these lyrics and too many of these time worn duds thrown into a single song. I mean, it would have been bad enough if they'd all been spread across an entire album. But all in one song:distress:.

Michele

[jbrownsjr]

I didn't notice the repetition, but the hackneyed metaphors and phrases in Liar nearly disabled me.

I actually like the tune, very catchy, but the words are . . . shameful, high school sophmore, really.

-jack of hearts
-shining knight
-heart of darkness
-dice
-gambler
-clown
-walls came tumbling down

Did someone give her a cliche book for Christmas? And a good cliche is fine. In fact, some of the greatest lyrics spring from a twist in a cliched phrase, but there were no twists in these lyrics and too many of these time worn duds thrown into a single song. I mean, it would have been bad enough if they'd all been spread across an entire album. But all in one song:distress:.

Michele

I don't like this tune. Lyrics and/or music.. just doesn't really go anywhere..

[SpyNote]

My vote goes to "Homeward Bound." Great piano, very believable emotion. And a real rocker, something we didn't get too often from Christine.

I'm with you. HB is one of her all-time best and early evidence of her wanting to leave the music industry.

[bombaysaffires]

I also rather like Bad Journey. Not as much as some others, but it is much better than several tunes on the album.

Gotta say I have always loved Homeward Bound. Not her best vocal, but a great song and I think the lyrics get at the heart of why she ultimately left so many years later. Always wished they'd done it live in the B&N years.

[SteveMacD]

However, I think that both Lindsey and Stevie (to a lesser extent) are more adventurous in their solo outings and often reap the rewards as a result.
For me, Stevie's songs are either too narcissistic or too fairy tale/pixie dust to be enjoyable for a whole album. Her voice also gets on my nerves, especially since she has one vocal run that she uses ad nausem. It's hard to take a whole album of Stevie.

Lindsey can be interesting on his own, though some of his stuff is too left brained to be listenable (at least to me), and a lot of his lyrics are also very narcissistic. Also, he seems to be making a lot more social commentary these days. I guess I wouldn't have too much of an issue with that if he had a history of making social commentary.

Christine's writing tends to be more universal, but she gets bland after a while. I find her albums less difficult to sit through, but they can be a challenge.

[Bryan]

It's amazing that you assume it matters to David what album it was on.

I didn't assume anything,at any time,ever. What is this post about? :shrug: If I did,let David speak about it,why jump in??

[shackin'up]

I'm still deeply in love with Over and Over, a song that never got the recognition it deserves.... So subtle, so beautifully build up.

[MacShadowsBall]

Two more songs that I feel don't get any love and are some of my favs are Oh Daddy and Save Me. :cool:

[aleuzzi]

Two more songs that I feel don't get any love and are some of my favs are Oh Daddy and Save Me. :cool:

I'm big on all the daddy songs--Oh Daddy, Sugar Daddy, and Honey Hi.

[michelej1]

I'm big on all the daddy songs--Oh Daddy, Sugar Daddy, and Honey Hi.

I like Honey Hi too. I love the tropical flavor. Almost calypso. I'll ignore its one "daddy."


Michele

[bombaysaffires]

Oh Daddy is sublime. Love hearing it in progress on the new Rumours package.

[SteveMacD]

I have to say "Mean Old World" because it wasn't done enough.

[gypsy-sara]

Show Me A Smile
Oh Daddy
Over And Over
Never Forget

And though "Isn't It Midnight" and "Why" not really qualify as being underrated,
I do think that both of them should be much higher rated overall - they should have been massive hits back then and - in my opinion - should have remained in all of their setlists until this very day. I would SO love to her at least "Isn't It Midnight" live this year!

[aleuzzi]

I like Honey Hi too. I love the tropical flavor. Almost calypso. I'll ignore its one "daddy."


Michele

When you ignore the daddy, will you acknowledge the "lord" that comes in the next line? :p

[aleuzzi]

I have to say "Mean Old World" because it wasn't done enough.

Love this. But I would also have loved if she played "I Want You" on a regular basis, really pull out those organ stops and get a down and dirty blues groove going.

As David said in another post: she hints, she tantalizes.

[Phil]

I just remembered a more recent track of Christine's that I quite like - "Come Out & Play" from the ITM sessions. I actually thought it was better than just about everything that made the album. It's by no means brilliant, but kind of refreshing when compared with the sterility of the album tracks. It's reminiscent of her Tango tracks in my opinion.
It's great that so many of her early tracks are garnering a mention within this thread. As I've said previously, she could do no wrong in my eyes prior to 1982. With the body of work she had presented up to that time, she could be excused for never offering up another decent song - she'd more than proven herself by that stage.

[michelej1]

I just remembered a more recent track of Christine's that I quite like - "Come Out & Play" from the ITM sessions.

That's a good one to mention, because I like it but don't think about it. I tend to listen to albums and have to make an effort to make my own playlists. You jogged my memory on this one.

Michele

[jbrownsjr]

I just remembered a more recent track of Christine's that I quite like - "Come Out & Play" from the ITM sessions. I actually thought it was better than just about everything that made the album. It's by no means brilliant, but kind of refreshing when compared with the sterility of the album tracks. It's reminiscent of her Tango tracks in my opinion.
It's great that so many of her early tracks are garnering a mention within this thread. As I've said previously, she could do no wrong in my eyes prior to 1982. With the body of work she had presented up to that time, she could be excused for never offering up another decent song - she'd more than proven herself by that stage.

I really like this track too, although the lyrics were a bit strange to me.

[whitewingdove]

I'm The One!! Jesus McVie, I LOOOOVE that song! "I'm not your doctor baby, I'm not your psychiatrist"

[moon]

A little long list, with Wish You Were Here on top!

- Wish You Were Here
- Come a little bit closer
- Only Over You
- Over & Over

Wish You Were Here is a very strong but sweet song, as I said in another thread, good as a closing song for an album. The demo version, longer than the definitive, is so beautiful too, with a long piano solo with Lindsey's guitar on it.
And Come A Little Bit Closer, is second. I know I saw it on you lists of Chris' Best Songs, but I never saw it as A song from her Pre-Rumours days, like...Why.
Her harmonies, Bob's guitar, Mick's drums, everything, everything is mixed perfectly.

On the other hand, Why, but I prefer to comment about it in another thread...
Regards!

[applebucked]

Come A Little Bit Closer is one of my fave Christine songs too.

Though among the "underrated" ones, The Way I Feel tops the list for me. Such a gorgeous track. Never Make Me Cry is on the list as well, but I loved it better when she's all smashed on the boat. :laugh: For her solo albums, I love Come Out to Play and, as a guilty pleasure, Bad Journey.

[jbrownsjr]

I love the sultry voice on Bad Journey... :nod:

[applebucked]

The bridge part of that song where she duets with herself does things to me.

[becca]

Come Out To Play and Gone Into The Sun are favorites of mine. I can`t believe either spent any time on a shelf like they did!

[applebucked]

Haven't listened to Gone Into the Sun in a very long time. Maybe I should again.

[jbrownsjr]

Haven't listened to Gone Into the Sun in a very long time. Maybe I should again.

Love that tune..

[aleuzzi]

And to keep this thread going, I'll add that the FM live-in-studio version of Crazy 'Bout You Baby is brilliant and should have gone on Future Games or Bare Trees. The guitar work is amazing (both solos) and her voice is in top form. This version rivals Ike and Tina's.

And yet one more underrated song: Warm Ways!

[jbrownsjr]

I love her interactions with Danny in the old days.. :)

[applebucked]

I love her interactions with Danny in the old days.. :)
Yeah. Was she singing harmonies on Dust, or was it Danny harmonizing with himself? Loved that vocal there.

[becca]

She sings harmony on Dust. Sort of a dark subject matter to that one however; an old poem about being planted in the ground. Brrr! Great music though. Danny's Dragonfly was a similar pre-existing poem, maybe When You Say derived from something as well? :shrug:

[aleuzzi]

Yeah. Was she singing harmonies on Dust, or was it Danny harmonizing with himself? Loved that vocal there.

I think that's her doing the high part, but it could be Danny Duetting himself in falsetto. I love her harmonies on Dragonfly.

[David]

Did I post in this thread already? Underrated Chris songs: "No Road Is the Right Road" and "One More Night."

[michelej1]

Did I post in this thread already? Underrated Chris songs: "No Road Is the Right Road" and "One More Night."

Yes you did post before. You said:

One More Night
When the Train Comes Back
Temporary One
I'm on My Way
Heart of Stone

Now, you've just pulled When the Train Comes Back out of the air and I'm kind of suspicious of its belated inclusion. I assume you now concede that Temporary One and I'm On My Way are deservedly underrated.

I agree about Heart of Stone.

Michele

[jbrownsjr]

Yeah, Heart of Stone is really underrated. The vocals on it are sublime.

[WatchChain]

"come A Little Bit Closer"

"ask Anybody"

[applebucked]

Currently addicted to Come A Little Bit Closer. Such a great song.

And has me craving for remasters of MTM and HAHTF.

[jbrownsjr]

Currently addicted to Come A Little Bit Closer. Such a great song.

And has me craving for remasters of MTM and HAHTF.

I've been listening to Heroes for the last couple weeks. It's such a hidden gem.

[applebucked]

I've been listening to Heroes for the last couple weeks. It's such a hidden gem.
What I love about that era is how prominent the piano is, especially on Chris' songs.

[jbrownsjr]

What I love about that era is how prominent the piano is, especially on Chris' songs.

Yes, agreed. I especially love the piano on the title track heroes... Such a unique shuffle.

[applebucked]

Yes, agreed. I especially love the piano on the title track heroes... Such a unique shuffle.
It's a unique song for Chris, period.

[jbrownsjr]

It's a unique song for Chris, period.

There's a few tunes on that album that are very unique to her style.

[He's So Unusual]

Did You Ever Love Me, Heart of Stone and Honey Hi are three tracks that don't seem to get the attention they deserve. The latter song really shows off how great the harmonies are between Christine, Stevie and Lindsey.