In the Meantime....
 

.....this popped up in my youtube feed, and I wanted to post it here, and now, even though it's probably in some other thread(s) in the past, because I don't like the sadness. She looks amazing here and she was still happy in England, and she had made some new music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu39ZX5hHmA

I loved this so much.

God I'll miss her forever.

Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nk5Gx0h8GA

She was happy here and standing by all her decisions to leave the Mac. Her house was finished and she enjoyed making an album with her nephew. She had something to occupy her time. In a few years she would go into a darker place. Its a blessing how she did a complete about face, sold this incredible house in isolation and came back to the Mac and their long tours.

I think I had seen this before but forgotten about it. What an endearing album In the Meantime remains The clip contains one of her most endearing quotes about her writing, next the viable product- padding :] I think we can all agree that not one of her songs would be considered padding, they were all wonderful and she never wrote a dud.

Her docs are always so warm, charming, about the music, and she's so humble.

Thanks for reminding me that this was out there. I watched it 100 times when it came out. :wavey:

I agree. She really 'changed to the ending' of her life. So glad she got herself back out there.

-Lis

I remember feeling so lucky to have ITM. I still feel lucky about it. My only wish is that we had gotten one more.

The reviews of the album were lukewarm to cold. This still surprises me since her singing and songwriting were very strong. Some, in fact, were pop perfection.

I love this album more than SYW. It's a lovely arc of an album.

I agree. I even like ITM more than her 1984 album.

I agree. For years, I liked it 100% better. Lately, I've appreciated the 1984 album a bit more, and think 1/2 of it is very, very good. But ITM moves me in a different way.

I love watching puppies being murdered more than SYW.

That’s weirdly not the vibe I was getting. The way she was talking about Mick and John, her eyes definitely look like she was missing them. She was glowing when talking about them, but looked down when it hit her she’s not with them. There was definitely something not quite right going on.

There is no question she would have worked with them on SYW had they allowed her to do so. Stevie even addresses it in the SYW doc and in an ensuing interview in Interview Mag.

Mick also hinted that such a possibility was off the table. I think that was Lindsey's doing. In order to be viable moving forward, they needed to re-establish themselves as a live act without her. Still, can you imagine how good SYW would have been had she been a part of it?

As it is, I am glad she went out on her own and did ITM. We got 12 new songs. 13 actually. 14 if you count the acoustic version of Friend.

I always felt Christine should have recorded with them for SYW. It could have been a true double album and then just tour with out her. The best of both album would have been stellar. We also would have had Lindsey’s magic on Christine new ITM songs.

It makes little sense why they would not let her participate in the making of the album just because she was not prepared to tour behind it.

First, didn't they do just that for Time?

Second, if Lindsey was so keen to make Say You Will a double-CD, one would think he would see the need for all three songwriters.

Would the public have expressed more resistance to the four-piece lineup after her participation in the album than it would have had she not participated? To any meaningful extent, I don't see why that would be the case. It seems like a case of overthinking the situation. Just make the best album you can, and then subsequently make the best live show you can. The Tango tour proved you could successfully tour an album without the songs of one of the three songwriters.

If Lindsey thought it such a blessing to have Christine contributing songs to what became Buckingham McVie (and to our knowledge she hadn't committed to touring behind the album first, nor did he seem to be of a the view that Stevie would not be contributing to the album), one would think he would have felt the same about Say You Will.

It seems convoluted to say, "If you won't tour behind it, we don't want you contributing songs to it." I mean does Lindsey think that, given his failure to tour behind it, the band was retrospectively ill-served by his having contributed songs to Tango (production aside, as plenty of producers don't tour with the band after making an album with them)?

Another interview from last year... less than a year ago (March 2022)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLuVfADXY_E

(it's a radio interview so it's really just audio)

in one of John's Q&As here he also said the same thing...something like how it didn't really see the point in Chris being involved if she couldn't promote the project.

But then in another question, which to me is like a complete turnaround, he said how he thought there was good stuff on Chris's In the Meantime album, but how he thought he and Lindsey and Mick might have helped out on it a bit. Basically saying 'the music would ave been better had we all worked on it together.'

so part of him wanted to work on her music, while the other part didn't see the point if she wasn't gonna tour? I don't really get it.

i think the last line of his final Q&a answer was actually 'Chris will not tour.' maybe at that point they all felt they had pushed her as much as they could, but that she had just checked out and they had to suck it up and move on..?

--Lis

Or better yet, keep 4 of Lindsey’s songs, 4 of Stevies’s, and then add 4 of Christine’s, and then the album would have truly been stellar.

I also remember him saying something like it would have been sad if she’d been involved if her heart wasn’t fully into it.

I think it’s him kind of saying the same thing she was talking about in the second half of the ITM interview. He was missing her as much as she was missing him and Mick.

I agree that she shouldn’t have been a member of the band on SYW if she wasn’t going to tour. They needed to be able to function as an entity in full, and she wasn’t able or willing to at that point. However, I think there was room for compromise. She should have played keyboards and contributed harmony vocals and they should have been her backing band on her “solo” album.

Technically, no. The only shows the band played after Time was released were a couple of corporate gigs. All of their touring had been prior to the album’s release.

That said, it would still be hard to equate the two situations. Christine was the only Rumours era singer/songwriter on Time and the only one not on SYW. Without Christine, Time wouldn’t have much continuity beyond Billy’s limited involvement.

And, it was a bit confusing for them to have to explain that she was still recording with them, but not touring, making the inevitable Brian Wilson comparison.

Please, he wouldn’t have even needed Stevie for that.

No, but the promoters would have. It would have been harder than not.

Christine not touring wasn’t going to be a one tour thing, though. Furthermore, given that Lindsey quitting and opening night were only 55 days apart, there was a little added drama to the TITN tour.

Fleetwood Mac was committed to going on as a recording and touring entity when they went into SYW. It was about going forward. In that sense, having someone who was only going to be on the albums but not the tours wasn’t practical. It would have only kicked the can down the road to 2009, when they weren’t a recording entity anymore.

I hadn’t realized how similar these events were until this thread:

- Lindsey recorded Tango in the Night but refused to tour.
- Christine wanted to record on Say You Will but not tour.
- Stevie wanted to tour but refused to record what became Buckingham/McVie.

I love that Lindsey refused to let Christine do what he did in 1987! I wish the band had let her record on Say You Will, it was such a wasted opportunity. A clear case of majority rules, just like the decision to fire Lindsey.

Chris did not want to do Time. However the record company would not even let the album take place without Christine. They sort of knew the world was not going to flock to Fleetwood Mac without Chris, Stevie, and Lindsey singing something. Being the trooper that Chris was, she agreed to do it with the band so Mick and the band could get their album. She was never going to tour and did much of the album long distance and not in the studio with them. Nights In Estoril actually featured a studio musician which explains why that song rocks.

This is from Mick's book:
Christine McVie did not originally intend to participate on the album (she had technically quit in 1990) but that Warner Bros. had insisted she appear. As such, her five featured songs were recorded separately from the full band and all guitar parts on these were played by session musician Michael Thompson, although Billy Burnette is featured on the album's only single, "I Do", which only charted in Canada.[4] "Hollywood" alludes to the homesickness that would cause her to retire temporarily from the band, while "Nights in Estoril" celebrated time spent at Estoril in Portugal with her then-husband Eddy Quintela, who was Portuguese himself.

This is a bit revisionist. Even after the BTM tour, Christine was always going to be their Brian Wilson. She talked in the 1993 press conference about them going into the studio in April to begin a new album (them at the time being Mick, John, Christine, and Billy), so she was under contract before Bekka and Mason were added. At some point in April, Billy left, so “I Do” was likely from those sessions. From April to October, Fleetwood Mac didn’t have a guitarist, which is why/when I suspect Michael Thompson did the guitar parts.

However, almost every interview they did for the 94-95 tours talked about how she was still in the band. Billy even said in his recent interview that he and Bekka had to have Christine and Dave give the green light for “Dreamin’ the Dream,” and that was the last song written for the album.

I think she worked on the Bramlett stuff and maybe the original version of “Blow By Blow,” but she and Mason didn’t get on and she stopped working with them.

Which makes me wonder if Richard left Time to go make Smile with Lindsey and his band in Hawaii after he realized he couldn’t work with Mason. I also wonder if he was fired by the label when that album was rejected so that they could stick Rob Cavallo on Lindsey.

Of course they were still talking she was in the band in 1994. They needed her for the record deal.
You are taking quotes or statements said in casual terms as a precursor to the future. You dont get they were always talking in positive terms about the band? Why is this so hard to believe? Is the studio guitarist lying what happened during Time? Is Mick lying what actually happened during Time? Is Wikipedia wrong about the album?
History is cemented in time (pardon the pun). Its recorded. There is no disputing that. You are taking statements before Time was recorded and using them to say what happened during or after Time when it did not happen yet.
In theory yes, Chris was still with the band in 1994. She wanted out and was pressed to record the album. Both statements can be true at the same time. The statements from band members from 1990 to 1995 were all over the place. Who was in who was out? Is someone going to tour or not? Who is doing a solo album? etc etc. Many of those statements were not true at the time or were wrong with what was going to happen. For example, its factual history Chris did her recording for Time away from the band. If she was all in with the band as you allege, then why was it done this way? Chris is so loyal to Mick. She has always done everything he asks her to do including Time. The only times she said no was touring with the band during Time and anything beyond the US Leg of the Dance tour. Nothing is revisionist. Its what actually happened.

Just let look at what happened.

She said in late January, 1993 that they were going into the studio to start an album with the band in April, just over two months away. That’s hardly casual terms.

Billy left in April.

The only song of Christine’s he appears on is “I Do.” The rest of the guitars were with a studio musician.

Fleetwood Mac didn’t have a guitarist until October.

Deduction: Christine’s songs on Time were her studio demos, the ones they make to work out the arrangements and harmonies. They weren’t recorded “away from the band,” the band didn’t have a guitarist when they were recorded. Instead of rerecording with the others, she likely just redid the vocals and overdubbed additional keyboards, percussion, and vocals to the demos.

After they were added, but before Billy rejoined, Christine did an interview with them, with a photo of the five of them where she and Bekka were wearing beards. There was also a picture of the five of them playing. So, no, I don’t think they were all talk when then talked about her being their Brian Wilson.

That doesn’t mean she didn’t leave at some point, because a version of the album without her was submitted and rejected, but it’s revisionist to say she never intended to make that album.

Simple logical question then:
Why did Warner Brothers tell the band no record unless Christine is included.

If she always intended to be there they would not have given that ultimatum.

By her own words, she and Mason didn’t get along, and at some point, she stopped going to sessions and left. It got to a point where she wanted nothing to do with the project. Same thing happened with Richard. As I said in my last paragraph, a version of the album without her was submitted and rejected. The label had paid for an album that featured Christine McVie.

That’s when she had to be coaxed back into adding a few finishing touches to her demos from April, 1993.

Perhaps THIS is why she settles for that awful tinny piano on her tunes here. So many good songs marred by that keyboard.

Michael Thompson’s Stratty guitar tone doesn’t do much for me, either. “I Do” is my favorite song of hers on the album, perhaps because of Billy’s rhythm guitar, which worked incredibly well with their groove.

In terms of the actual writing, I like Hollywood, but for me "Sooner or Later" comes off best.

Billy sounds great anytime he comes to the fore. I didn't dig him at all on Mask. I felt like the band and label were shoehorning him into a style. But on Time he appears more naturally himself, and his work with Bekka was great.

Talkin to my heart is a great son!

Should’ve been a hit.

This picture.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...eMacD/FM94.jpg

ETA: DAVE MASON TEAMS UP WITH FLEETWOOD MAC

By Robert Kinsler and Orange County Register
Orlando Sentinel
Oct 16, 1993 at 12:00 am

"There is a lot of potential there, coupled with Christine, myself and Bekka, who has an incredible voice. It will be interesting to see what comes forward."

Dave must have felt so old having been in a band with her mother.

So when they were touring 1994-95, prior to Time's release, was Christine in the band or not? Had she finished her parts prior to that touring and, aside from a few touch-ups that would occur later on (where as with Lindsey's appearance one could consider her a guest), was functionally out of the band by the time the 94 touring started.

And what's this with Billy leaving and rejoining? What's the skinny on that?

Reminds me of Rick leaving and rejoining just for the Superbowl appearance of early '92 (or was it early '93?).

That’s the mystery.

His solo album Coming Home came out in February 16, 1993 and then he did a movie “Saturday Night Special” that was released on May 20, 1994. The Time band’s first tour date was July 4, 1994.

I have a few questions there, too. I’m saving it for tomorrow (off to bed).
It was Jan. 31, 1993. That was a one-off that was his farewell. Billy asked him to do it.

Billy
 

As promised…

I’m now wondering if Billy also had to be compelled to rejoin. He recently said they asked him to do the tour and asked him to bring in a couple of songs for the album, but he said in 1995 that he asked to rejoin, so that’s always been a little sketchy.

Here’s the timeline: Fleetwood Mac played the Super Bowl on January 31, 1993, “Coming Home” was released on February 16, 1993, Soccer Rocks the Globe, which featured the original “Blow By Blow,” was released on March 30, 1994, Billy’s “Saturday Night Special” movie was released on May 20, 1994, and the first tour date listed for the Time band was July 4, 1994.

When Richard and Christine left and when Billy rejoined are still a mystery. The only songs Richard didn’t produce were the new “Blow By Blow” and “These Strange Times.” Steve Thoma is only listed as the keyboardist on Dave’s songs and “Winds of Change,” suggesting Christine played on everything Billy cowrote. Now, whether she was still participating in the sessions after Billy came back or was dubbed in after being compelled back is the unknown.

So, was Billy compelled back for contractual reasons, did he replace Christine on the project, was he asked back to be a buffer between Dave and the ladies, did he ask to rejoin after his solo album wasn’t a hit, or was it simply a situation where he was still in frequent contact with Mick, Christine, and Bekka and everyone felt he should be back in the band?

And father.

However, Billy Burnette was a close family friend (Dorsey Burnette and Delaney Bramlett were friends) and frequently wrote songs with Delaney Bramlett, and Bonnie would occasionally sing live with him. There used to be a video from the late ‘70s of Billy singing with Bonnie. D&B were Billy’s favorite band.

Here’s a 1975 song called “Lonesome, Long Gone, So Long” that Billy wrote with Delaney: https://youtu.be/_OlkcgOHcEM

And, here’s another song from that album called “Nothing Without You”: https://youtu.be/FcSOh8tgPho

Is this a corporate gig?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0F5ZSxXqPQ

Yes I think it was. Wow that was a blast from the past because I remember John telling me they did that, this was around the beginning of when we had started writing to each other.....

i actually just went and found the email, he said they had just finished a gig in Vegas for some computer company, and that it was Bekka's last day in the west as she had just moved to nashville. That's all the detail he gave. The email was November 16th 1995.

Then there was another one from January 31st 1996 where he said ' the band with mason, Burnette, and Bekka has finished and mick and I are onto something new'. So I guess that was the end of that.

--Lis