Billboard article-McVie In A Mellow Mood On New Album

[macfan 57]

Here's a Billboard article/interview. Thanks to Neil from the Go Your Own Way website.

McVie in a Mellow Mood on New Album

Sat Oct 2, 2004 06:02 AM ET
By Melinda Newman

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - No one is more surprised than Christine McVie that she has a new album out.

But life is funny that way, the Fleetwood Mac veteran admits, and with her "never say no to anything" attitude, it just felt like the right time to release "In the Meantime," which bowed Sept. 14 on Koch Records.

The music, especially first single "Friend" and "Calumny," is signature McVie: melodic and tuneful, with lyrics built around relationships.

"These songs are about a particular man with whom I went through great times and rotten times. It's someone I met who broke my heart," she says. "In some ways, it's my own 'Rumors,"' she says, referring to the Fleetwood Mac album that explored intra-band relationships. "I'm not going to say who it's about. You can call it 'Tumors,"' she says with a throaty laugh.

As a songwriter, McVie has always mined territory familiar to her. In fact, she bluntly says she would be "running to the nearest vomitorium" if she tried to write a political or tribute song. "I think it would sound (in)sincere."

She cut the album in a makeshift studio in a converted barn on her property in Kent, England. "I was just having a laugh with my nephew, just having fun writing some songs, and it transpired from there."

She credits that no-pressure vibe with the relaxed, easy feel of her vocals. "There was no deadline, no real intent to resurrect my career."

That fact that is borne out by her lack of desire to push the album. "The record company is very sympathetic with that," she says. "I don't intend to start touring or making appearances. When I left Fleetwood Mac, that was it. I have retired."

That notion was reinforced when she saw her former bandmates perform in London earlier this year. "I thought they were phenomenal, and I'm full of admiration for Stevie (Nicks). I don't know how she does it. I can't help feeling I would have to be dragged around with one nail in the coffin. I just don't think I could do it."

Reuters/Billboard