The John McVie Appreciation Thread

[chiliD]

He kicks butt on:

Oh Well
I Loved Another Woman
Black Magic Woman
Rattlesnake Shake
Searching/Fighting For Madge
Station Man
Tell Me All The Things You Do
Sands Of Time
Lay It All Down
Bare Trees
Child Of Mine
Miles Away
Forever
Somebody
For Your Love
Keep On Going
Believe Me
Hypnotized
Angel
Coming Home
Bermuda Triangle
Born Enchanter
Bad Loser
Blue Letter

[SortaSavageLike]

His playing on Landslide blows, unfortunately. Songbird and Never Going Back Again aren't too hot, either. I guess the stress of his divorce really got to him.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by chiliD

He kicks butt on:

Oh Well
I Loved Another Woman
Black Magic Woman
Rattlesnake Shake
Searching/Fighting For Madge
Station Man
Tell Me All The Things You Do
Sands Of Time
Lay It All Down
Bare Trees
Child Of Mine
Miles Away
Forever
Somebody
For Your Love
Keep On Going
Believe Me
Hypnotized
Angel
Coming Home
Bermuda Triangle
Born Enchanter
Bad Loser
Blue Letter

And, I'd add:

Smile At You
Rhiannon (compare what he does to that live version from Buckingham Nicks)
Hold Me
Evidence

Basically, he can take the most basic of songs and turn them into masterpieces. Brilliant, brilliant bassist. Think about it, this guy was on the break-out albums of Eric Clapton*, Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, Jeremy Spencer, Mick Taylor, Bob Welch, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham. The dude's a bad-ass. Simple as that.





*Yes, Clapton had a name with the Yardbirds, but became a guitar hero on the Bluesbreakers album.

[David]

John has an inventive melodic sense. I like the way he & Christine intertwine on songs like Angel (Nicks) & Sands of Time, to the point that the less experienced listeners don't know whether they're listening to the bass or to the electric piano. I think those two borrowed licks from each other, & taught each other different approaches. I also think that John helped improve Christine's shuffle. You can hear it improve in major steps: in 1973, & then again in 1976.

[SteveMacD]

I totally agree. Those two fed off each other and became much better musicians the more they worked together.

[wolfontherun]

Lets not forget the Straight Back. One of the best examples of the mick/john drum/bass interplay. Really gives the song alot of ooomph and then add in Stevie's soaring vocals and you have a great FM song.

[Ghost_Tracker]

Originally Posted by chiliD

He kicks butt on:

Oh Well

Thanks for posting these, I'll definitely listen to some of them and pay special attention to John McVie. But -

I'M sorry, but I believe there was only one person up on-stage during the performance of "Oh Well."





Anyway, I'd like to add "Go Your Own Way" - 1977 version. I think that's a perfect example of a song where he's overlooked or underestimated - - I think McVie is amazing there!


Also, I'm so afraid that there may be a song that you've forgotten. I can't quite place it though . . . .