DISCUSSION: Christine's songs from Rumours

[ryan4136]

Originally Posted by MacShadowsBall

Here's the first discussion thread for Rumours focusing on Christine McVie's songs.

Songs up for discussion...
1. Don't Stop
2. Songbird
3. You Make Loving Fun
4. Oh Daddy
5. The Chain

Since "The Chain" is a true Fleetwood Mac collaboration, it can be discussed in which every threads you feel like.

Will "Don't Stop" go to Christine or collaboration due to Lindsey's vocals?

It's been fun reading everyone's thoughts before putting my own down. Ah we make it to Rumours. I'm going to put a bit of this on each post so feel free to skip it on the others.

Rumours to me is the first "band" album of the Rumours era grouping. While the white album sold well, to me it was a hodge podge of things the band came together with previously. To me it was 1/2 Buckingham Nicks, and 1/2 Heros/Mystery to Me. With the only song that seemed like a progression to a a band sound being Rhiannon, which was still in it's infancy as a song at the merger.

However, when we arrive at Rumours we find an album where all parties seem to be coming together (even while personally they are pulling apart) to put the best that each person has to offer on every song, and to really push a "band" sound. There is nearly zero solo feel to any song. Sometimes Tusk gets a rap as being overproduced (which it is), but it's no more overproduced than Rumours the members of the band just swim the same direction down stream together on this one.

It's a true gem of pop/rock (not my favorite FM album, but it's place in thier catalog is important to aknowledge). Overproduced at times, but done (largely by LB) with the blessing of the band, unlike Tusk where we seem some disagreement in sound.


On to Christine....

Don't Stop....very popular song. You see a great writing partnership in Christine and Lindsey here. This song does better in sales with LB singing it, however this is easily a standard Christine type song.


Songbird...has done well with Mac fans, the negative about Songbird was the attempt by the band to recreate the feel of the song on nearly every album afterwards. It would've had a bigger impact historically if it sat alone in it's feel in the bands history (similar to a never going back again from LB).

You make loving fun.....my favorite CM song on this album. Easily the most produced song on this album, but I don't see how they could've made as strong without all the layering of sounds. If I was introducing someone to FM that had never heard them before I'd be hard pressed not to pick this one. Gotta think everyone can relate to this song.

Oh Daddy....I rarely pick Oh daddy out on a play list for some reason. But everytime I listen to it, I love how it has a unique sound that can't be easily copied. I find it unique lyrically for CM, because nearly every song she writes is about falling in or out of love....this one really is only asking for forgiveness, love be damned.

The Chain........you can put everyone's name on it all you want...this is an LB song. And epitomizes the movement towards full band songs of this album.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by ryan4136

The Chain........you can put everyone's name on it all you want...this is an LB song. And epitomizes the movement towards full band songs of this album.

Don't really see how you can say that, since the lyrics are stereotypically Stevie Nicks...the instrumental work behind the vocals, yeah, that's Lindsey (listen to live versions of "Lola (My Love)"). From the bass break on, that's a typical "Fleetwood Mac" vibe...from as far back as the Peter Green/Danny Kirwan days ("Searchin' For Madge", "Tell Me All The Things You Do", etc)

[Ulpian]

Originally Posted by ryan4136

The Chain........you can put everyone's name on it all you want...this is an LB song. And epitomizes the movement towards full band songs of this album.

That's not true at all. If it's anyone's song in particular, it's Christine's. The original Keep Me There / Butter Cookie demos can be heard in one form or another in that final cut.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by ryan4136

The Chain........you can put everyone's name on it all you want...this is an LB song. And epitomizes the movement towards full band songs of this album.

I couldn't disagree more, it was a collaboration of CM and LB's music in certain parts... then the rest was added..

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by ryan4136

On to Christine....

Don't Stop....very popular song. You see a great writing partnership in Christine and Lindsey here. This song does better in sales with LB singing it, however this is easily a standard Christine type song.

Lindsey didn't write the song. This is the type of shuffle that Christine would and could have written long before she ever met Lindsey.

Even Lindsey would admit as much, but he has talked about the confusion created because he starts off the vocal on the song. He knows that's why people associate with his work, even though it's not.

Michele

[ryan4136]

Interesting what everyone hears on the Chain.

Maybe I overstated my feelings a little, I guess I've always heard more LB on that song than the others (regardless of vocals). I always thought the arrangement had a solo LB quality to it....maybe his solo has more of a Christine influence than I've given her credit for over the years.

[MacShadowsBall]

As far as "Don't Stop" goes, Lindsey's voice fits better that Christine's. When she gets the 2nd verse, its like eh,okay.

The album version of "The Chain" vocally seems to be all Stevie and Lindsey; yet in live performances its all three vocalist!