As readers might have noticed, I've referenced my Fleetwood Mac fandom on this blog many times. Today, I was saddened and surprised to learn of Christine McVie's passing. What a fortuitous choice her addition to the band was in 1970. She brought a distinctive voice, a hook-laden style of piano playing, and songwriting talent that made her the guiding force behind the majority of the band's hits. Before I list my favorite Fleetwood Mac tracks of hers, I'll cite one of her best Chicken Shack tracks:
- Get Like You Used To Be (For those who haven't heard McVie's pre-Fleetwood Mac output, this is a strong example of her appealingly bluesy singing and piano playing.)
Now, here are my favorite McVie-centered Fleetwood Mac songs:
- Brown Eyes (This is a quiet, somewhat overlooked track from the "Tusk" album. The band and McVie almost sound like a different group here, which makes the tune intriguing. It also segues well with "No More Looking Back" by The Kinks.)
- Crazy About You (Can't Hold Out Much Longer) (BBC session) (This live-in-studio session of nearly four minutes is some of the catchiest singing and piano playing of McVie's I've heard. This is my favorite track on the "Madison Blues" 1970-71 compilation album and deserves to be better known. McVie plays and sings at a fast clip with considerable verve here, and the rest of the band feeds off of her energy.)
- Don't Stop (An honest yet reassuring way of saying, "Although we're not together anymore, don't let that stop you from having a bright future.")
- Keep On Going (Bob Welch wrote this tune, but McVie sang it as if she'd written it. This is an atypical style for the band and her; the exotic-sounding guitar part and string orchestra give the song an unusual feel.)
- Love In Store (I haven't always given this hit its due for its easy sing-along chorus and pleasant vocal harmonies.)
- Over My Head (I've always thought this was one of McVie's most appealing hits. I've always liked how the song eases the listener in and builds to a strong chorus with an unlikely blend of voices--Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, and McVie.)
- Remember Me (One of the better tracks from the "Penguin" album that's a prototype of the sound McVie would perfect on the band's self-titled and "Rumours" albums.)
- Say You Love Me (One of the most appealing piano intros in rock history and another example of strong harmony singing from Nicks, Buckingham, and McVie.)
- Songbird (It's no accident that this piano-and-vocals number of McVie's was used over a documentary montage of the band's various eras. These are some of McVie's most touching lyrics, suitable for bittersweet nostalgic times.)
- You Make Loving Fun (This is how to build to a chorus.)
