Christine McVie, songwriter, keyboards, and vocals for Fleetwood Mac during their most successful period, passed away this week at the age of 79. Rumours is one of the highest-selling albums of all time and still ranks among the highest-selling albums in recent years thanks to reissues, streaming, and commercial placement. It’s a masterpiece of rock and pop perfection, made amidst a couple traumatic breakups and with the help of heaping piles of cocaine and the unwavering genius of Lindsey Buckingham. Fewer albums branch off into so many different directions yet maintain a cohesive sound and spirit to this degree; an absolute “band” album.
McVie’s two ballads “Songbird” and “Oh Daddy” were key to the record, but it’s “You Make Loving Fun” that makes my guts move and stops me in my tracks every time. Her presence is felt on every song through her keyboards and harmonies (if not lead vocals) and the melodies and arrangements she penned.
Of course there’s more to Fleetwood Mac and Christine McVie than Rumours. The album before (self-titled) and after (Tusk) were both incredible, and she had a strong footprint on releases before and after those too. She did a record with Lindsey Buckingham in 2017 that had some soaring highs, and the world can’t seem to get enough of her song “Everywhere” (recorded with Fleetwood Mac) on Chevy commercials this fall. Her shadow looms large over all pop and rock music of the last four decades, and her passing, the first of that great lineup, has been felt around the world.
Jeremy Porter lives near Detroit and fronts the rock and roll band Jeremy Porter And The Tucos. Follow them on Facebook to read his road blog about their adventures on the dive-bar circuit.
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