The group Fleetwood Mac was named for drummer Mick Fleetwood, who helped found the band in 1967, and bassist John McVie, who, I did not know until recently, actually declined to join the group initially, but eventually came on board. The early iterations of the band were of classic British blues.
Early on, one Christine Perfect joined the band, initially as a session musician, and after marrying John McVie, as a full-fledged member. The band continued to have a revolving membership until Americans Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined the group, two strong singer-songwriters. However, I’m going to limit the songs here to those written, or co-written, by Christine, only because it fits the family group motif.
The first album together, 1975’s Fleetwood Mac, had several hit songs, with Over My Head [LISTEN to the very first FM song to hit the Top 20 (just) in the US. Say You Love Me [LISTEN], made it to #11.
“In 1976 [Christine] McVie began an on-the-road affair with the band’s lighting director, which inspired her to write You Make Loving Fun [LISTEN], a [#9] hit on the landmark smash Rumours, one of the best-selling albums of all-time.” It spent an amazing 31 weeks at #1 and spawned a number of other top 10 songs, including Don’t Stop [LISTEN], which went to #3, and later became a theme song at Bill Clinton’s 1992 inauguration. “By the end of the Rumours tour, the McVies were divorced.” Nicks and Buckingham had also ended their romantic relationship, and Mick Fleetwood would be getting divorced from his wife.
The double album Tusk followed, including Think About Me [LISTEN], #20 in 1980. 1982’s Mirage, featured Hold Me [LISTEN] (a #4 hit) and Love In Store [LISTEN] (#22), with co-writers from outside the band.
Tango in the Night, from 1987, contained Little Lies [LISTEN], another #4 hit, co-written with her new husband Eddy Quintela, and Everywhere [LISTEN], which went to #22.
Eventually, Christine McVie, Nicks, and Buckingham all left at different points. Yet the classic band found its way back together in 1997 for an album and tour, the year before the five of them, plus former Mac guitarists Peter Green and Danny Kirwan were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Christine departed again, but in January 2014, it was announced that she had rejoined the band, and in March, a reunion tour was scheduled.
We’ll end this with The Chain [LISTEN] from Rumours, written by all five of the members at that point, because, despite it all, there is something holding these five people together.
Fleetwood Mac was always one of my favorite bands of the 70s and 80s. I liked Stevie Nicks.
Beautiful M words.And good music!
I looked up the difference between opossum and possum, There is no difference.
Opossum is colloquially possums.
I should have corrected it yesterday, but…. I had suddenly visitors and they stayed for dinner and left at 21:30 , but it was, as Obama said in Amsterdam: truly “gezellig”.
Looks like music is a popular choice for the letter M. this group hails from my post college years…
I love their music, bit it’s too bad that there personal lives were so unhappy
An Arkie’s Musings
I didn’t listen to them very much in the 70s and 80s but later came to like their music.
Great “M” choice and selections. Thanks!
Definitely, I love Fleetwood Mac! It brings back fond memories of my youth!
Listened and liked! Thanks, Roger.
Where did you find that photo, hilarious. Looks like they may be thinking, now who was I with. Love Fleetwood Mac, everlasting songs.
This is new for me.
Loved listening to a couple of them.
Thanks for the links.
It’s nice to finally read something about a band I know I heard around vaguely but never seemed to know anything else about them. Say You Love Me is fun to listen to.
I LOVE this band! Even my mother loved Stevie Nicks!
Leslie
abcw team
…nostalgia!!
Thanks again Roger:)
they look so young! i just saw stevie nicks on last season of american horror story…she had a couple of appearances and sang!
My Dad always liked Fleetwood Mac, but for some reason I never got into them until I was in my thirties. I remember hearing “Little Lies” ALL THE TIME when it was first out; so often, that I’m surprised to see it was “only” a #4 hit!
Fleetwood Mac- one of my three favorite bands! love when you post music links! thank you for the stroll down music lane.
Our FAVORITE band of all-time. We love going to their concerts!!!
Ann
I didn’t know Fleetwood Mac was founded way back in ’67! They are touring again in the fall.
No idea who they are !
What a ‘Motley’ looking band, interesting reading Roger but I’m afraid I was never into their style of music,
best wishes,
Di.x