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Christine McVie's association with Fleetwood Mac began in 1970 when the singer-songwriter born Anne Christine Perfect played and sang on the group's record Kiln House (and even provided its cover artwork). Though uncredited on Kiln House, McVie joined the band shortly thereafter, penning two songs and contributing to a third on 1971's Future Games. Her place in the group assured, she went on to write and sing many of the Mac's most cherished hits including "Don't Stop," "Everywhere," and "Little Lies." While Christine departed the band in 1998, she returned in 2014 and remains in the lineup today alongside founding members Mick Fleetwood and her ex-husband John McVie as well as Stevie Nicks and recent recruits Neil Finn and Mike Campbell.
Today, Rhino has turned the spotlight onto her small but vibrant solo discography with the announcement of her first-ever solo compendium. Songbird (A Solo Collection) arrives on June 24 in CD, 180-gram vinyl, and digitally. The lean 10-track anthology has been remastered by producer Glyn Johns who worked in tandem with McVie on the release. Songbird is mainly drawn from 2004's In the Meantime with two selections from 1984's Christine McVie: "The Challenge," featuring background vocals by Lindsey Buckingham and lead guitar by Eric Clapton; and "Ask Anybody," co-written by McVie and Steve Winwood, who sings backgrounds and plays piano. (No material has been culled from her 1970 debut Christine Perfect.)
While Christine McVie's chart-topping hit "Got a Hold on Me" (No. 1 AC/No. 1 Rock/No. 10 Pop) is curiously absent along with its moderately successful follow-up "Love Will Show Us How" (No. 32 AC/No. 24 Rock/No. 30 Pop), the collection includes the top 40 AC hit "Friend" from In the Meantime. It also premieres two previously unreleased songs. "Slowdown," originally written for director John Badham's 1985 film American Flyers, is available on digital/streaming services today. "All You Gotta Do" was recorded for In the Meantime with late bassist George Hawkins. It was unfinished at the time, but Ricky Peterson (Hammond organ) and Ethan Johns (drums and guitar) have fleshed out the track.
McVie describes "Slowdown" in the press release: "I was asked to write a song for a film about a cycling competition. So, I thought we'd give it a go. So that's why the lyrics are sort of muddled up with a little bit of a love song, a little bit of cycling. And it turned out really well, but they didn't end up using it. We thought it was a pity to waste it, so it's on here."
The set concludes with a new, previously unreleased Orchestral Version of Fleetwood Mac's "Songbird," melding McVie's original vocal for the Rumours track with a new orchestral arrangement by Vince Mendoza (Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell).
The liner notes feature British DJ Johnnie Walker's interview with McVie. Songbird (A Solo Collection) is due from Rhino on June 24. In addition to the standard CD and LP formats, a limited "sea foam" green vinyl version is available exclusively from Rhino.com. You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below. "Slowdown" is streaming now at YouTube and everywhere digital music is available.
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
"Sea Foam" Green LP: Rhino.com
- Friend
- Sweet Revenge
- The Challenge
- Northern Star
- Ask Anybody
- Slowdown *
- Easy Come, Easy Go
- Giving It Back
- All You Gotta Do *
- Songbird (Orchestral Version) *
Tracks 1-2, 4, and 7-8 from In the Meantime (Sanctuary, 2004)
Tracks 3 and 5 from Christine McVie (Warner Bros., 1984)
Tracks 6 and 9-10 (*) previously unreleased
pointless and stupid, not 1 hit song, nothing really new, 10 songs....that's right 10
I agree. What a wasted opportunity! Not only leaving off “Got A Hold On Me” (?!?) but we could’ve had the digital debut of her wonderful cover of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” from the film “A Fine Mess.” I’m guessing most of her fans already have the 1984 solo album (overdue for remastering) as well as “In The Meantime.” So…2 unreleased songs and another of these silly “Royal Overdub Orchestra” routines on a song which is perfect as it is. 10 songs…really? Who are they marketing this toward?
Agreed. Once again, the idiots at Rhino have screwed up another one. It is unlikely we will ever see another solo collection from Christine so to leave off the hits is unforgivable.
A solo compendium without her primary hits? They couldn't have made it 12 tracks?
Pass.
Wow. I was excited about this when I saw the post, but after reading about it I'm completely underwhelmed and will not purchase. The fact "Got a Hold on Me" is not included is enough to turn me off. Will stream on Apple Music, but will not be buying this. Missed opportunity.
I was going to write exactly. the. same. thing.
From excited to disappointed in a nanosec.
Unbelievable.
Not a single track from her 1970 masterpiece???
Is it because she was "Perfect", and not McVie yet? 😉
What are these people thinking?
How do you leave off your biggest solo hit, yet include 2 songs from the same album? And only 10 songs?
10 songs is ridiculously skimpy.
I would love to hear the back story on how they arrived at such a skimpy compilation. Serves no ones interest.
A lost opportunity.
I love Christine McVie and it's so wonderful we are getting some output from here for a change. I just somehow get the impression this was rather thrown together fast and at the last moment that not a lot of thought was put in getting this together. Christine has guested on so many albums and songs and on compilation albums so it is puzzling that we are not seeing any of this input on this release which would have been a great opportunity to get some of those lost gems out there again. I agree that the song "Can't Help Falling In Love" should be on this compilation as should songs like "Roll With Me Henry" and a Christmas song she did called "Coventry Carol" which was very beautifully done. I am most likely going to get the colored vinyl version of this but I am blown away she did not include "Love Will Show Us How" or "Got A Hold On Me" which would have made the album perfect. In retrospect, I appreciate she chose to release something as something is better than nothing, I just wished she had thrown a little more heart and soul in it.
Yes, astonishingly poor. Needs at least 20 tracks to cover 50+ years inc her UK Top 10 solo cover of I'd Rather Go Blind. I made up my own complilation of her Top 40 and play that a lot. This needs some more FM tracks like Why, I'll Remember You and Sugar Daddy