Burned out from touring, and seeing her fellow Fleetwood Mac bandmates pursuing solo project, Christine McVie felt the same expectation for herself. The only problem was that she really didn't want to. She had released her first studio album back in 1970, titled after her maiden name, Christine Perfect, but didn't particularly care for the end result.
Despite this, McVie set to work on writing the tracks in 1982, all while carefully selecting the members who would become her backing band. They would head to Mountain Studios in July 1983, setting aside six weeks to cut basic tracks. However, after fully finishing eight songs in just ten days, the made the decision to just finish the album. In the end, collaborations with several big names would help to round out tracks. This included Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Lindsey Buckingham, and Mick Fleetwood.
MTV supported the release of the self titled Christine McVie album with the airing of a behind the scene's making documentary, followed by a live show. These broadcasts would later be transferred to laserdisc for a mass release, albeit edited for time constraints of the format.
Critically, the album received mixed reviews. While some said that her solo effort was the better of all Mac alum spinoffs, praising her for her melodic tracks, others called the album boring, bland, and somewhat flat.
Regardless, two singles charted; Got A Hold On Me (peaking at number 10), and Love Will Show Us How (peaking at number 30). While a third single, I'm The One, would also be released, it failed to chart. Meanwhile, the first noted single would also reach number one on the adult contemporary charts.
Personally, I bought the album for her hit, Got A Hold On Me, and I really wasn't expecting to get much more from it. As such, I was pleasantly surprised surprised, and happy to also get Love Will Show Us How, and somewhat the Lindsey Buckingham duet, Who's Dreaming The Dream. Admittedly, the latter stood out for Buckingham's guitar work, and backing vocals.
Overall, I won't go as far as to say I hated the album, but it's definitely not for me. My biggest issue is the slow pace of most songs, couple with what I'll call a country twang. As a whole, it's kind of forgettable.
McVie would set off on a tour in support of the album, and additionally make appearances on Solid Gold, and Solid Gold Hits. Music videos for her first two singles were also filmed, and featured prominently on MTV.
She'd return to Fleetwood Mac in 1987 for Tango In The Night, and stayed with them through 1995's Time, leaving in 1998 after their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction. She'd return to the studio in 2004 to release her final studio album, In The Meantime. However, in 2014 she'd rejoin Mac, and stay with them until her passing. Not making the public aware of her health, McVie died unexpectedly in 2022 after a short battle from cancer.
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS December 7, 1985 |
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