Christine McVie is being celebrated with the release of remastered versions of her final two solo albums. Two of the beloved singer-songwriter’s work as a solo artist were reissued on November 3, 2023: 1984’s self-titled Christine McVie and 2004’s In the Meantime have been released on CD and LP via Rhino.
From the original July 12 announcement (on what would have been her 80th birthday): McVie’s solo journey began in 1970 with her debut, Christine Perfect, her maiden name. Soon after its release, she put her solo career on hold when she joined Fleetwood Mac as a full-time member. For the next 14 years, she wrote some of the band’s biggest hits (“Don’t Stop” and “You Make Loving Fun”) before releasing her second solo album Christine McVie in 1984. The record produced two Top 40 hits on the Hot 100, “Got a Hold on Me” (#10) and “Love Will Show Us How” (#30). The album has been unavailable on vinyl since its original release.
Although McVie semi-retired from Fleetwood Mac and public life in 1998, she continued to write music. In 2004, she returned with her third and final solo album, In the Meantime. McVie produced the album with her nephew, Dan Perfect. The album was remastered and remixed for the upcoming release, including the previously unreleased outtake, “Little Darlin’.” In the Meantime has never been available on vinyl until now. The 2-LP set features a “songbird” etching on the final side.
McVie was involved in the creation of the new Atmos mixes for In the Meantime before she died in November 2022. In the liner notes, Dan Perfect writes: “When my aunt Christine McVie died unexpectedly last year, plans were already afoot for the re-release of this solo album, which is perhaps her most personal and intimate project. Chris and I had been working for some time on remixing the original tracks in Dolby Atmos, and Chris was excited and intrigued by this process, which was bringing fresh life and contemporaneity to the songs… I dearly wish that she could have lived to see this re-release as she would have been delighted.”
Also out is a new Dolby Atmos and stereo mix of In the Meantime created by McVie’s nephew Dan Perfect, who helped write and produce the original in 2004. Listen to it here. The collection also includes “Little Darlin’,” a previously unreleased gem unearthed from those recording sessions.
Mick Fleetwood, the legendary drummer and co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, paid tribute to his bandmate on her 80th birthday with a touching new instrumental version of “Songbird” featuring ‘ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. The mp3 can be ordered here.
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She was the glue in that band for 50+ years. She was also the hit maker. Half of the songs on Fleetwood Mac’s greatest hits album where penned or co-penned by Christine. She had the voice of an angel. RIP.