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Classic Songs
Revisited
Got A Hold On Me
written by Christine McVie and Todd Sharp
produced by Russ Titelman
I’m making this page July 13th, 2021, the day after the 78th birthday
of Christine Anne Perfect (yes, that is her real birth-surname), better
known to us all under her first married and professional last name,
McVie. Please forgive me for being unable to do it yesterday, my
English rock goddess... (I adore her (a lot)), and Happy 24-Hour-Belated Birthday, CM!!
Chrissie was born Perfect in Lancashire and grew up Perfect in Smethwick... goodness, what incredible pressure to live with your entire (unmarried) life. Just imagine roll call in school, for one. Her dad was also a musician, playing and teaching violin, and her mom was a psychic. She played a little piano at four, then got more interested in blues and rock music in her 10s and teens. Her first band gig came in Sounds Of Blue with a couple friends, and then the same couple buddies’ next band, Chicken Shack around 1967. In 1968 she both recorded a cover of the song “I’d Rather Go Blind” with Chicken Shack, earning them a hit, and married John McVie. She loved his band Fleetwood Mac, and opened the ’70s by both joining it, and releasing an eponymous solo album (still under the Perfect name). In 1976, after which time she’d become famous with FM, it was re-released and titled The Legendary Christine Perfect Album (good heavens, even more pressure).
For the first half of the ’70s, Chrissie, John, Mick and the rest of FM were concentrated in Britain. They came to conquer America circa ’74 (which Chrissie reportedly wasn’t exactly thrilled about), and replaced guitarist Bob Welch with Lindsey Buckingham, also adding Stevie Nicks on vocals. They shared the songwriting duties—and lead vocals—pretty evenly, with their 1975 American self-titled album performing fantastically (#1 US)... though still hardly comparable to the splash they made in 1977.
The February ’77 album Rumours was composed of songs written entirely by the band: eleven in total, four of which were released as singles—their b-sides hits in their own right. For it, Chrissie wrote the mega-hit “Don’t Stop,” fellow hit “You Make Loving Fun,” “Songbird” (b-side to the “Dreams” single) and “Oh Daddy.” Rumours’ success wasn’t quite measured up to by following albums Tusk and Mirage, but this doesn’t mean they weren’t also amazing. After Mirage, the band took some time off.
The McVie solo tune we’re covering on this page comes from her self-titled ’84 album, the first of three singles from it, and the US #1 on the rock and adult contemporary charts. I listened to this song and “Love Will Show Us How” again to choose, and had to go with this one. Something about its more laid-back and modern country-pop feel appealed to me a great great deal. Music and phrasing-wise, it actually bears quite a semi-startling resemblance to Eddie Money’s “Think I’m In Love.”
Chrissie’s album and its couple singles were minor successes in the mid-’80s, now buried treasures (particularly when you stack them up against the success she enjoyed with Mick, John, Lindsey and Stevie), but to tell the truth, that’s sort of what I like about them. I love making these semi-obscure discoveries. Mick and Lindsey played on the album, as well as Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton.
This was of course before Fleetwood Mac returned in 1987 with the monster hit Tango In The Night. The band cooled down afterward, though making a comeback splash with live album The Dance in ’97. Chrissie left the band in 1998, after which they released their most recent full album in 2003 and an E.P. in ’13. The ’03 record was Say You Will, not to be confused with Chrissie’s hit composition “Say You Love Me” for the eponymous ’75 album. In 2018, the band’s 50th anniversary was commemorated with the release of compilation 50 Years—Don’t Stop.
...I suppose you may be expecting me to conclude this entry with a punny joke based on our rock goddess’ maiden name. ...I can’t do it. I must ask you to make up your own joke this time. The spin and angles to put on such a joke are limitless. It’s just too Perf—...
...Nope, can’t do it.
Have notes to add? Let me know!
YT:
1984
Lyrics
You’re lifting me up, never let me down / And I smile, whenever you’re around / Oooh, and I’ve got a feeling, it’ll work out right / Can’t stop thinking about you, every day and night / Oooh, I got a love (I got somebody) / This love (got a hold) on me / Yeah, I got a love (I got somebody) / This love got a hold on me / Well, I’ve been in love, and I’ve lost / I can count the tears, but I can’t count the cost / Oh, I’ve been down, I’ve been used / Now I know, I know, I know, that I just can’t lose / Oooh, I got a love (I got somebody) / This love (got a hold) on me / Oooh, I got a love (I got somebody) / This love (got a hold) on me / Yeah, I got a love (I got somebody) / This love (got a hold) on me / Oooh, I got a love (I got somebody) / This love (got a hold) on me / x1 / I got a love (I got somebody) / This love’s got a hold on me / I got a love (I got somebody) / This love (got a hold) on me / Oooh, I got a love (I got somebody) / This love (got a hold) on me / I got a love (I got somebody) / This love’s got a hold on me
first release: Got A Hold On Me (single) (1984/01/25)
second/album release: Christine McVie (1984/01/27)
audio treated sample
This page was originally made on July 13th, 2021 and last edited on July 26th, 2021