Monday, July 12, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE MCVIE - BORN ON THIS DAY

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An English songwriter, vocalist, pianist, and synthesizer player who has worked both in bands and as a solo artist, McVie is one of the most highly regarded female musicians in the genres of pop/rock and blues/rock. She is considered a pioneer, and was one of the first female musicians to enter the British blues scene of the 1960s, as well as one of the first to release a solo album.

1969 Melody Maker Award
Christine began her music career in 1968, performing with the bands Chicken Shack and Sounds of Blue. She was voted best female vocalist in the 1969 Melody Maker poll. Christine joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 and went on to play a crucial part in the band’s creativity for 25 years. She wrote and performed on many of their best selling platinum albums, including Rumours, one of the best-selling albums of all time. Her classic work includes the songs You make loving fun, Say you love me, Don't stop, Over my head, Hold me, Everywhere and Little Lies.

Her soulful alto, keen melodies, sensitive lyrics, and grounding presence were a focal point for nearly 30 years in Fleetwood Mac, which began as a blues band in the early 70's only to shot to super-stardom in the mid-70's. Fleetwood Mac went on to become a benchmark to rock and roll with the band's music very much embedded in popular culture today partly due to Christine's contribution.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
Christine left Fleetwood Mac after the highly successful 1997 Reunion album "The Dance", subsequent tour and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Honorary Doctorate Degree
Since retiring from music and leaving the band she's been spotted a few times in early 2000. On July 20, 2000 she received an honorary doctorate degree in music by the University of Greenwich in honor of her major contribution to international popular music. In her acceptance speech she stated "I find the prospect of standing here before you today more daunting than singing in front of 65,000 people at Madison Square Gardens in New York".
Accepting Legends Award

On September 26, 2003 Christine accepted an award on behalf of Fleetwood Mac at the first-ever Capital Gold Legends Awards held on Friday, September 26th, at the Hilton London Metropole. Fleetwood Mac won for Rumours in the "Legendary Album" category.
Christine McVie & Brett Tuggle
In 2003 Christine attended one of Fleetwood Mac's "Say You Will" concerts at Earls Court in London.

Being virtually non-existent in the music industry since 1998, it was a nice surprise for fans world wide when it was announced Christine was working on a solo album. The CD "In The Meantime" recorded in Christine's home studio, London and California was released in June, 2004. The CD was produced by Christine, her nephew Dan Perfect and Ken Caillat (Rumours and Tusk).
Christine McVie & Ken Caillat

The Mick Fleetwood Blue Band toured the UK in 2008 and Christine attended the filming for the DVD which was recorded at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, Kent, England. The DVD was eventually released in January, 2010.

Christine, 2010
In 2009 Christine also attended one of Fleetwood Mac's "Unleashed" tour shows at Wembley Arena in London.

Christine's most recently was photographed in her village in England where a story broke in the local press about how she joined a consortium to purchase land next to her property to protect it from development.

Christine turns 67 today and all fans world wide, I'm sure, join me in wishing Christine a very Happy Birthday!... You are missed!





Sunday, July 11, 2010

STEVIE NICKS "CRYSTAL VISIONS".... WEEK 10 ON THE CHARTS


AUSTRALIA'S TOP 50 CATALOGUE CHART: WEEK OF JULY 12, 2010
Week 10 on Australia's Top 50 Catalogue Chart for the week July 12, 2010 - puts Stevie's 2007 "Crystal Visions The Very Best Of Stevie Nicks" at #29 down 12 spots from last week. 

 

35th ANNIVERSARY "FLEETWOOD MAC" RELEASED ON THIS DAY

ON THIS DAY IN 1975 (July 11th) Fleetwood Mac Released their 8th album, the self titled album Fleetwood Mac - the first to feature Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

The Album debuted August 2, 1975 on Billboard's Top Albums Chart at #183. It would go on to spend an incredible 148 weeks on Billboard's Album Chart ending it's chart run on May 27, 1978. For comparison, Rumours spent 134 weeks on the chart.

On September 4, 1976 in it's 58th week of release Fleetwood Mac hit #1 and spent a single week at the top. This set a record never before achieved in the 32 year history of Billboard's Album Charts. Never before had an album hit the #1 spot for the first time after being charted for 1 year.







First US Single: Over My Head

HOT 100 SINGLES CHART
Released: November, 1975
Debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 at #91 on November 8, 1975
Hot 100 Peak Position: #20
Weeks on Chart: 14



Adult Contemporary Singles Chart
Debut: January 3, 1976
Peak: #32
Weeks on Chart: 7
UK Peak: -

Second Single: Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)

HOT 100 SINGLES CHART
Released: February, 1976
Debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 at #89 on March 6, 1976
Hot 100 Peak Position: #11
Weeks on Chart: 18


Adult Contemporary Singles Chart
Debut: March 27, 1976
Peak: #33
Weeks on Chart: 8
UK Peak: #46

Third Single: Say You Love Me

HOT 100 SINGLES CHART
Released: June, 1976
Debuted on Billboards's Hot 100 at #74 on July 3, 1976
Hot 100 Peak Position: #11
Weeks on Chart: 19



Adult Contemporary Singles Chart
Debut: July 24, 1976
Peak: #12
Weeks on Chart: 12
UK Peak: #40

DETAILED RECONSTRUCTION ON THE PROMOTIONAL EFFORT BEHIND THE SUCCESS OF FLEETWOOD MAC FLEETWOOD MAC


TO COMMEMORATE THE 35th ANNIVERSARY - U.S. Syndicated radio show InTheStudio is celebrating the 35th anniversary of one of rock's most pivotal album's the 1975 FLEETWOOD MAC album. Show producer and host Redbeard speaks to Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks about the first Fleetwood Mac album featuring Buckingham/ Nicks and how this line-up change along with a new producer transformed Fleetwood Mac forever.  The interview is running all this week on various stations through out the country (US).  If you miss it, keep checking the IN THE STUDIO website as they will be posting the interview after its run it's course on radio.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

HELP REINSTATE THE QUEEN OF ROCK AND ROLL (STEVIE NICKS) FACEBOOK CAMPAIGN

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN - CLICK THE IMAGE

IT'S BEEN A BUSY MONTH AND IT'S ONLY THE 7TH!

STEVIE AND DAVE - JULY, 2010... SO FAR.

The Breakdown: This month alone, we've seen recording artist Jessie Malakouti posting on Twitter about Stevie recording in the Studio next door to her at Village Recorder in LA... Next thing we know, she's tweeting about sitting next to Stevie listening to a new track titled "Italian Summer".

Next up, Dave Stewart sends out a message that Waddy Wachtel, Mike Rowe, Mike Bradford and Steve Ferrone are all the studio for the last day of recording.

Next, Dave Stewart, once again feeding the frenzy, sends out photos of Stevie during the recording sessions for her new CD holding or playing a tambourine...

We then see David Wild, writer for Rolling Stone Magazine, sending out a message via Twitter that he's going to visit Stevie in the studio on this last night of recording. He later tweets about half a dozen times with his first reaction to what he's seen and heard using words and phrases like "WOW" and "Ghosts, Vampires on upcoming album, but mostly stunning songs." and "powerful","deeply personal" with "There's blood on these tracks." and saying that "between Dave Stewart and Waddy Wachtel on guitars, the new material rocks on a number of levels."

Next up Dave Stewart again sends out another photo of Stevie sitting there "listening intently to the rough mixes to take home" the finished music they've recorded.

Dave later states he's directing a movie of his whole experience collaborating with Stevie and wants to give real insight into how and why she is a true legend, a unique talent. It's not revealed if this is just an idea, or if it's actually happening right now.. or who is filming?

It's later revealed by Dave that Glen Ballard (Dave's producing partner) is in fact producing the new CD along with Dave. Dave saying he co-wrote 6 songs (but indicated on July 1st that 7 songs were complete and sounding EPIC!). The extra complete song could be one he didn't take part in writing. Now, with 6 or 7 songs complete musically, Dave said lead vocals and harmonies are the next step. So with these 6 or 7 songs finished, which has been the number that's been bounced around for the last month or two, it seems that there must be more tracks to be recorded by Dave and Glen. That part I'm not clear on. But in any case, other then the vocals being added... If 6-7 songs deep into the album is as far as they've gotten,that's about half way as far as I'm concerned and a pretty good pace!

Prior to all this, or during... Mick Fleetwood on June 30th is reported by ethrill.net as a player during the recording sessions... Also, one other player surfaces that's been connected to Stevie over the last few years. Ricky Peterson, who has toured with Stevie on her last couple of solo tours playing keyboards was in LA in late June recording with Stevie and Dave laying down some keyboard tracks. Ricky stated on his facebook page that "the new CD will be killin." and that "it sounds really good!" Ricky also confirmed that he'll be on tour with Stevie for her run of August shows saying it's a short tour. You can visit his facebook page for a couple of photos he's posted on his wall of him and Dave Stewart recording in the studio.

So from all this, here is what we know:

  • Dave Stewart and Glenn Ballard producing
  • 6 (or 7) songs are complete without lead and harmony vocals
  • Dave Stewart, Mike Cambell and Waddy Wachtel - guitar parts
  • Mick Fleetwood and Steve Ferrone - Drum parts
  • Ricky Peterson and Mike Rowe - keyboard parts
  • Mike Bradford - Bass parts
  • Ann Marie Calhoun contributed Violin

To surely be continued...