On with the show

Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie - Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie (2017) ****

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition:  Red Sun

Sadly, the news last week relayed the passing of Christine McVie - someone who has always been there throughout my music collecting since I'd Rather Go Blind recorded with Chicken Shack in 1970 when she was Christine Perfect. 

Many twists and turns with Fleetwood Mac and solo years later she can be found on this 2017 duo album with Lindsey Buckingham.

Calling it a duo album is a bit misleading as Mick Fleetwood and John McVie also appear, along with Mitchell Froom on keyboards.

The album is made up of brilliant pop songs, as you'd expect from Lindsey and Christine. Dare I say it, it's actually better without the other member of Fleetwood Mac's contributions. That means more Lindsey and Christine which turns out is a very good thing!

I was toying with the idea of having Lindsey's solo album from 2021 as my next WTWMC selection but I'll wait for a bit now. He has obviously struck a rich vein during the last 5 years.

Mick Fleetwood is also on top form here - amazing that he still has the desire and the chops after all these years.

Christine has the best song (Red Sun), and her voice is still there, if showing some signs of wear and tear. 

As to the rating - one star off for the Yello resonance on Too Far Gone - annoying! And, although it's pleasant, the love hokum of Game of Pretend doesn't stand up to multiple listens.

Overall though - flawed genius as an album and a fitting way to remember Christine McVie.

It's a trip and a half

The Roches - The Roches (1979) ***

Nominated by: Lew

Music club: MNAC

Playlist addition:  Hammond Song

I'm dimly aware of Lewis' long-time liking of this album, even though it came out before he was born. I'm pretty sure he revealed that to me many years ago so I wasn't surprised when he selected this for us to listen to.

For the most part, it's a perky little record, with the three Roche sisters singling in harmony on many (all?) of the songs. The peaks come early on for me.

Like The Mamas And Papas' Creeque Alley, opener, We, is autobiographical and catchy as all get out. Hammond Song and Mr Sellack dial back the perkiness and play to the sisters' strengths - the close three part harmony that siblings seem particularly adept at, although I've never heard Lew, Tom and Fran sparking up a toon, so it may not be an automatic thing.

Speaking of sisters - a lot of this album reminded me of The Andrew Sisters - a group my mother absolutely loved. So there are nice connotations associated with this album and my enjoyment of it.

When I did a Google search I found out that King Crimson's Robert Fripp produced it! Woh - certainly a departure from the intensity of KC, Brian Eno et al and it sounds like he had a lot of fun!