John McVie, the renowned bassist of Fleetwood Mac, typically found it easy to create bass lines for the band’s songs. A prime example is the distinctive riff in “The Chain,” which he composed.
In a 1995 interview with Bass Player, McVie reflected on his creative process, stating, “I butted heads [with] Lindsey [Buckingham] a couple of times, because he had very fixed ideas. I would say, ‘Look, this is how I feel it.’ He was really the only one to do that, though.”
Although McVie is credited as a songwriter for “The Chain,” it is important to note that writing a bass line does not automatically guarantee songwriting credits. The majority of Fleetwood Mac’s tracks were penned by the primary trio of Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, and Christine McVie.
Nonetheless, John McVie secured ten songwriting credits during his time with Fleetwood Mac. While many of these songs are lesser-known, they are certainly worth exploring. Below is a chronological list of his contributions.
1. “Searching for Madge”
From: Then Play On (1969)
Fleetwood Mac’s 1969 album Then Play On marked the band’s shift from purely electric blues, with “Searching for Madge,” an instrumental entirely composed by McVie, still retaining elements of that classic sound.
2. “On We Jam”
From: Live in Boston (1985)
“On We Jam” features five credited songwriters: McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, and Jeremy Spencer. For context, Live in Boston was recorded in 1970 but remained unreleased until 1985.
3. “Station Man”
From: Kiln House (1970)
This track was co-written by McVie, Kirwan, and Spencer and showcases a country blues style with Kirwan providing the lead vocals. Kiln House was the last album to feature Green and the first to include contributions from Christine McVie, who later married John McVie. She reminisced in a 1984 Rolling Stone interview, “John was engaged when I first met him… He had a wonderful sense of humor, the most endearing person. I loved him. He loved me. Good reason.”
4. “Jewel Eyed Judy”
From: Kiln House (1970)
McVie co-wrote “Jewel Eyed Judy” with Kirwan and Fleetwood. The song is reportedly inspired by the band’s secretary at the time, Judy Wong.
5. “The Purple Dancer”
From: B-side Single (1971)
In 1971, Fleetwood Mac released the single “Dragonfly,” their first featuring Christine McVie. While John McVie did not contribute to that song, he wrote its B-side, “The Purple Dancer.”
6. “What a Shame”
From: Future Games (1971)
This funky instrumental was co-written by both McVies, Fleetwood, Kirwan, and Bob Welch, who had just joined the band. Unfortunately, the track is quite brief.
7. “Forever”
From: Mystery to Me (1973)
If you have ever wondered how a Fleetwood Mac song might sound with a reggae influence, “Forever” is the answer. This song was co-written by McVie, Welch, and Bob Weston. It is one of only two tracks that Weston is credited with writing for the band.
8. “Jam #2”
From: Expanded Edition of 1975’s Fleetwood Mac (2004)
By 1975, Fleetwood Mac had relocated to the U.S. and welcomed Buckingham and Nicks into the fold. Their self-titled album reached No. 1 in the U.S., but several recordings were not included in the original release. Many of these tracks were featured in a 2004 expanded edition, including “Jam #2,” another instrumental co-written by McVie that showcases a funky bass line.
9. “The Chain”
From: Rumours (1977)
“The Chain” is the only song credited to all five classic-era members of Fleetwood Mac. The unique characteristics of each member are evident in the arrangement and lyrics, with the driving bass line being a standout feature.
10. “For Duster (The Blues)”
From: Expanded Edition of Rumours (2004)
Similar to Fleetwood Mac, Rumours was remastered and reissued in 2004, including numerous bonus tracks. “For Duster (The Blues)” is one final groovy instrumental that features another of McVie’s strong bass lines.
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Over 45 solo projects have been undertaken, further enriching the band’s legacy.
Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso
