Weekend Music Twofer

We have two noted musician/ guitarists with birthdays today:  Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham (76) and legendary blues guitarist and singer Stevie Ray Vaughan (d. 1990), who would have turned 71. Here's Buckingham's "Go Your Own Way" from Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" album, and Vaughan's "Pride and Joy" from his "Texas Flood" album.  Hope you enjoy.

Mid-Week Songs: Birthday Twofer

 

Fleetwood Mac, one the the most iconic and influential groups of the past 50 years, had the luxury of two great female singers. Stevie Nicks, and the late singer / composer / keyboardist Christine McVie, who would have turned 80 today. Here she sings the beautiful lead vocals on their 1975 hit,  "Over My Head."

From one of our favorite groups, the Gin Blossoms, their lead singer Robin Wilson celebrates his 58th birthday today. Here he is singing on, "Allison Road," a song he also wrote.

Weekend Music

 

Most believe that the real "Mac" in British-American band Fleetwood Mac turned out to be singer/ songwriter/ musician Christine McVie, née Perfect (!), who passed away after a short illness on November 30 at the age of 79.  McVie's songs powered the group through its most creative years as a rock/pop band, with hits like "Say You Love Me," "Think About Me," "Hold Me," "Everywhere," "Little Lies," and "Don't Stop," which was the theme song for Bill Clinton's campaign ("don't stop thinking about tomorrow...").  In her honor, we're offering several of her most memorable songs:  "Over My Head" from the band's 1975 self-titled album, and "You Make Loving Fun" and "Songbird" from 1977's "Rumours" album, the latter often servingas the band's closing song.  R.I.P.

Mid-Week Song

The U.S. - British group Fleetwood Mac enjoyed a decade of pop rock hits starting in the 1970s. The turmoil within the band itself -- artistic differences and failed relationships -- were in part the catalyst for some of their greatest songs.  1976's "Go Your Own Way", their first number one hit, was an angry break- up song penned by guitarist / vocalist Lindsey Buckingham about his girlfriend / bandmate Stevie Nicks. On top of that, bandmates John McVie and Christine McVie had just divorced, and the band's namesake and powerful drummer, Mick Fleetwood, had just broken up with his wife. So the bad relationship "vibes" produced one of the great rock songs of the decade. Fleetwood turns 73 today, so a "happy birthday" to him, and drum on through the strife!

Mid-Week Birthday Song

Happy birthday to former President Bill Clinton, who turns 69 today.  The first Democratic President since FDR to serve more than one elected term of office, Clinton was the target of a Constitutional coup in his second term by radical Republicans, who were determined to stop Democratic policies and gain political advantage.  The Rethugs also saw Clinton as a threat to their racist "Southern strategy," with his origins in Arkansas and appeal to working class Southerners.  Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)" is the song indelibly associated with President Clinton, who featured the song prominently at his first Inaugural celebration.

Mid-Week Birthday Song

Happy 68th Birthday to Fleetwood Mac co-founder and drummer Mick Fleetwood.  The British/ American rock band started as a British blues band, but achieved its greatest artistic success when Fleetwood, co-founder John McVie, and Christine McVie shuffled the original lineup to add Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.  The band is currently on its "On With the Show" world tour.  Here's a popular cut from their  1976 "Rumours" album, "Go Your Own Way."