Christine McVie's 'Songbird' collection drops in June

I'm surprised this doesn't include either of the hit singles from the 1984 eponymous album. Regardless, it should be interesting to hear...

SONGBIRD - A SOLO COLLECTION is the first ever compilation from Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Christine McVie. It highlights songs from her solo career.

McVie was not only the songwriter and vocalist for many of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hits (“Don’t Stop,” “Everywhere,” and “Little Lies”), but she also released some solo albums during her Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame career. Rhino puts those recordings center stage. 

SONGBIRD, out June 24, features songs that were remastered by producer Glyn Johns, who worked closely with McVie on the project. It includes a selection of songs from two of her solo albums – 1984’s CHRISTINE MCVIE and 2004’s IN THE MEANTIME – plus two previously unreleased studio recordings including “Slowdown,” which was originally written for the 1985 film American Flyers.

Another song that has never been released is “All You Gotta Do,” a duet that Christine recorded with George Hawkins while making IN THE MEANTIME. The track was never finished and Johns added Ricky Peterson on Hammond and Ethan Johns on drums and guitar.

Another unreleased song is a new orchestral version of "Songbird" from Fleetwood Mac’s RUMOURS album, which has become one of McVie’s signature tracks. The new version pairs McVie’s vocals from the original recording with a new string arrangement by six-time Grammy Award winning composer and arranger Vince Mendoza.

SONGBIRD goes back to 1984 for a selection of tracks from Christine McVie, which find McVie joined by several legendary musicians. “The Challenge” includes backing vocals by her Fleetwood Mac bandmate Lindsey Buckingham and lead guitar by Eric Clapton. “Ask Anybody” is a song McVie co-wrote with Steve Winwood, who also adds backing vocals and piano to the track.

Most of SONGBIRD is taken from 2004’s IN THE MEANTIME. Highlights include the Top 40 AC hit, “Friend” and “Sweet Revenge,” one of several songs on the record that she co-wrote with her nephew Dan Perfect, who also helped produce the album.

The liner notes that accompany SONGBIRD find McVie paired with acclaimed English radio DJ and broadcaster Johnnie Walker for a conversation that touches on every song from the collection.

Track listing:

1. Friend

2. Sweet Revenge
3. The Challenge
4. Northern Star
5. Ask Anybody
6. Slow Down [Previously Unreleased]
7. Easy Come, Easy Go
8. Giving It Back
9. All You Gotta Do [Previously Unreleased]
10. Songbird – Orchestral Version [Previously Unreleased]