Lindsey Buckingham says rejuvenated Christine McVie is firing up Fleetwood Mac: ‘The priority was to work on her stuff’

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Lindsey Buckingham is taking fans inside the recording of Fleetwood Mac’s forthcoming studio effort, its first with Christine McVie, Buckingham and Stevie Nicks since 1987’s Tango in the Night.

He says the foundation of the new album grew out of songs left over from the band’s most recent, pre-Christine McVie sessions. Fleetwood Mac issued the Extended Play EP last year before hitting the road with its four-person lineup, rounded out by John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.

When Fleetwood Mac returned to recording after that tour, things had changed considerably. What was supposed to be a one-off appearance on stage with erstwhile fifth member Christine in London turned into a long-hoped-for full-fledged reunion.

Buckingham says the band switched gears to focus as much as possible on songs with Christine, whose most recent new music with Fleetwood Mac dates back to “Temporary One,” from 1997’s live package The Dance. The group then released 2003’s Say You Will without her.

Christine, perhaps to no one’s surprise, had a wealth of content. All of a sudden, Buckingham says the new album was substantially written.

“We got 8 tracks, very far along — you know, like, 75 percent done,” Buckingham tells 100.9 The Mix. “And all of those, except for one, are Christine — or co-writes between Christine and myself — because it seemed like the priority was to work on her stuff, then to get her feeling comfortable, and feeling far along with this process. We managed that very well.”

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