WCSX Classic Cuts
Fleetwood Mac: “Over My Head”
The Hook: After some lean years, the band finally got an American hit.
Album: Fleetwood Mac
Year: 1975
Writer: Christine McVie
Stats: Released in their eighth year as a band, “Over My Head” became Fleetwood Mac’s first Top 40 hit in America, peaking at number-20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and beginning a string of 10 consecutive Top 20 singles.
Background: Although they’d been around for eight years already and had some album-rock success in America, it wasn’t until Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined that Fleetwood Mac really took off here. Ironically, it was “Over My Head” — written and sung by longtime member Christine McVie — that first got the band into the Top 20. Bassist John McVie shares some thoughts on his part in the song and what finally having an American hit meant to them.
Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie on his then-wife Christine’s “Over My Head,” their first Top 20 hit in the U.S. OC:…track here. :18
“I’d like to redo the bass part. Every time I hear it now, I could’ve done a simpler part. But that was a great Chris song. We were doing alright, I mean, we weren’t scrimping. It wasn’t as healthy as it is now, obviously, but I think everyone was thankful. Phew, okay, let’s get back on track here.”
