I never realized John Mcvie was so good

[PVTele]

Not a P Bass. It was either my old Tobias (with single coils) or my old Peavey Millennium, both of which I no longer own. I'm a Lakland guy these day/QUOTE]

Makes sense...

Lakland - good instruments. I have to confess to jonesing a bit for a Skyline 44-02 Standard - very neat bass indeed!

 

[petch]

I love John's playing; he is one of my biggest influences. I have followed FM since the Peter Green days, and John has always played tastefully and with feeling. I spent the summer of 1975 playing along with the white (first Buckingham-Nicks) album. To go back even further, find John Mayall's I'm Your Witch Doctor which has Johnny Mac holding down the bottom and is a killer song. My band has covered this and it is a blast to play.

 

[selowitch]

I was sorta hoping to find some of the old stuff discussed here at the iTunes Music Store, but no dice. It's all Buckingham/Nicks-era material.

BTW, McVie's basslines on Rhiannon and The Chain are two of my favorites. Tasteful, not overplayed, very good dynamics, smooth. My kind of playing!

 

[fesem]

In the early years, both he and Fleetwood were pretty raw and rough. Time and touring molded those guys into a killer rhythm section. I'm actually more partial to the middle years with Danny Kirwan on guitar

I agree. I often listen to Bare Trees and love Mac's playing!

 

[lousybassplayer]

Funny, I heard some Fleetwood Mac song on the radio the other day (can't remember what it was off hand) and I thought of this as well. Great playing to be sure, but also a really good tone. "Heroes are hard to find" is the only album I really cared for enough to own, but I agree with the OP.

 

[wade_b]

Not to get too off topic, but I think Neil Young has that award already, from Down By The River.

Cinnamon Girl is the true blue, epic one note guitar solo.

 

[Bass V]

www.wolfgangsvault.com just entered a new vintage show from the Peter Green days, in fact the last UK show ever by the classic early line-up. And it's God-lyke, with excellant recorded sound and a band that is simply inspired, playing with burning raw talent. One of the very best Mac concerts ever.

 

[David Jayne]

John McVie and Mick Fleetwood are masters of understatement. There are so many times I think I hear a note in a McVie bassline, only to realize he just implied it. Same with Mick Fleetwood. It's not about what they CAN play but more what they CHOOSE to play. Well chosen words have a bigger effect I think.

Maybe the most incredible skill of all. Too bad hardly anyone gets it(musicians, I mean). Ordinary listeners get it, in that they hear something they love. They don't always know why, but it doesn't matter.

 

[DWBass]

As promised, I found a better version of my old band playing "Say You Love Me". It's a live version we recorded off the mixing board. This was recorded about 4 or 5 years ago.

 

[selowitch]

As promised, I found a better version of my old band playing "Say You Love Me". It's a live version we recorded off the mixing board. This was recorded about 4 or 5 years ago.

Sounds nice. Only problem for me is it's almost impossible to hear your sweet bass playing with my laptop's crummy speakers. Bummer. I can tell that you guys have excellent vocals and drums, though.

 

[DWBass]

Sounds nice. Only problem for me is it's almost impossible to hear your sweet bass playing with my laptop's crummy speakers. Bummer. I can tell that you guys have excellent vocals and drums, though.

Plug in some headphones. I guarantee you'll enjoy my 'sweet, blended in" sound! I've never been the kind of bassist who had an above the band sound. I believe in balance and blending in.

 

[selowitch]

Plug in some headphones. I guarantee you'll enjoy my 'sweet, blended in" sound! I've never been the kind of bassist who had an above the band sound. I believe in balance and blending in.

Oh, believe me, it wasn't a criticism. I love supportive, well-blended bass playing. I just couldn't hear ya. Speakers on my iBook just don't push out much bass. I'll go try it on the iMac with external speakers.

 

[Wild Steve]

Here's an impromtu version from my old band. We have a better version but I can't find it at the moment.

Nice dude, good version all round.

Steve

 

[Jamie_Funk]

John's line on "Go Your OWn Way" is fantastic

J

 

[Type-55]

From his playing with Clapton on the infamous Blues Breakers album to his current stuff
he always played to the song. Never overplaying or saying "Hey look at my chops"
Very under rated player.

 

[jaywa]

John's line on "Go Your OWn Way" is fantastic

J

+1, one of my all time favorites. Without that bass line, there is no song. Or at least, no chorus.

Same for "Say You Love Me".

 

[Chrisk-K]

I dig his lines. Simple yet tasty. I listened to "The Chain" million times because of the bass line.

 

[diehard70]

Been a fan off his for years. glad to see he's got a fanbase on here, too

 

[ShoeManiac]

From his playing with Clapton on the infamous Blues Breakers album to his current stuff
he always played to the song. Never overplaying or saying "Hey look at my chops"
Very under rated player.

I was wondering when someone would bring up "The Beano" record with John Mayall and Eric Clapton. What a great record!

As for John McVie's playing? I think that before many of us picked up a bass, the grooves from songs like "Rhiannon" or "The Chain" were etched indelibly in our minds. What hook-laden bass parts!

 

[the byronic man]

Buckingham is an INCREDIBLE guitar player. his FM stuff isn't particularly flashy, but the man can play.

Like so many other players of merit from the British Isles within this time frame McVie cut his teeth with John Mayall and the Blues Breakers.....

I am sorry to disagree but Lindsey Buckingham is simply the master of the 'one note' guitar solo....