Got a Hold on Me

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin Got a Hold on Me by Christine McVie from her 1984 self-titled album! This bouncy, feel-good track, co-written with guitarist Todd Sharp, hit #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary and Rock Tracks charts for weeks. Sharp recalled writing the song with McVie in just thirty minutes, sensing its commercial potential right from the first verse. Interestingly, McVie shared in an interview that the song’s romantic theme was entirely fictional, saying, “at the time I wrote it, no one did have a hold on me.” The music video, directed by Jon Roseman, mixes black-and-white and color shots, showing McVie at her piano with a silhouette backup band, giving it a dreamy, pseudo-performance vibe. Heavy hitters like Steve Winwood on synthesizers and Lindsey Buckingham on guitar added to the track’s polish, making it a standout that feels like a classic Fleetwood Mac single.

Another tidbit for you Zoo Freaks: Got a Hold on Me was the lead single from McVie’s second solo album, recorded in Montreux, Switzerland, over three months. A 1984 MTV contest gave fans a chance to win tickets to McVie’s first solo performance at the Los Angeles Country Club, where she debuted songs from the album alongside Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and Billy Burnette. The song’s upbeat lyrics, like “I got a love/I got somebody/This love/Got a hold on me,” capture McVie’s knack for crafting catchy, heartfelt pop. In a 1984 Rolling Stone interview, McVie described her goal for the album: “Maybe it isn’t the most adventurous album in the world, but I wanted to be honest and please my own ears with it.” Posts on X from McVie’s official account in 2022 celebrated the song’s chart success, reminding fans of its enduring appeal.

Let’s rewind to how Christine McVie got her start. Born Christine Anne Perfect on July 12, 1943, in Bouth, England, she grew up in a musical family with her father, Cyril, a concert violinist and music lecturer. She began studying classical piano at age four but fell in love with rock and roll in her teens, inspired by Fats Domino’s songbook. After college, McVie briefly worked as a department-store window dresser in London before joining the blues band Chicken Shack in 1967 as a pianist and vocalist. Her soulful voice shone on their cover of I’d Rather Go Blind, earning her two Melody Maker awards for the UK’s best female vocalist in 1969 and 1970. During this time, she crossed paths with Fleetwood Mac, who shared the same Blue Horizon label, and played piano as a session musician on their 1968 album Mr. Wonderful. After marrying Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie in 1968, she left Chicken Shack and released her debut solo album, Christine Perfect, in 1970, later reissued as The Legendary Christine Perfect Album.

McVie’s big break came in 1970 when she joined Fleetwood Mac full-time as a keyboardist and vocalist after Peter Green’s departure. A fan of their early blues sound, she learned their songs and contributed vocals and artwork to their 1970 album Kiln House. Her songwriting blossomed with hits like Say You Love Me and Don’t Stop, cementing her as a core member of the band’s classic lineup alongside Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. McVie’s warm, melodic style became a defining part of Fleetwood Mac’s pop-rock evolution, earning her a 1998 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Despite her success, she remained grounded, later taking a break from music in the late 1990s to focus on her personal life in the English countryside before rejoining Fleetwood Mac in 2014.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Christine McVie’s legacy through her official website and official social media on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also gather on dedicated sites like FleetwoodMac.net, a hub for news and forums, and The Penguin, which offers discographies and Q&A archives. On Facebook, groups like Fleetwood Mac Fans and Christine McVie Appreciation Society bring together devotees sharing stories, photos, and tributes to her music. Tune in, Zoo Freaks, and let Got a Hold on Me keep you vibing!