You Make Loving Fun

The song You Make Loving Fun, part of Fleetwood Mac's album Rumours, has a story behind its composition that makes it especially interesting. Christine McVie, who wrote and sang it, was inspired by a relationship she was having with the band's lighting director, Curry Grant. To avoid conflict with her then-husband and bandmate, John McVie, she told him the lyrics were about her dog. Musically, the song is distinguished by the use of descending seconds in its chord progression, which gives it a particular sound.

The recording of You Make Loving Fun had moments of intense creativity and also tension. During the early stages of recording, Lindsey Buckingham was not present, which allowed Christine McVie greater freedom to build the song her way. In a specific session on February 8th, Mick Fleetwood was on drums, Stevie Nicks added the tambourine sound, and Christine McVie played a Rhodes piano modified with an amplifier that increased its power. John McVie's bass was re-recorded, and Christine McVie added a Hohner Clavinet part with a wah-wah pedal. To achieve coordination, Fleetwood had to operate the pedal with his hands while McVie played the keys. When Buckingham arrived, he contributed the rhythm guitar parts with a Gibson Les Paul connected to a rotating Leslie speaker, and a Hammond organ was also added. The vocal harmonies, recorded by Nicks and Buckingham, were a particular challenge, as they alternated between angelic singing and loud arguments. The song was released as the fourth and final single from the album Rumours in September 1977, reaching number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, becoming the album's fourth Top 10 hit. It was a recurring theme in Fleetwood Mac's concerts from 1976 to 1997, and was revived for the 2014-2015 and 2018-2019 tours.