Think About Me

The Hidden Gem of Fleetwood Mac: The Story of "Think About Me"

Oh, Fleetwood Mac's "Think About Me" from 1980—it's one of those tracks that sneaks up on you, doesn't it? Not the blockbuster like "Dreams" or "Go Your Own Way," but a sultry, understated powerhouse that captures the band's raw, post-tumultuous energy. As someone who's spent years digging into their catalog, I find it endlessly fascinating how this song emerged from the ashes of personal chaos, becoming a quiet anthem for those messy heartbreaks we all pretend we've moved past.

The Chaotic Context of Creation

By 1979, Fleetwood Mac was a band reborn from drama. Their blockbuster album Rumours had skyrocketed them to fame in 1977, but the real-life soap opera behind it—Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham's breakup, John and Christine McVie's divorce, Mick Fleetwood's own infidelities—left scars. They holed up in a Florida studio to record what would become Tusk, a sprawling, experimental double album that Buckingham spearheaded as a rebellious pivot away from pop polish. "Think About Me" was Christine McVie's contribution, written amid this frenzy. She later shared in interviews that it stemmed from her dissolving marriage to John, a plea wrapped in defiance: think about me when you're gone, but don't come crawling back. It's her voice, cool and commanding, cutting through the haze of the band's excesses—cocaine-fueled nights and endless arguments. Christine, often the emotional anchor, channeled that quiet strength here, turning pain into something almost playful yet piercing.

Recording in the Midst of Madness

The sessions for Tusk were anything but ordinary. At Village Recorder in Los Angeles and later in Florida's warmth, the band pushed boundaries—Buckingham experimenting with unconventional percussion, like thumping a bass drum with a mallet for that primal beat. For "Think About Me," Christine laid down her vocals with her signature Fender Rhodes electric piano, giving it that smooth, lounge-like groove. Anecdotes from the time paint a vivid picture: Mick Fleetwood, ever the wild one, once recounted how the band recorded late into the night, with Christine insisting on a raw take after a spat with John. She nailed it in one go, her voice dripping with that understated sass. John, despite their split, added his bass lines with precision, creating this tense harmony that mirrored their real-life friction. The track clocks in at just over 2:40, but it feels expansive, layered with harmonies from Stevie and Lindsey that add emotional depth without overwhelming Christine's lead.

Release, Reception, and a Slow-Burn Success

Released as the lead single from Tusk in October 1979—though the album dropped in 1980—it peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, a modest showing compared to Rumours' juggernauts. Critics were divided; Tusk sold over four million copies but was seen as indulgent, a risk after their pop dominance. "Think About Me" got radio play, especially in the UK where it hit No. 29, but it was overshadowed by the album's weirder cuts. Still, it resonated with fans craving that Mac intimacy. Reissued in some markets in 1980, it gained traction through tours, where Christine's live performances turned it into a crowd favorite—her playful winks during the line "Don't come back knockin' on my door" always drew cheers.

Cultural Echoes and Lasting Impact

Culturally, "Think About Me" embodies the late '70s shift toward personal empowerment in rock, especially for women in the spotlight. Christine McVie, the unsung hero of Fleetwood Mac, used it to assert her independence, influencing a generation of songwriters like Sheryl Crow who cite her poise. Musically, it's a bridge between Rumours' polish and the punky edges of new wave, with its funky bass and sparse production prefiguring '80s sophistication. Today, it pops up in playlists for nostalgic drives or breakup therapy, a reminder that even in a band's wildest era, vulnerability wins. And here's a fun aside: Stevie Nicks once joked in a documentary that she harmonized on it while hungover, adding that ethereal mist—proof that magic happens in the mess.

Listening back, "Think About Me" feels like a secret shared over late-night whiskey. It's not the hit that defined Fleetwood Mac, but it reveals their soul—the resilience that kept them going through the storms.