"Got a Hold on Me" single released 40 years ago

[Penguin Emeritus]

Originally Posted by WatchChain

I can totally relate. at 13, I was already an obsessive Fleetwood Mac fan - yet I had not idea Chris was working on a solo record until the single was played on the radio in January of '84.

As I excitedly ran to get a blank cassette tape to record, I wondered if "Got a Hold On Me" was a NEW Fleetwood Mac song. I didn't hear Stevie and Lindsey's timbre in the song's harmony vocals. The DJ then announced the new single. Several days later, I heard "Got a Hold On Me" debut on Casey Kasem's "American Top 40 Countdown" -- as Chris' single was saddled up alongside Stevie Nicks' "Nightbird" somewhere in the 30's on the chart.

I ran to the record store on the day of the album release with my allowance money to buy Chris' new solo album. I wore out the record nonstop for weeks. When I learned that Chris was playing my city in June of 1984 in a small 2,000 seat theater, I was elated! I was first in line at the Foley's Ticketmaster outlet to buy my concert tickets. Ticket demand was so low that I scored FRONT ROW SEATS! Chris only managed to sell about 900 seats and played to a half empty theater.

I was in HEAVEN. One of the best concerts of my life.

I bought the tape with my babysitting money...

..and you're right that the low ticket demand worked in our favor....when we got to great adventure i remember we walked into the little ampitheater area and I told my parents we had to sit in the bleachers, because I figured people had tickets to get close to the stage. turned out hardly anybody came and we were able to get the hell out of the bleachers and walk aallll the way up to the stage and i was practically in the front row too! i think i was maybe in the second row, it was hard to tell w everybody standing and i was short lol. but omg i never thought i'd be so close to her. we made eye contact several times, i was in heaven also....

i remember the concert goodies they sold , i bought a little pin that said 'Christine' w some music notes on it, and a white tank top that had her songs listed in small black writing all over it, i think w music notes on it, too. i don't think i was ever brave enough to wear it to school but i wore it during the summers at home until my boobs got too big to fit in it anymore...damn shirt shrunk. i think i still have it saved upstairs. and the pin, too.

and i took crappy pics w my disc camera that i still have as well!

--Lis

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Penguin Emeritus

I bought the tape with my babysitting money...

..and you're right that the low ticket demand worked in our favor....when we got to great adventure i remember we walked into the little ampitheater area and I told my parents we had to sit in the bleachers, because I figured people had tickets to get close to the stage. turned out hardly anybody came and we were able to get the hell out of the bleachers and walk aallll the way up to the stage and i was practically in the front row too! i think i was maybe in the second row, it was hard to tell w everybody standing and i was short lol. but omg i never thought i'd be so close to her. we made eye contact several times, i was in heaven also....

i remember the concert goodies they sold , i bought a little pin that said 'Christine' w some music notes on it, and a white tank top that had her songs listed in small black writing all over it, i think w music notes on it, too. i don't think i was ever brave enough to wear it to school but i wore it during the summers at home until my boobs got too big to fit in it anymore...damn shirt shrunk. i think i still have it saved upstairs. and the pin, too.

and i took crappy pics w my disc camera that i still have as well!

--Lis

I had a disc camera too. But I used it for the Tango show. Like you we also were able to move down really close during Say You Love Me to close the gap with the unsold seats.
I have the Jackson show on CD. It was a very famous bootleg sold all the time on Ebay in the early 2000's. I love her banter about the name of the town. Her dedication to the park for the teens that died in the fire was touching.
I just remembered. All the ticket winners were entered into a drawing to meet Chris back stage. They were giving out 2 winners. I had a panic attack because since I wont twice I had a better chance than anyone to win one of those prizes. But I did not win I would've had to do my Willy Wonka "I've got a golden ticket" song and dance to the concert hall. We got to see her tour bus that was beautifully decorated and named "The Challenge" painted on the side.

[WatchChain]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I had a disc camera too. But I used it for the Tango show. Like you we also were able to move down really close during Say You Love Me to close the gap with the unsold seats.
I have the Jackson show on CD. It was a very famous bootleg sold all the time on Ebay in the early 2000's. I love her banter about the name of the town. Her dedication to the park for the teens that died in the fire was touching.
I just remembered. All the ticket winners were entered into a drawing to meet Chris back stage. They were giving out 2 winners. I had a panic attack because since I wont twice I had a better chance than anyone to win one of those prizes. But I did not win I would've had to do my Willy Wonka "I've got a golden ticket" song and dance to the concert hall. We got to see her tour bus that was beautifully decorated and named "The Challenge" painted on the side.

So exciting! After scoring front row seats to the June '84 show, we waited in back of the theater for Christine and her band to exit. After about 30 minutes, the bass player George Hawkins emerged, followed by Christine - and I think Eddy Quintela was accompanying her.

They were whisked away, but I did get to briefly say hello to Chris. She wasn't sure what to make of a screaming 13- and 14-year-old. She looked both amused and confused.

[Penguin Emeritus]

Originally Posted by WatchChain

So exciting! After scoring front row seats to the June '84 show, we waited in back of the theater for Christine and her band to exit. After about 30 minutes, the bass player George Hawkins emerged, followed by Christine - and I think Eddy Quintela was accompanying her.

They were whisked away, but I did get to briefly say hello to Chris. She wasn't sure what to make of a screaming 13- and 14-year-old. She looked both amused and confused.

well i was another screaming 14 year old so she saw at least a couple of us on that tour lol.

ugh shame she was accompanied by Eddy lol. I remember he wore this awful red leather outfit for those shows, it was so cheesy. although the eighties weren't kind in terms of fashion...even chris wasn't looking her best in that bulky unflattering sweater...

You know, looking back now when we met george i don't think i ever asked him anything about that tour. i should have. I wonder what his take on it would have been. he was a font of information and full of great stories and memories.

--Lis

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Penguin Emeritus

well i was another screaming 14 year old so she saw at least a couple of us on that tour lol.

ugh shame she was accompanied by Eddy lol. I remember he wore this awful red leather outfit for those shows, it was so cheesy. although the eighties weren't kind in terms of fashion...even chris wasn't looking her best in that bulky unflattering sweater...

You know, looking back now when we met george i don't think i ever asked him anything about that tour. i should have. I wonder what his take on it would have been. he was a font of information and full of great stories and memories.

--Lis

We were all the same age in different cities and we all screamed and did the same things. Towards the end of the concert Chris really stepped on the gas. She was rocking out with You Make Loving Fun,Too Much Is Not Enough, and Dont Stop. Most everyone in the theater ran towards the pit and there was a good crowd on their feet for the rest of the show. You just saw the reactions from Chris and her band. They fed off that energy. It was surreal for me to be so close to a stage. We waved at Eddy who was on stage playing keyboards and he winked at us. During Songbird someone threw their Christine McVie tour shirt on her piano. She thanked them and said "its just my size." There was a guy with a giant white box of roses with a giant red bow. Sadly she did not see him. The guy was devastated and the crowd felt his despair. He was at the far corner of the stage. A roadie came out and grabbed the box so I assume she did get them.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Penguin Emeritus

i remember the concert goodies they sold , i bought a little pin that said 'Christine' w some music notes on it, and a white tank top that had her songs listed in small black writing all over it, i think w music notes on it, too. i don't think i was ever brave enough to wear it to school but i wore it during the summers at home until my boobs got too big to fit in it anymore...damn shirt shrunk. i think i still have it saved upstairs. and the pin, too.

--Lis

I've got two Tusk shirts, two Mirage shirts, and a Wild Heart shirt, that are practically dust now. They haven't fit me for a long time. Apparently sitting in a box on a closet shelf for 45 years isn't good for them?