Come A Little Bit Closer (acoustic)

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by FuzzyPlum

Wow. This is amazing. I don’t know whether I prefer this raw acoustic version or the final version with all the lush strings. I absolutely love this song but always thought the strings were a bit too much and over powering. This is so beautiful. Like Christine.

It really does take the song to another level. I dont believe those are real strings because a reviewer back in 1974 criticized them for over playing the synth programmed strings.

Chris's singing seems so heartfelt with so much stripped away. You can feel her emotion. At first listen on the album version it seems like such a happy love song if you dont pay attention to the lyrics so much. But this acoustic version breaks your heart.

"please don't leave me all alone cause I cant make it on my own"

"when you held me in your arms. I might be wrong but that's where I belong"

"Why are you such a sweet memory"


Its almost like this is the Why of Heroes Are Hard to find.

[FuzzyPlum]

Yes, Come a Little bit Closer and Why are very similar songs. Not in structure but in the feel and emotion.

I’m dancing to the music of a simple melody and I wonder if you’re thinking of a single memory

I can just see her all on her own, putting the record player on and dancing slowly, glass of wine in hand. Maybe a cigarette as well. Thinking of that lost lover. Do you ever think of me or any of those times???

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by FuzzyPlum

Yes, Come a Little bit Closer and Why are very similar songs. Not in structure but in the feel and emotion.

I’m dancing to the music of a simple melody and I wonder if you’re thinking of a single memory

I can just see her all on her own, putting the record player on and dancing slowly, glass of wine in hand. Maybe a cigarette as well. Thinking of that lost lover. Do you ever think of me or any of those times???

Lets dig deeper into the lyrics. From the first time that I heard the song, I interpreted the "When I see them swaying, I can hear myself say....." as some sort of jealousy feeling. She's watching the guy she loved dance with another girl and she is remembering the old times. But this emotional stripping away of all the glitz has me rethinking this interpretation. I think she is looking back with regret and wishing they got closer. So when she says, "when I see them swaying" she is speaking in third person about herself.

What do you think or anyone else? But I agree with you Fuzzy, its a very deep song like Why but it took the change of music to view it a bit differently.
Its also interesting that she played the intro to this song before going into Why in concert in 1974. Gosh I wish she was around to take questions on this

[FuzzyPlum]

Yeah….that’s how I interpret it. She’s on her own deep into the music reminiscing about a guy she truly loved. They danced and she’s picturing the memory of those times. Come a little bit closer to me. Hold me in your arms. But now she’s alone.

But maybe you’re right. Maybe she’s literally watching an old flame dancing with somebody else and it’s stirring up the jealousy.

(Martin Birch??? or just a fictitious love song?)

[Penguin Emeritus]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

It really does take the song to another level. I dont believe those are real strings because a reviewer back in 1974 criticized them for over playing the synth programmed strings.

Chris's singing seems so heartfelt with so much stripped away. You can feel her emotion. At first listen on the album version it seems like such a happy love song if you dont pay attention to the lyrics so much. But this acoustic version breaks your heart.

"please don't leave me all alone cause I cant make it on my own"

"when you held me in your arms. I might be wrong but that's where I belong"

"Why are you such a sweet memory"


Its almost like this is the Why of Heroes Are Hard to find.

It does sound more emotional with all those strings stripped away.

1974 was a pretty bad year for the McVies...

-Lis

[aleuzzi]

This is a spectacular find! I always wished this song were stripped back to an acoustic guitar, piano, and her vocal. She sounds glorious on it.

[WatchChain]

I LOVE "Come a Little Bit Closer" - it is simply one of the greatest Fleetwood Mac songs ever recorded!

[jbrownsjr]

This song is so under-rated we need a new term for it.

What a beautiful find. I've always adored this song and album.

[Macfan4life]

I wish we could have a panel discussion on this song alone and bring Bob and Chris in for it. The musical track (no singing) is one of the happiest tracks the Mac has ever recorded. Its bouncy heaven and puts you in a good mood. It makes you want to sing along. The stripped down acoustic with only singing brings out a more somber Chris even though the singing is the same.
Here is what I want to know. Did Chris bring a demo and she or the band say "we dont want to have another Why song so lets do something upbeat" OR did the band already have this track and Chris put her lyrics or demo to it. I know music arrangement can change the dynamic of a song. This is a perfect example. Does anyone think the inspiration to Why is also the inspiration to this song? Is this why she plays the intro to this song before doing Why in concert in 1974?
Was it done on purpose to put a extremely happy upbeat musical track to a somber broken heart song by Chris?

[aleuzzi]

In one of his Q&As, Bob cited this song as one of his favs of hers because he liked its elaborate production. Not sure how responsible he was for it, but the inclusion of the arp string ensemble makes me think much of the arrangement was down to Christine.

The piano drives the track and everything else is layered in — or so it seems to me.

The drums do not mesh well with the song. They’re too overblown.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by Penguin Emeritus

It does sound more emotional with all those strings stripped away.


-Lis

Her voice sounds so pure. This stripped-down recording of her with Welch’s pleasing acoustic strumming really highlights what a great singer she was. Her voice GLOWS…

Re: the album arrangement: those strings and pedal steel were overkill, and the drums were too heavy. She sounds buried in the mix.

[BLY]

We really do need a release of Christine’s “Best of ” The Songbird release didn’t cut it.

[WatchChain]

Originally Posted by BLY

We really do need a release of Christine’s “Best of ” The Songbird release didn’t cut it.

Yes, there should be an official release to commemorate Christine's brilliant career.
I'm not sure how that would work, since most of her song catalog consists of Fleetwood Mac songs. Would Warner Brothers Records/Rhino release a compilation of only Christine songs with the band - combined with a few solo tracks?

I've made my own Christine playlist on my Spotify account. An official career retrospective would be great.

[FuzzyPlum]

Okay, not sure this is the appropriate forum or thread….
But what would the ultimate Christine McVie retrospective consist of?
What would it be called? Songbird has been used. Ditto Don’t Stop. Maybe Christine McVie: Everywhere. Maybe ‘Christine McVie Makes Loving Fun’. Or maybe just plain old….The Very Best of Christine McVie

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by FuzzyPlum

Okay, not sure this is the appropriate forum or thread….
But what would the ultimate Christine McVie retrospective consist of?
What would it be called? Songbird has been used. Ditto Don’t Stop. Maybe Christine McVie: Everywhere. Maybe ‘Christine McVie Makes Loving Fun’. Or maybe just plain old….The Very Best of Christine McVie

Christine McVie: Skies The Limit
(the very best of)