You Make Loving Fun


"You Make Loving Fun" is a song written and sung by Christine McVie of the British-American band Fleetwood Mac. It was released as the fourth and final 45 rpm single from the band's album Rumours in 1977. It was the record's fourth top-ten hit, as the song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background

The song was inspired by an affair McVie had with the band's lighting director, Curry Grant. "To avoid flare-ups", she told her then-husband John McVie that the song was about her dog. On the American Top 40 program of November 26, 1977, Casey Kasem described the song as "an emotional biography of the love lives of all five members."
Early tracking of the song was done, according to McVie, in the absence of Lindsey Buckingham, which gave her the freedom to "build the song on my own". The recording sessions were saturated with cocaine use. Buckingham played rhythm guitar on a Fender Stratocaster, and tracking was done with a Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Nicks playing tambourine. John McVie's bass was rerecorded again later, and Christine McVie dubbed Hohner Clavinet parts. In an interview with the New York Post she remarked that she wanted it to be the third US single from the album, but instead "Don't Stop" was chosen, which boosted the album's commercial success in the US and the UK. The song also utilizes descending seconds in its chord progression.
"You Make Loving Fun" was a concert staple for Fleetwood Mac and was played during every tour involving Christine McVie from 1976 until 1997, a year before McVie's departure from the band and retirement from touring. It has since been revived for Fleetwood Mac's 2014-2015 tour when McVie rejoined the band.

Personnel

Weekly charts

Chart Peak
position
Australia 65
Canada Top Singles 7

Year-end charts

Chart Rank
Canada Top Singles 100
US 78

Certifications

Cover versions

covered "You Make Loving Fun" in 1984. A non-album single, it was released only in Japan.