You Make Loving Fun

Album: Rumours (1977)
Charted: 45 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • During the recording of Rumours the marriage of bassist John McVie and keyboardist and co-singer Christine McVie was ending. Christine started seeing the band's lighting technician Curry Grant and she penned this song about the relationship. Drummer Mick Fleetwood quipped to Q magazine June 2009: "Knowing John, he probably thought it was about one of her dogs."
  • Christine McVie sang lead vocals on this track, which was one of four songs she wrote solo for the Rumours album. McVie had nothing prepared when the band started working on the album at The Record Plant studios in Sausalito, California. "I thought I was drying up," she said in Q magazine. "I was practically panicking because every time I sat down at a piano, nothing came out. Then, one day in Sausalito, I just sat down and wrote in the studio, and the four-and-a-half songs of mine on the album are a result of that."
  • Cyndi Lauper was commissioned in 1977 to record several soundalike covers of songs penned written by other artists - she was one of several session singers hired to re-record several big hits of the day. Lauper said later that she was paid only twelve dollars for her work, to "sound like someone else." The only fruit to come from her sessions was a 7" vinyl single of her version of this track, which became the first song ever officially released by the New York songstress. Lauper did not own her own copy until a fan gave her one in 2002.

Comments: 6

  • Paul from Illinois Despite the ups & downs, this is still one of my top favorite groups!!
  • Bob Zilla from Chicago, IlThis song always makes me wonder because of the guitar sound. There's a huge contrast between the lyrics and the rest of the music, and that screaming possibly angry sound the guitar makes.
    Am I the only one who notices this?
  • Alexandros Adamoulas from London, UkFrom the description above and from the lyrics, this song is clearly about sex, yet it isn't on the "Songs About Sex" page. What's going on?!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 17th 1977, a video of Fleetwood Mac performing "You Make Lovin' Fun" was aired on the NBC-TV program 'The Midnight Special'...
    Four months later on October 9th it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #73; and on December 11th it peaked at #9 (for 1 week) and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #7 on the Canadian RPM Top singles chart...
    Was track 2 of side 2 on the quartet's eleventh studio album, 'Rumours', and on March 27th, 1977 it reached #1 (for 31 non-consecutive weeks) on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart (also peaked at #1 in Canada, Australia, Holland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom)...
    Three other tracks from the album also made the Top 100, also the Top 10, "Go Your Own Way" (#10), "Dreams" (#1 for 1 week), and "Don't Stop" (#3).
  • Keith from Philadelphia, PaGreat song........
  • Oldpink from New Castle, InExcellent song, and it definitely will life your spirits.
    Christine has an excellent, breathy voice on it, too.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."