Save Me (Fleetwood Mac song)

"Save Me" is a song by British-American band Fleetwood Mac from their 15th studio album, ''Behind the Mask'', released as a single in 1990. Written and sung by Christine McVie, it was the group's last top-40 hit in the United States, where it reached 33. "Save Me" achieved modest success in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at No. 53. It also reached the top 10 in Canada, Finland, and the Netherlands. The song was, as the slightly shorter single edit, included in the group's 2018 compilation ''50 Years – Don't Stop''.

Background

"Save Me" was issued as the lead single in March 1990 in the United States and on 23 April 1990 in the UK after the release of its parent album. Warner Brothers also released an expanded edition of the "Save Me" single on 30 April, which included additional live tracks, an album style jewel box, and an inlay booklet with a family tree, interviews, and photographs.

On the week dated 7 April 1990, "Save Me" entered the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 at number 70. That same week, it also debuted at number seven on the Album Rock chart and received 87 adds to radio station playlists, making it the third most added song to radio that week. The song entered the top 40 on the week dated 28 April 1990 at number 35, which it held for three consecutive weeks despite receiving gains in both airplay and sales during that period. In his 100 Singles Spotlight Column for ''Billboard'', Michael Ellis commented that the song was prevented from ascending the Hot 100 any further due to stiff competition further up the chart. The following week, the song made further gains in sales and airplay, vaulting it up to its peak position of number 33. "Save Me" spent a total of 11 weeks in the top 100, five of which were in the top 40.

At the time "Save Me" was climbing the charts, Fleetwood Mac was touring in Australia to promote ''Behind the Mask''. Rick Vito, who was one of the guitarists who joined the band to replace Lindsey Buckingham, believed that the single could have achieved more success in the United States if the band was actively touring there during the single's ascension up the charts.

A music video was also released to coincide with the release of the single, which was directed by Erick Ifergan and produced by Mike Bodnarczuk. The video featured members of Fleetwood Mac playing their instruments in front of a black background. Mick Fleetwood, who played drums on the song and was a founding member of Fleetwood Mac, told the ''Daily Southtown'' in a June 1990 interview that the band was disappointed with the music video for "Save Me" on the grounds that it was "so stupidly artsy-crafty". He also believed that the music video did not sufficiently showcase the band; he hoped to rectify this issue with the music video for the following single, "Skies the Limit".

Track listings

7-inch single
:A. "Save Me"
:B. "Another Woman" (live at Cow Palace, San Francisco)

German CD single
# "Save Me"
# "Another Woman" (live)
# "Everywhere" (live)

German maxi-CD single
# "Save Me" – 4:13
# "Another Woman" (live) – 3:48
# "The Second Time" – 2:31

Credits

* Christine McVie – keyboards, lead vocals
* Rick Vito – lead guitar, backing vocals
* Billy Burnette – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Stevie Nicks – backing vocals
* John McVie – bass guitar
* Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Save Me (Fleetwood Mac Song)
1990 singles
1990 songs
Fleetwood Mac songs
Songs written by Christine McVie
Songs written by Eddy Quintela
Warner Records singles