# The 1978 chart hit Stevie Nicks tricked Christine McVie into thinking was her song

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-1978-chart-hit-stevie-nicks-tricked-christine-mcvie-into-thinking-was-her-song/
- Published: 2026-11-03T19:57:44+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T00:59:20+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1978-chart-hit-stevie-nicks-tricked-christine-mcvie-into-thinking-was-her-song/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- A speed change made “Imaginary Lover” sound like Stevie Nicks.
- Nicks played it for Christine McVie as a joke.
- The original reached number seven on the US chart.

## Summary

In 1978, a radio station accidentally played Atlanta Rhythm Section’s “Imaginary Lover” at the wrong speed, making it sound like a Fleetwood Mac song sung by Stevie Nicks. Nicks was struck by the resemblance and later played the altered track to bandmate Christine McVie among other album demos, allowing McVie to believe it was one of Nicks’s songs.

The incident took place while Fleetwood Mac were beginning work on *Tusk*. Nicks said the recording gave her chills because it sounded like something she would sing, and McVie complimented it. Atlanta Rhythm Section’s original version reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.