Bob Welch - Live From The Roxy [CD]

Welch struggled with a variety of marginal bands until 1971, when he was invited to join Fleetwood Mac, then an erstwhile English blues band that had lost two of its three frontline members, Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer, within a few months. Along with fellow newcomer Christine McVie, Bob helped to steer the band in a more melodic direction, as heard on 1971's Future Games. He wrote songs for and played on several Fleetwood Mac albums, including Bare Trees (1972), Mystery to Me (1973) and Heroes Are Hard to Find (1974).

These Welch-era Fleetwood Mac albums sold moderately well, though Bare Trees included the first recorded version of Welch's song "Sentimental Lady", and Mystery to Me featured the Welch composition "Hypnotized", both of which received some radio airplay. In December 1974, Welch departed the band, citing exhaustion.

In 1975, Welch formed the short-lived hard rock power trio Paris with Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick and Todd Rundgren's Runt drummer Hunt Sales; it released two albums, Paris and Big Towne 2061.

Mick Fleetwood credited Welch with keeping Fleetwood Mac afloat during some lean years.

In September 1977, Welch released his first solo album, French Kiss, a mainstream pop collection featuring contributions from former band mates Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie. This release brought Welch his greatest success, selling two million copies and yielding three hit singles: a revamped version of "Sentimental Lady", the rocker "Ebony Eyes" and "Hot Love, Cold World".

Welch followed up French Kiss with 1979's Three Hearts, an album that replicated the rock/disco fusion of French Kiss. Another million-seller, it spawned the top 20 hit "Precious Love", while the follow-up single "Church" also charted. He also was the host of a music video program, "Hollywood Heartbeat". Welch released solo albums into the early 1980s (The Other One, Man Overboard, Bob Welch, and Eye Contact) with decreasing success, Welch turned away from performing and recording and focused his attention on songwriting for others. In the early 1990s, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he put together a short-lived group called Avenue M, which backed him on tour and recorded one song for a greatest hits compilation.

Track List

1. Precious Love
   
2. Hot Love, Cold World
   
3. Big Towne 2061/Black Book
   
4. Hypnotized
   
5. Sentimental Lady
   
6. It’s What Ya Don’t Say
   
7. Bend Me, Shape Me
   
8. Outskirts
   
9. Two To Do
   
10. Remember
    
11. Don’t Give It Up
    
12. Gold Dust Woman
    
13. Ebony Eyes
    
14. Remember Me
    
15. Rattlesnake Shake