‘Three Hearts’ from Bob Welch is the follow-up to ‘French Kiss’ and is similar in style featuring two hit singles, the infectious power pop of ‘Precious Love’ and the moody ‘Church’.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Bob Welch
ALBUM: Three Hearts
LABEL: Capitol
SERIAL: SO-11907
YEAR: 1979
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England, USA
LINEUP: Bob Welch – guitar, bass, vocals * Alvin Taylor – drums * David Adelstein – keyboards * Todd Sharp – guitar * Steve Forman, Mick Fleetwood – percussion * Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks – backing vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 Three Hearts * 02 Oh Jenny * 03 I Saw Her Standing There * 04 Here Comes the Night * 05 China * 06 The Ghost Of Flight 401 * 07 Precious Love * 08 Church * 09 Come Softly To Me * 10 Devil Wind * 11 Don’t Wait Too Long * 12 Little Star * 13 Three Hearts (bonus) * 14 Une Fille Comme Toi (bonus) * 15 Something Strong (bonus)
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
After four years with Fleetwood Mac, Bob Welch decided to leave the band after Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks jumped on board, although he was asked to stay. In hindsight, probably not the wisest of career moves, but I am sure he had his reasons and in 1994 he filed legal action against Fleetwood Mac for lost royalties which was settled out of court.
Never to rest on his laurels after leaving Mick Fleetwood and company, Welch formed Paris with a couple of Jethro Tull and Nazz guys – releasing two albums.
The debut album simply titled ‘Paris’ has become a confirmed AOR classic and the weaker, much-maligned follow-up ‘Big Towne 2061’ both received a fair amount of promotion with the band touring in support of the first record, but it never translated into sales and Welch decided to take matters in his own hands with his first solo album, 1977’s ‘French Kiss’.
The album contained a brace of hit singles, including the reworking of an early Fleetwood Mac song ‘Sentimental Lady’. The record went platinum in the US, but critics found ‘French Kiss’ to be too commercial in context of Welch’s work with Fleetwood Mac. You can’t please everyone.
The Songs
‘Three Hearts’ is the follow-up to ‘French Kiss’ and is similar in style featuring two hit singles, the infectious power pop of ‘Precious Love’ and the moody ‘Church’. The remaining material is hit and miss including two out of place covers tunes.
A funked up version of The Beatles ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ doesn’t add up to much and Welch’s take on The Fleetwoods 1959 smash ‘Come Softly to Me’ is pretty with Christine McVie on backing vocals, but not necessary as the original material is strong enough to carry the album.
‘Here Comes The Night’ and ‘Little Star’ are nice AOR tunes while ‘The Ghost of Flight 401’ shadows similar subject matter as Welch’s ‘Hypnotized’ from Fleetwood Mac‘s 1974 classic ‘Mystery to Me’ which was his best known song prior to the solo career.
On the reissue side, One Way Records have stepped up and re-released ‘Three Hearts’ with bonus tracks including an alternate version of the title track, a fun French language version of ‘Precious Love’ (‘Une Fille Comme Toi’) and the previously unreleased ‘Something Strong’ rounding off a nicely presented package.
In Summary
‘Three Hearts’ is not as strong as its predecessor, but it’s a nice album worth a spin or two every once in a while. Welch would release four solo albums following this record that usually went directly to the cut-out/budget bins which is unfortunate considering each contains excellent material, in particular 1980’s ‘Man Overboard’.
Welch kept busy right through the next two decades but succumbed to suicide in 2012 after suffering from a painful spinal condition. He is buried in Memphis TN alongside second wife Wendy who passed away four years later.
Bob Welch on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
