I Miss Bob Welch

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Five largely rewarding albums that range from “good” to “great.” All in a four-year span.

Top notch work! Mystery To Me is right up there with Rumours and Tusk.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Top notch work! Mystery To Me is right up there with Rumours and Tusk.

Interesting thing is Fleetwood Mac’s considerable reputation for tasteful, well-executed music began long before their heyday. All of those albums from ‘71-‘74 are album albums, with a high complement of very good music and few duds. Yes, each of the records is “transitional” as it is evident the band is still searching for its center, but even so the results impress, and are at least a cut or two above most bands of that time.

Take a band like the early Doobie Brothers. They had very cool hits, but their individual albums were comparatively weak. They were the ideal band for a greatest hits compilation. Try doing a “Best of” for FM’s wilderness years. It’d be a mess because each of their albums has its own character and distinction.

I’ve heard “inconsistent” when people talk about Bob Welch. I’d say he was open to trying new things, and if there are inconsistencies (and there were) its because he reached beyond safe, easy formulas.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Top notch work! Mystery To Me is right up there with Rumours and Tusk.

Agreed. Mystery To Me and I would include Heroes are hard to find are fantastic albums. Its fun to think WHAT IF. What if Sentimental Lady was a hit for the band in the early 70s. Would a bigger success made Bob stay? Or no matter what Bob had enough of Chris's side eye and nothing was going to keep him there.
Bob was on American Bandstand in 1982 and Dick Clark asked him about his relationship with the band. Bob said how they were all such good friends and they work on his solo albums, etc. 10 years later it was war. I think both Bob and the band had their darkest days in the mid 90s and money always tears people apart. Even if Bob was wrong and not entitled to one cent, was it worth it to destroy an early legacy with the band?
Sad.

[SteveMacD]

I absolutely think Bob should have been inducted and it was a crock he wasn’t. He was a vital part of their history.

That being said, the Peter Green lineups (which included Jeremy and later Danny) and the Rumours lineup were the only versions of Fleetwood Mac that had hits. The six people on stage that night were the ones most responsible for the band’s fame and success.

Bob was only in the band for 3.5 years (June, ‘71-Dec, ‘74), and it was a turbulent, not especially successful period in their history. The musical growth they went through during his tenure was immeasurable and they started catching on in the USA, even having their first Top 40 album, but they weren’t a hugely successful band.