Search - Bob Welch :: Three Hearts

Great budget-priced reissue with worthwhile bonuses

J. Collins | 07/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Three Hearts" has long been one of my favorite Pop-Rock albums, and likely the best (original) solo album in Welch's catalog. This CD reissue is welcome not only for it's bonus tracks, but also it's remastered sound, which is a significant improvement over the Demon (UK) disc of a few years back. Though not a chart topper in the traditional Fleetwood Mac sense, "Three Hearts" was still a rock-solid recording, start to finish, and produced two significant hits in "Precious Love" and "Church."Welch's first solo album on Capitol ("French Kiss") is also impressive, but the radio-ready formula he devised didn't come full-circle until "Three Hearts." As usual, Welch wrote all of the material (with the exception of the Beatles and Fleetwoods cover tunes), and his throaty Gibson dominates most of the recording. This album inaugurated what would become Welch's touring band, and "Three Hearts" is stronger for their inclusion."Three Hearts" isn't quite a contemporary album, though it is a heady mix of Pop hooks, Rock know-how, and Disco flash. Drummer Alvin Taylor really kicks these tunes into high gear with his big bass drum and beat-perfect snare work. Lyrically, this isn't a ponderous album by any stretch of the imagination. Lots of universal sentiments on love and relationships, and a few oddments that evoke Welch's tenure with the Big Mac. The previously shelved "(Good Things Come)...Don't Wait Too Long" really IS a Fleetwood Mac track, re-done by Welch and his new band. (The original was slated for "Mystery To Me," but got bumped for the remake of "For Your Love.")I have my own favorite tracks, but they honestly don't bear mentioning in such fine company. If you follow Bob Welch, this may be a must-have disc for you, depending on how important the source sound is to you. This One-Way disc has crisp highs and fairly ample lows...an improvement on the Capitol analog master tapes in my opinion. The bonus tracks are fairly cool too: there's an alternate version of "Three Hearts," a French language version of "Precious Love" ("Une Fille Comme Toi" --literally, 'A Girl Like You'), and a great "lost" nugget, "Something Strong." The latter appeared as the original edited B-side to the Capitol 45 of "Precious Love," and the version included here is the un-edited take. Of the three bonuses, "Something Strong" is the one that appeals to me most, with those strings sawing away in disco abandon over Welch's power chords and feedback...all riding atop one of Alvin Taylor's most dynamic drum sets.This is a terrific disc overall, and a great reminder of the early rock/disco synthesis of the late '70s."