Customer Reviews

Three Hearts

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"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.

Length:: 0:41 Mins

Side One
1. 3 Hearts
2. Oh Jenny
3. I Saw Her Standing There
4. Here Comes the Night
5. China
6. The Ghost of Flight 401
Side Two
7. Precious Love
8. Church
9. Come Softly to Me
10. Devil Wind
11. Don't Wait Too Long
12. Little Star

Bob Welch was born into a show business family, and learned to play guitar at an early age. He went over the pond in 1967 to Paris and then moved to England in 1970 and joined the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac. He did 4 albums with the Mac, for me "Bare Trees" was his best album with the Mac. After '74 he formed the group Paris, their first album contained the rockin' classic "Black Book" this band had ex-Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick and drummer Thom Mooney from The Nazz, they released "Big Towne 2061" next but it fell on deaf ears. In early 1977 Bob decided to go solo, he released the platnium selling "French Kiss" #12. He used Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks on several tracks. 3 hit singles later, Bob went back into the studio and released this great album "Three Hearts" #20, it was the height of disco era, but I find this Bob's finest moment. This album is so underrated. Here are some of the highlights:

"3 Hearts"- "3 hearts in a tango". Strong rock song, nice strings, with solid guitar rock by Todd Sharp.

"Oh Jenny"- Melodic rock, "Oh Jenny won't you try to understand".

"I Saw Her Standing There"- The Lennon and McCartney classic, done here in more of a funky piece, like the way Bob put his own spin on this song, solid guitar.

"Here Comes The Night"- It just sounds so effortless, Bob really makes this song shine with it's pop sheen, his guitar sounds so good.

"China"- "I'm a prisoner of those oriental eyes". Another solid pop-rocker, Todd's guitar rocks the East!

"The Ghost Of Flight 401"- A true story, happened during the early 70's, Fleetwood played drums on this track.

"Precious Love"- A solid rock-disco hit #19 (should of gone higher), loved the drums on this track by Alvin Taylor.
"Yeah those big dark eyes that flash at me".

"Church"- "Fallen Angel, temptation had you lost". Hit #73, soft rocker, with good keyboards by David Adelstein.

"Come Softly To Me"- The Fleetwood's classic from 1959, here with Christine McVie.

"Devil Wind"- "I was born in this city, it destroyed my old man". Good flamingo guitar at the beginning, has kind of a new wave feel, then goes into a straight rockin' tune, great bass by Bob, Stevie Nicks does backup on this track.

Don't Wait To Long"- "Good things come to thoser who wait, but don't wait too long". Nice chord changes here, solid song, Christine sings on this tune.

"Little Star"- "I don't care if I get burned". Hard driving rocker with some disco strings thrown in.

Bonus tracks: "3 Hearts"- alternate version.
"Precious Love"- French Version.
"Something Strong"- A favorite of mine, B-side to "Precious Love", listened to this dozens of times in the old days, glad to finally have it back, good rocker with those swooping strings. "Something was in her eyes".

After this album Bob released 4 more solo albums, all which slowly declined in popularity. Bob turned to drugs in the mid 80's, but cleaned himself up in 1986. In 1999 he released the Jazz Bop album, "Bob Welch Looks At Bop" *** and in 2003 and 2006 released new versions of Fleetwood Mac originals and solo hits. Bob's 65 years old now and is still active.

Bob Welch did some very fine work with Fleetwood Mac, especially on their best non-Buckingham/Nicks album "Mystery to Me", but unfortunately on this follow-up disc to "French Kiss", Welch seems to have fallen into the sophomore slump. His superstar friends help out, and that provides some much-needed magic(Christine McVie adds her light, lively touch to "Come Softly" and Stevie Nicks is in full Gyspy spirit on "Devil Wind"), but the rest of the songs are heavy and hookless, drawn out and a little dull. There were opportunities here for Welch to break out of the FM radio-rock rut, but with no charisma or showmanship, another "Sentimental Lady" fails to materialize.