Search - Bob Welch & Friends :: Live From Roxy

Fans will love this single audio disc....

J. Collins | 05/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...especially if they've never seen the original RCA laserdisc of the live show in question. Fleetwood Mac fans with an appreciation for Welch will also find something of interest here, given the Mac backup; everyone from the (then-) current group appear at some point, except for Lindsey Buckingham. This isn't a surrogate Mac record, though, and will have it's greatest appeal with Welch's longtime (solo) fans.



As the cd spine states, this is a recording of a live concert from 11/19/81; the liner notes specify the second show. Maybe this has something to do with the boozy atmosphere, where guest vocalist/performer Christine McVie sounds pleasantly wasted, and fellow guest Robbie Patton is barely able to make it through his own "Don't Give It Up," a hit earlier in '81. Fortunately, Welch and his band take the event a bit more seriously, and their playing is generally tight and tuneful. Welch is okay as ringmaster, fairly interesting in his patter as it is reproduced here. The actual material covered is a mish-mash of old Mac tracks, Welchian bits from his early solo and Paris records, and some choice cuts from his eponymous RCA debut album. With the exception of an overlong bit involving guest drummer Carmine Appice, most of the "friends" on hand slip into Welch's groove, and add something to the show.



Though the audio from this concert pretty much matches the old videodisc, it's worth noting that this cd omits tracks, due to the medium's time limits. I'd also suggest that the RCA videodisc was NOT the master for this audio cd, judging by a fair number of analog sound dropouts. Overall, sound for this live album is full and reasonably loud; you'll notice more in the way of concert recording gaffs (feedback, poor micing) than playback shortcomings. Please note that Amazon (and other webstores) provide an incorrect track listing. The following is the track list for the (2004 Alchemy Entertainment) cd I purchased:



Track one is an abbreviated (but spunky) version of "Precious Love" (1:51), followed immediately by another shortish version of "Hot Love, Cold World" (2:34). Amazon lists these as one track, with the second cut being "That's What We Said." Unfortunately, this memorable cut from Welch does NOT appear in this collection. Track three is a composite of two Paris cuts, "Big Towne 2061" and "Black Book," clocking in at 3:54. Track four is a long (6:56) take on "Hypnotized," and includes Mick Fleetwood and both McVies in backup. "Sentimental Lady" is track five (3:54), "What You Don't Say" (3:18) is number six, and Welch's cover of American Breed's "Bend Me Shape Me" (3:22) is cut seven.



Track eight is a long (11:36) take on "Outskirts," and includes a bonanza of solos and group intros. "Two To Do," a single from Welch's first RCA album is track nine (3:40), followed by "Remember" (4:43), and "Don't Give It Up" (4:32). Track twelve is "Gold Dust Woman," featuring a guest lead vocal from Stevie Nicks (credited as "Madame X" on the cover, 8:17 long), and Nicks also does backup on track thirteen, Welch's "Ebony Eyes" (5:26). Number fourteen is a cover of Christine McVie's "Remember Me" (from Mac's "Penguin" album, wrongly credited on the sleeve as "Don't You Think It's Time," (2:45). The last cut in this cd is Welch's take on the Peter Green ode to wanking, "Rattlesnake Shake" (5:06). The track, "Blues In A," doesn't appear in this collection, though credited by several webstores. (It's omission here isn't a big loss, since the track was more "Blues In Questionable Key.")



I had a poor cassette copy of this concert, taped twenty plus years ago from a television broadcast, so it's nice to be able to hear this concert in full fidelity, even if it's an abbreviated version. There are (obviously) no definitive performances in this recording, but there are some memorable ones from Welch and his friends. I'm particularly fond of the Paris medley (nice updated arrangement), "Hypnotized," and the other tracks played with miscellaneous Mac-ers. The live version of "Gold Dust Woman" should appeal to Nicks fans greatly, and fans of Christine McVie will find her in charming (if slightly woozy) voice for the terrific cover of "Remember Me." The latter even features one-time Mac-er, Bob Weston, on slide guitar.



While there are enough nuggets and tuneful tidbits to interest mainstream Fleetwood Mac fans, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this album to them. It's more a tribute to Bob Welch's brand of pop-rock than a Mac-ers reunion, so adjust your expectations accordingly."