Don’t ever give up on a good song. Sometimes, it just needs the right setting for it to soar. That seems to be the lesson to take away from “Sentimental Lady,” a song that became a hit for Bob Welch some five years after he recorded it with Fleetwood Mac.
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Oddly enough, he received help from a very different version of the Mac when he did turn it into a solo hit. It’s one of the longest, strangest trips ever taken by a yacht rock classic.
A Forgotten Single
There are many people who don’t know any version of Fleetwood Mac other than the superstar quintet that sailed through the mid-‘70s and ‘80s with their combustible chemistry and knack for rock-radio gold. The band was actually in existence long before that, playing a more eclectic mix of music than what they would offer during their hitmaking years.
Although they were named after the rhythm section of drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, Fleetwood Mac’s early era was distinguished by a series of talented but mercurial guitarists/songwriters. Peter Green and Danny Kirwan both blazed a trail through the band. And Bob Welch put in a stint as well.
Welch was aboard for four years, which included the release of the 1972 album Bare Trees. “Sentimental Lady,” written by Welch, was chosen as a single from that album. But it didn’t do much business, in large part because this was a time when Fleetwood Mac were seen as more of an album-rock concern, meaning their singles didn’t get much love at radio.
“Lady” Reappears
In 1974, Welch decided to move on from Fleetwood Mac. That was a particularly chaotic time for the band. At one point, there was another outfit also calling themselves Fleetwood Mac that was briefly in existence, confusing matters for the originals. Luckily, they came out of it smelling like a rose when they hired a pair of singer/songwriters in Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks that would change the course of the band.
Meanwhile, after a brief stint in a three-piece band called Paris, Welch embarked upon a solo career. He made the decision to rerelease “Sentimental Lady” since the gentle vibes of the song were right at home with the soft rock of the era. His connection to Fleetwood Mac didn’t hurt either, since the band had risen to the top of the rock world in the interim since he had left.
Since Welch hadn’t fallen out completely with his old band, he enlisted them to help on the re-recording of “Sentimental Lady.” Fleetwood played drums, Nicks sang backup, and Buckingham, in addition to adding vocals, came up with the idea to toy with the sound of the opening guitars to lend the song a subtly Victorian air. The new version, found on Welch’s album French Kiss, went all the way to No. 8 in the U.S. in 1977.
What is “Sentimental Lady” About?
Welch’s version of “Sentimental Lady” cut back on the lyrics a bit, leaving only one real verse to go along with the prechorus and refrain, which are both repeated often. It brings a razor focus to his message of devotion in a world where nothing can be taken for granted. He drives that point home in the opening lines: You are here and warm / But I could look away and you’d be gone.
The narrator has come through a hard time just to realize where his priorities stand: And all of the things that I said that I wanted / Come rushing by in my head when I’m with you / Fourteen joys and a will to be merry. When the comforting chorus sweeps in, the narrator is transported to bliss: Sentimental gentle wind / Blowing through my life again / Sentimental lady, gentle one.
Bob Welch’s solo career started off with four straight Top-40 hits before tapering off. We’d advise you to check out his work back in the earlier days of Fleetwood Mac to get a full picture of his ability. “Sentimental Lady” proved he could deliver a hit song on his own, even though some old and new friends came along for the ride.
Photo by BSR Agency/Gentle Look via Getty Images
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