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1972 single by Bob Welch

For the instrumental by Duke Ellington, see Sentimental Lady (Duke Ellington song).

"Sentimental Lady" is a song written by Bob Welch. It was originally recorded for Fleetwood Mac`s 1972 album Bare Trees, but was re-recorded by Welch on his debut solo album, French Kiss, in 1977.[3] It is a romantic song, originally written for Welch`s first wife. Welch recorded it again in 2003 for his album His Fleetwood Mac Years & Beyond.[4]

History and release

The original 1972 version of the song as heard on Fleetwood Mac`s Bare Trees album clocked in at 4 minutes 34 seconds, with background vocals by Christine McVie. It had two verses, with a reprise of the first following the instrumental bridge.

A 1977 re-recording, the most well-known version of the song, was a solo hit for Welch when he recorded it for his first solo album, French Kiss, which was released in September 1977. The first single released from the album, "Sentimental Lady" reached the top 10 in both the U.S. Pop and Adult Contemporary charts.

Mick Fleetwood also played the drums for the song on Welch`s 1977 album. The re-recording of it featured Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham as backing singers and producers (with Buckingham additionally doing the arrangement as well as serving on guitar), but unlike the original which had two verses, Welch`s solo version only had one verse to cut it down to less than three minutes for the final radio cut. The solo recording also has multilayered guitars played by Lindsey Buckingham, who recorded the guitars at half speed. He then sped up the recording so that the guitars would sonically resemble a harpsichord/music box.[5] The solo version also contains counterpoint vocals arranged and sung by Christine McVie.[6]

Lyrical composition

The original placeholder/dummy lyrics for the chorus before the full lyrics were written was, "my legs are sticks and my feet are stones." Welch told Songfacts.com: "The lyric was probably referencing my first wife Nancy."[7]

The Fleetwood Mac version includes a verse that begins "Now you are here today, But easily you might just go away."[8] It is omitted from Welch`s solo version, which otherwise has the same lyrics. Welch recalled that his record company wanted the single to be under three minutes to be commercially viable, so Welch cut the second verse to fulfill that requirement.[6]

Donald Brackett, in his 2007 book, Fleetwood Mac, 40 Years of Creative Chaos has discussed Welch`s poetic romantic lyrics in "Sentimental Lady" and writing and performing style. He describes the featuring of the song on the 1972 album Bare Trees as the best example of the group`s move towards a new, softer and highly commercial style in the early 1970s. Brackett suggests that the essence of the lyrics and nature of the song are "almost too gentle", but describes Welch`s voice as like "crushed velvet", in that he believes the voice is simultaneously gentle and threatening in tone, a symbolic balance between the emotions of hope and despair.[9] He later says of Welch`s song writing, "Welch had the unique ability to encapsulate in a single song the travails of personal intimacy as well as the larger social picture in which we all lived".[9]

Reception

Cash Box described it as being "a startling approach to balladry" with "smooth harmonies abound."[10] Record World called it "a gentle, floating ballad" with "nice lyrics."[11] The Guardian commented that the "ultra-hooky" song "should have been a pop hit the first time around."[12]

Personnel

Fleetwood Mac version

• Bob Welch – rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals
• Danny Kirwan – lead guitar, slide guitar
• Christine McVie – piano, organs, backing vocals
• John McVie – bass guitar
• Mick Fleetwood – drums

Bob Welch version

• Bob Welch – guitars, lead and backing vocals
• Lindsey Buckingham – guitars, backing vocals
• Christine McVie – backing vocals, keyboards
• John McVie – bass guitar
• Mick Fleetwood – drums, tambourine

Chart performance