"He's Really Got A Hold On Her" by Bob Welch

Bob Welch was a guitarist and songwriter who was instrumental in steering early Fleetwood Mac towards a more radio-friendly sound. He was in the band from 1971-1974 (for 5 albums), just before the band exploded with the arrival of his replacements, Linsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

Nonetheless, Welch seemed poised to be a superstar on his own as his solo debut "Sentimental Lady" soared to #8 in 1977 (the song features Christine McVie and Buckingham on backing vocals). He followed it up with respectable chart showings for "Ebony Eyes" (#14), "Hot Love, Cold World" (#31), and "Precious Love" (#19).

But that was pretty much the end of the road. Aside from the lackluster "Church," which stalled at #73 in 1979, Welch fell off the radar. His early 80s albums sold badly, as did a comeback he attempted in 1999 called "Bob Welch Looks At Bop." Through the 80s he fell into drug and alcohol addiction, partly due to having Guns N' Roses researching out of his garage. Welch sobered up but was dealt another blow by being snubbed from the induction of Fleetwood Mac into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

A final blow arrived in 2012, after Welch realized that he would not recover from recent spinal surgery. He committed suicide at the age of 66.

Despite their commercial disappointment, I enjoy Welch's solo work from the 80s. "He's Really Got A Hold On Her" is a selection from his 1983 effort, "Eye Contact."