Found this Bob Welch interview
 

http://iamthekman.blogspot.com/2009/...fleetwood.html

I'm interested to see the interviewer tell Bob Welch told he is often "credited" with the transformation from blues-rock to a more melodic style. I am not sure how much this is the case... or conversely to what extent that might be recognized by non-aficionados?

When I say that, I think of Peter Green's words before the "Vaudeville Years" take of "Show Biz Blues" when he said it was the "only bluesy thing on the whole ****in' LP (Then Play On)," recognizing they were already moving on from the blues to a more "melodic" style.

I am also thinking of "Future Games" and "Bare Trees" where "melodic" non-blues numbers from Danny Kirwan took up far more space than Bob Welch's material. Bob Welch wasn't even on "Kiln House" which wasn't nearly as bluesy as eg "Mr Wonderful." One might well assume it was Danny Kirwan who moved the band towards "Rumours" far more significantly, no?

Hope it's not just me?

I did like Kirwan's arrangements on things like When You Say and Woman of 1000 years... but when I think of Welch I think of surreal storytelling and really cool riffs... Bob Welch in those days had this really cool underground feeling that really meshed well with the 2 McVies and Mick.

I think he challenged the playing of the rhythm section and keys more than Buckingham ever did...