Hot Love, Cold World

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Hot Love, Cold World" by Bob Welch from his 1977 solo debut album French Kiss, a track that captures the sultry, disco-infused vibe of the late '70s. One juicy tidbit about this song comes from its origins: it was initially intended for a third album by Welch's hard rock trio, Paris, but when the band dissolved in 1977, Welch repurposed it for French Kiss. Co-written with John Henning, the song's funky rhythm and awkward pauses between verses give it a unique edge, described by PopMatters as an "awkward stab at funk" with "wildly inappropriate soloing" reminiscent of Welch's progressive-metal days. The song peaked at number 31 on the Billboard charts, a modest hit compared to the album's bigger singles, but its groove still resonates with Yacht Rock fans on stations like SiriusXM. The iconic album cover, featuring Welch with a model licking his face, was a spontaneous creation. In an interview with Know Name Records, Welch revealed the model, Ellie Seibert, was the wife of a Capitol Records promoter, and the provocative shot was a casual photo that Capitol's art department turned into the album's defining image.

Bob Welch was born on August 31, 1945, in Hollywood, California, into a showbiz family. His father, Robert L. Welch Sr., was a producer and screenwriter at Paramount Pictures, working on films with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, while his mother, Templeton Fox, was a singer and actress tied to Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre. Welch started his musical journey early, learning clarinet as a child before switching to guitar in his teens. After a brief stint studying French at UCLA and a hash-hazed detour in Paris, where he planned to attend the Sorbonne but mostly hung out in cafés, Welch returned to California. In 1964, he joined the Los Angeles-based vocal group The Seven Souls, a soul band that scored a minor R&B hit but lost a record deal to Sly and the Family Stone. This early gig gave Welch his first taste of the music scene, setting the stage for his later success.

In 1971, Welch's career took a pivotal turn when he joined Fleetwood Mac, a band then struggling to find its footing. He played a crucial role during their "bridge era," contributing to albums like Bare Trees and Mystery to Me, with songs like "Hypnotized" earning FM radio play. Welch's move to relocate the band to Los Angeles, a decision he made with Mick Fleetwood, positioned them to later recruit Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, a move he later claimed saved the band from collapse. After leaving Fleetwood Mac in 1974, Welch formed Paris, releasing two albums before launching his solo career with French Kiss. The album, featuring contributions from Fleetwood Mac members Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, and Lindsey Buckingham, went platinum and solidified Welch's place in the late '70s pop-rock scene.

Sadly, Bob Welch passed away in 2012, and no official website or active social media accounts remain. An archived version of his site, bobwelch.com, offers a glimpse into his later projects, like his 1999 nu-jazz album and a 2003 retrospective. No official Facebook or Instagram pages exist, but fans can find discussions on X using hashtags like #BobWelch or #FrenchKiss. For fan communities, the Fleetwood Mac Fan Group on Facebook occasionally shares Welch-era memories, though it focuses broadly on the band. The Penguin, a Fleetwood Mac fan site, includes Q&A archives with Welch, offering insights into his time with the band and solo work. These spaces keep the Zoo Freaks' love for Welch's music alive, celebrating his funky, sentimental legacy.