Joe Walsh – 鈥楢nalog Man鈥�
Life certainly has been good to Joe Walsh. Walsh’s early beginnings with the James Gang led to such classics as “Funk #49” and “Walk Away” from the early ’70s. Later, a stellar solo career blossomed, followed by Walsh joining the Eagles for the band’s 1976 release of “Hotel California”(the best album by the California band) with “All Pretty Maids in a Row” being one of my all-time favorite Walsh penned-and-sung arrangements. I will always have a fondness for his second solo album, “The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get,” because “Rocky Mountain Way” became a staple of our neighborhood garage band’s play set because it was a killer tune and easy to play.
Although it’s been 20 years since Walsh’s last solo effort, he hasn’t missed a beat. “I’m an analog man in a digital world,” sings Walsh on the title track, sounding as vibrant as ever at 64. Jeff Lynne places his Midas touch on the slick production of the album, especially heard on the melodic “Wrecking Ball.” “Lucky That Way” is a witty continuation of 1978’s “Life’s Been Good” where Walsh sang, “I have a mansion, forget the price/Ain’t never been there, they tell me it’s nice.” Walsh now humbly and happily sings, “I’m not saying that I’m something special/But you might know my name to some degree.” Walsh even delivers a cheeky nod to his early James Gang hit with “Funk 50” filled with blazing guitar riffs and an infectious beat that oozes pure rock soul.
The best track on the album goes to the poignant “Band Played On” with its not so subtle message of apathy and lack of awareness about the dangers and injustices that surround us as Walsh sings, “The great Titanic about to go under, and the band played on.” Walsh sounds content and at peace on the sentimental “Family” as the one-time excessive partier (alluded to in “One Day at a Time”) has settled into a more stable and loving environment.
Seems to me that Walsh knows how good he has it, and it’s wonderful that he’s willing to share.