None of the group's album's were exactly masterpieces, but Walsh always came through with at least one really memorable rock epic. Walsh's big break came in 1969, when he was recruited to become the James Gang's frontman on the strength of his super-professional rock guitar skills - his early recordings show methodical influences ranging from Stephen Stills to Duane Allman to Jeff Beck, and his command of effects, slide guitar, and overdubbing was always masterful. Walsh's bratty, self-deprecating sense of humor and first-rate guitar god antics set him apart from most of the pack, and his chameleon-like stylistic variety and crowd-pleasing pop-rock sensibilities aren't too far from (say) Todd Rundgren.īut none of his albums really holds up as either consistently well-written or particularly innovative, his work with the Eagles was often in really poor taste, his big 1978 hit "Life's Been Good To Me" is a mixed blessing, his solo albums through the 80s and early 90s mostly flopped, and his thin, unsteady vocals are a major minus. Guitarist/frontman Joe Walsh is the ultimate classic rock regular suspect, briefly leading Cleveland's funk-rock power trio James Gang to album-oriented radio success, constantly turning up on a guest star, slipping into the Eagles as a new member when that band was already at its mid-70s peak, and managing a handful of solo hit singles that have become CHR standards. The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get.
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