I know what you say about Joe's vocals, but I think it works & is effective for the type of songs he writes. Really good guitar player. Enjoyed the old days when he fronted James Gang. An old favorite follows with nice chords structure:

Dug out the old Walsh vinyl stuff the other day and played some great old stuff. I forgot just how great it is. Meadows. Turn To Stone. 3 albums are the core: Barnstorm, Smoker You Drink The Player You Get, So What. For icing add in the Live album. I always thought the Life's Been Good stuff was Joe Light, good but commercial.

I agree, Tony. Never cared too much for most of the stuff he put out after James Gang really, but thought his ability as a player was top shelf.
Sorta like Paul Rodgers...Liked Bad Co OK, but musically preferred Free.
The main reason I liked the Lifes' Been Good from the Fender 50th was the extended soloing.

[Edited on 11/4/2014 by fanfrom-71]

I enjoy Joe's playing...he's also a very funny guy...used to love him on Howard Stern!

Joe is a very underrated guitar player IMHO. I have seen him many times and saw him in the early 90's in a small club called Toads Place in New Haven, CT.

He played 2 shows that night and I went to both of them. This was during his heavy drinking days and he was so drunk he could barely stand or talk but he never missed a beat with his guitar playing and his vocals were actually not bad considering his condition.

Regarding his vocals he reminds me of Neil Young and Dylan in that you either love his singing or not so much