Never understood what the Eagles saw in his addition (except another selling point) til I heard the harmonies and acoustic guitar work on that record!?!

The surprising thing to me about Joe Walsh is that despite the devil-may-care attitude that he radiated for years, he definitely works very hard on the arrangement / composition end of things, like the Eagles, even to the point that in concert, he plays many solos and licks very close to the recorded version, like the Eagles. In that sense, he is a great fit.

I caught the James Gang at the Beacon on their reunion run a dozen years or so back. It was freaking great. The energy was huge. It was the classic trio plus back-up singers, it was mostly note-for-note, and it was 85 minutes flat, and it was AWESOME. I usually prefer bands that take more chances and jam and change things up etc, but the music was so good and the energy was so high. Joe's voice was shockingly on point on all night long. Great show.

The James Gang was real fine. That is what put Joe on the map. The Eagles made him rich.

The Eagles certainly recognize the value of Walsh's James Gang history: They have included Walk Away and Funk #49 in their setlists for many years now. Unfortunately they also include that dumbass novelty hit of Walsh's, Life's Been Good. If watching on my DVR that's when I fast forward.

I caught the James Gang at the Beacon on their reunion run a dozen years or so back. It was freaking great. The energy was huge. It was the classic trio plus back-up singers, it was mostly note-for-note, and it was 85 minutes flat, and it was AWESOME. I usually prefer bands that take more chances and jam and change things up etc, but the music was so good and the energy was so high. Joe's voice was shockingly on point on all night long. Great show.

I was at that show too, it was awesome. I'm not even sure it was 85 minutes, I was taking a quick bathroom break, thinking I had more time when they kicked in to "Funk 49" finale. Spoiled by so many 2.5 hr ABB Beacon shows I guess. Joe Walsh is the best.

The Eagles certainly recognize the value of Walsh's James Gang history: They have included Walk Away and Funk #49 in their setlists for many years now. Unfortunately they also include that dumbass novelty hit of Walsh's, Life's Been Good. If watching on my DVR that's when I fast forward.

Thank you! I've never liked Life's Been Good either. That said, I've love Joe's guitar work.

I don't think Life's Been Good is That bad. Actually I kind of like it. The one song I really hate is Abracadabra by Steve Miller. I love Steve and have seen him for years but when he breaks that out I have to go to the restroom.

I like "Life's Been Good". It's fun, if a little excessive for a guy who keeps it mostly simple, but there are some cool passages. That's what makes Joe Walsh awesome - rarely ever serious. It's even hard to dislike "Ordinary Average Guy" or "ILBT's"

I heard Joe Walsh once say, "If I'd have known I'd be playing 'Funk #49' for the rest of my life I'd have written a better song."

"Life's Been Good" has GREAT guitar parts. The opening guitar lick, and then the change-up before the vocals, those are both great parts. The middle instrumental section does lose the momentum.

Back to the topic, though: the James Gang was great!!!!! Their live at Carnegie Hall album rocks. "Stop," "Lost Woman," amazing. -

-How about Joe's take on "Jeff's Boogie"?

I am a huge fan of the two Tommy Bolin era James Gang albums also. Those are underrated gems.

Yes Jim. I'm getting old:( I forgot about Tommy Bolin with the James Gang. Bolin also is a real fine guitarist.

I think the Eagles hired Joe Walsh when original member Bernie Leadon quit.

Its always interesting when a musician quits a very successful band. Putting principles ahead of profit I suppose.

I loved everything The James Gang did and never understood why Joe felt the need to join The Eagles.
Go listen to Midnight Man. Or anything they did. Tight band. Barnstorm was great, too.

I loved everything The James Gang did and never understood why Joe felt the need to join The Eagles.

Becoming a multi-millionaire may have had just a tiny bit of sway there............

True, altho he couldn’t have been hurting too bad from his James Gang & solo albums - Rocky Mtn Way & Life’s Been Good hit big for him - I like the good-natured rock star lazin on a sunny afternoon vibe of LBGood - huge financial profit wasn’t a sure thing when he joined the Eagles - yeah wasn’t at all sure how that would go, but go it did 😮
Enjoyed Joe’s participation in The Terry Kath Experience DVD - Joe really loved Terry’s playing

[Edited on 7/18/2020 by Stephen]

I saw the James gang very early in their career at the Fillmore east and they were the second band of three. I don't even remember who the headliner was. I didn't know Joe or the James gang so it was all new. One thing I do remember was back then he would mix in riffs from others like Jimmy Page, Clapton etc. I thought it was really cool when he would do that as he was basically showing his stuff. I wonder if any here saw that and what they thought. I really like Joe and think he could have been even bigger on his own if he took it more seriously.

I loved everything The James Gang did and never understood why Joe felt the need to join The Eagles.

Becoming a multi-millionaire may have had just a tiny bit of sway there............

Maybe but I tend to think not. He was pretty successful by that point.

Anyway, for all you Joe fans that don't know, he is currently hosting a radio show every Saturday night and sometimes has guests such as Ringo and last night was Cameron Crowe. There are archives on the website.

https://www.885fm.org/programs/joe-walshs-old-fahsioned-rocknroll-radio-show/

I saw the James gang very early in their career at the Fillmore east and they were the second band of three. I don't even remember who the headliner was. I didn't know Joe or the James gang so it was all new. One thing I do remember was back then he would mix in riffs from others like Jimmy Page, Clapton etc. I thought it was really cool when he would do that as he was basically showing his stuff. I wonder if any here saw that and what they thought. I really like Joe and think he could have been even bigger on his own if he took it more seriously.

Could the bill have been Santana, The James Gang, and Catfish, sometime fall of '69 spring of '70?

I loved everything The James Gang did and never understood why Joe felt the need to join The Eagles.

Becoming a multi-millionaire may have had just a tiny bit of sway there............

Maybe but I tend to think not. He was pretty successful by that point.

A lot of people forget that Joe Walsh had a nice career at that point and The Eagles weren't the mega group quite yet. The Eagles' first few albums were successful, but it wasn't until One of These Nights that they really hit big. Hotel California was even more massive. Plus, they were already pals having Szymczyk as producer and with Henley, Felder, Frey, Meisner, all playing on Walsh's So What and follow up live album.

There's a bootleg out there (I did not see it on youtube alas) of the James Gang doing the Yardbirds song "Jeff's Boogie," and Joe Walsh nails the Jeff Beck licks.

I know a guy who says he met Joe backstage and Joe played the Mick Taylor / John Mayall Bluesbreakers "Walking on Sunset" solo note for note.

Here is one of my favorites of Joe's done with the Eagles at the Hell Freezes Over concert (on the DVD but not the album):

Help Me Through The Night:

Gorgeous. Henley, Felder and Frey had sat in with Walsh on this before he joined the Eagles in 1975 so it was a natural for this show.