Joe Walsh – Barnstorm

This is a remarkably good record. His first out of James Gang. Very tight playing, great songs, covers a wide emotional terrain. The guitar of course is amazing. Great not just good record.

The first, initial pressing of this CD as released by Hip-O Select used an incorrectly marked set of master tapes which faded out track 3 "One and One", and included a pause between it and the next track, "Giant Bohemoth" (sic). On the original vinyl, these two tunes segue into each other with no fade out. The edit on the reissue totally disrupts the "flow" of the album. I notified Hip-O Select of this, and was subsequently sent a handwritten, CD-R using the correct masters from the Mastering Lab in LA. I have added a photo of both the original, first CD pressing and the corrected remastered disc.

I’ve come to think that there are few people on my musical wave length, perhaps they just don’t understand the times from which I came or the social implications of the music of the day. Joe Walsh is an astounding guitar player and true musical visionary. Joe moved from the James Gang [who were turned down by the Beatles Apple Label], began a solo career, joined the Eagles and all the while continuing with his solo career. Joe’s got his issues to be sure, but man, there are no issues with his music as far as I’m concerned.

‘Barnstorm’ was his first outing and there are serious numbers to be considered, namely, ‘Here We Go, Mother Says, Comin’ Down.’ The other tracks fill out the album nicely but these are the showcase songs.

Music was in such a state of flux during the early 70’s, as were the people; just coming out of the psychedelic era, and disco would tragically be raising its uglily head in just a couple of years. Joe was moving away from the harder edged guitar driven sounds of later James Gang to return to some of their more complete and complex material. He sought to get from the electric guitar the feel of an acoustic sound. He also went and got himself an ARP Odyssey Synthesizer and came out with some great uses of this early piece of electronic equipment.

During these years, the smoke was great and varied and artists were playing to that. There was almost nothing better then cueing up some smooth tunes, kicking back with a smoke, and stoner conversation. Two in the afternoon became eight before we knew it, all the while, the likes of Joe’s music, were carrying us along.

‘Here We Go’ opens the album, and personally I couldn’t have thought up a better title to open my first record with. The song just cruises for almost five minutes of marvelous guitar work, tiny finger pickings, that play off in the distance of your brain, before he comes back in ever so quietly, letting you know what your infor with the rest of this album. His use of the synthesizer sounds oddly like some of the work the Who would later do.

‘Mother Says’ bounces you around nicely continuing on his musical journey. The song uncharacteristly calms down ever so unexpectedly, echoing his use of the piano and kettle drums, then the synthesizer, crashing drums...man what a crazy wonderful ride.

‘Comin’ Down’ finishes the album, is so short an so sweet at less then two minutes. It should have lasted longer, but is just fine as it is...while he’s asking if we can see who he is.

All in all I think its a fine introduction to the man and the music he’s going to bring to bear on American culture. People will try to write him off, or count him out, but he’ll hold his own for years to come.

Review by Jenell Kesler

IF THEY ONLY KNEW HOW HARD WE WORK JW 1972, IS SCRATCHED IN THE MATRIX ON SIDE 2