Thursday, September 28, 2023

The James Gang The Best of the James Gang Featuring Joe Walsh 1973


Joe Walsh made three records with the James Gang, a formidable power trio with Jim Fox on drums and Dale Peters on bass. None of those three records was great, but they all included great moments, which is what this record is about.

The hits are here (Funk #49, Walk Away, Must Be Love) but so are a nice set of album tracks that show the band as more than just a power trio. Walsh had a ballad side that almost lives up to his rocking.

Walsh went on to a lengthy solo career and of course joined the Eagles and made a ton of money while raising that band from country-rock status. That's him and Don Felder rocking the twin guitar parts on the title track of Hotel California. I know plenty of people are sick of that song, and for good reason, but it is an outstanding guitar duet.

This one isn't available on CD, and the available CDs have too many other songs on them to really be called "best of". A great find for a vinyl hunter, and an excellent example of why Pete Townsend admired Walsh as a guitar player.

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