Archive for joe walsh

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Six)

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, guitarists, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , on August 18, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Joe Walsh saw his eleventh studio album, Analog Man, released back on June 5th, 2012. Since then, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this album’s songs from top to bottom; so much so, that I’ve written five Fun & Random Thoughts posts regarding this entertaining work. Now, you are reading the sixth such post!

Lyrically, Analog Man is filled with Joe’s real life experiences and Fishbone is one fine example. Fishbone is a funny song, only the story behind this song is not that humorous at all; at least to me it isn’t. Regardless, Joe Walsh has a unique way of turning a scary personal story into something “funny” to reflect upon. Joe Walsh explained the story behind this song in the liner notes of Analog Man. Here’s the story behind Fishbone, as I’ve kept it in fewest words as possible:

Joe’s wife had a fishbone (unfortunately) get stuck in her throat, while at a dinner party in Monte Carlo. She had to fly home to Los Angeles to have the fishbone removed from her throat. That poor woman. That’s scary stuff! I couldn’t imagine having any kind of bone getting stuck in my throat! Based on the lyrics of Fishbone, Joe’s wife obviously had a trying experience and eventual positive outcome. Thank God for that.

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Fishbone can get nasty, fishbone ain’t your friend – Joe Walsh

Trust me, the lyrics to Fishbone are funny and still I wince while listening to them. I just feel so bad for Joe’s wife having to go through such a terrible ordeal with a fishbone getting stuck in her throat. If this song has taught me any lessons, it’s you can’t take life for granted. Nor can you take life too seriously; especially when an outcome to a frightening experience or event turns out well. I’m sure if the outcome to this story was (gasp) something worse, then Joe Walsh would never have written such a lyrically funny song about it. I would hope so, anyway.

Musically, Fishbone is classic Joe Walsh. Semi-funky and loaded with guitar licks that ooze out from every crevice is Fishbone. Throw in some electronic artfulness on vocals for a second or two and Fishbone is a hidden gem of a song on Analog Man.

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Since we’re on the topic of Fishbone, here is a (topically related) album I’ve been reminded of:

Yes, that’s Fishbone’s seventh studio album titled: Still Stuck In Your Throat. This cool album was initially released in Europe, back in 2006. The Alt/Rock, Funk Metal and Ska Punk band known as… Fishbone. Whoever said the Rock Music world wasn’t intertwined in some mystical way should have their head examined for malfunction. Metal be thy name.

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* If you’ve missed any or all of my Fun & Random Thoughts on Joe Walsh – Analog Man, don’t panic! Just click on those very cool links below to get all caught up! Whoa!

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part One)

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Two)

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Three)

JOE WALSH – “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Four)

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Five)

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* For more info on JOE WALSH, click on the link below!

http://joewalsh.com/

LONG LIVE JOE WALSH.

LONG LIVE FISHBONE (The Band).

Stone.

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JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Five)

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, guitarists, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, Music, rock albums, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on July 8, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Rock ‘N Roll Photography Of Analog Man

JOE WALSH – Okay, as I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Joe Walsh’s new studio album Analog Man, something very, very funny finally dawned on me! This album cover idea for Analog Man has been done before! Just because an album cover idea has been done before, it doesn’t necessarily mean it was done better. No way. Not in this case.

I give the Rockin’ nod to this Analog Man cover; both for its photographic excellence and for the way the photographer (Andrew Macpherson) captured the mood of Joe Walsh. It’s all about capturing that Rock mystique in Rock photography and Andrew did just that. Commendable!

Now… for that other album cover (from the past) with the same idea… uh, oh…

At one time, Torben Enevoldsen was photographed this same way for his album: Heavy Persuasion. Torben must have asked his neighbor to stop mowing the lawn to take this picture of him. Big difference between the Analog Man album cover and Heavy Persuasion. Whoa. Check it out for yourself below:

Thanks for visiting and reading Part Five of my fun & random thoughts on Analog Man. If you’ve missed out on Parts One thru Four, don’t panic! Just click on the four links below to read ’em! Metal be thy name.

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part One)

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Two)

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Three)

JOE WALSH – “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Four)

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* For more info on JOE WALSH, click on the link below!

http://joewalsh.com/

* For more info on photographer Andrew Macpherson, click on link below!

http://www.macfly.com

LONG LIVE JOE WALSH.

Stone.

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JOE WALSH – “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Four)

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, Hard Rock, Music, rock albums, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on June 29, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Joe Walsh celebrates his Rock ‘N Roll ties to Little Richard, through a long lost recording…

JOE WALSH – As I continue onward with my blabbing about Analog Man, the new studio album from the legendary Joe Walsh, I am finding myself getting more immersed in Rock ‘N Roll history once again. There’s so much more to Analog Man than just it containing 12 new songs from Joe Walsh. An autobiographical story is being told here by Joe Walsh and one key legend of Rock ‘N Roll is mentioned by him in the liner notes: Little Richard.

To me, Little Richard is synonymous with pioneering Rock ‘N Roll; an iconic figure and true ambassador of Rock ‘N Roll, to this very day. The reverence that Joe Walsh has for Little Richard is both a grand thing to read and realize; as he states his past and present association with Little Richard, within the liner notes of Analog Man, with admirable sincerity that obviously comes straight from his heart.

Little Richard also appears musically on Analog Man; Rockin’ on the piano with the James Gang as they were recorded live playing: But I Try. This historical Rock ‘N Roll moment took place sometime around 1970, at Cleveland Recording, in Cleveland, Ohio. The James Gang had played a couple of shows in the Midwest with Little Richard, at about this time. As Rock ‘N Roll surprises do happen, Joe Walsh had found this rare recording in an “old box of tapes” which makes this story all the more exciting to me. I can only imagine how many unreleased, fun and Rock historical songs that Joe Walsh may have stored away still!

But I Try is a retrospective snapshot into the Rockin’ world of the James Gang having a good time with Little Richard. This is a live song that spills over with it’s sincerity, while radiating a sound from a Rock ‘N Roll era that will forever be treasured and never duplicated. The lineup heard on But I Try is: Joe Walsh (guitar), Jimmy Fox (drums) and Dale Peters (bass), with of course, Little Richard. This version of But I Try will live on forever, since being rescued from “an old box of tapes”, courtesy of the legendary Joe Walsh.

Little Richard – The Very Best Of… (2008 – Specialty Records)

Thanks for visiting and reading Part Four of my fun & random thoughts on Analog Man. If you’ve missed out on Parts One thru Three, don’t panic! Just click on the three links below to read ’em! Metal be thy name.

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part One)

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Two)

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Three)

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(Source: Analog Man liner notes)

* For more info on JOE WALSH, click on the link below!

http://joewalsh.com/

LONG LIVE JOE WALSH.

LONG LIVE LITTLE RICHARD.

Stone.

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JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Three)

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, Hard Rock, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , on June 23, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Jeff Lynne And ELO Fever… I Can’t Shake It Free. 

JOE WALSH – Admittedly, I had no clue Joe Walsh was releasing a new studio album until the day I walked into the CD aisle at my local Super Walmart. Sounds odd, huh? Not really that odd to me, for 90% of the press releases, PR people and bands I deal with are Metal affiliated; therefore the bulk of music news I take in on a daily basis is… Metal. Even when I surf the internet, I’m not going to stumble upon every album release from every genre that’s on the horizon. I’m not that cool.

It was a neat feeling though, finding Analog Man on its release day. If I could have, I would’ve skipped all the way to the check-out with my new Joe Walsh CD in-hand. Only thing is, the way things happen for Stone, I probably would have been gang tackled down to the ground by store security for acting like a weirdo. I bought Analog Man without hearing or sampling one song on it. The Rock ‘N Roll of Joe Walsh doesn’t need to be sampled by Stone to justify a purchase. No way, man.

Step in… Jeff Lynne:

When I returned to my car in the Super Walmart parking lot, I immediately took the plastic wrap off Analog Man and slapped that plastic disc into the CD player. As the title track began to play, I was reading the liner notes and scouring the track listing. It was simultaneous how this happened… I heard Jeff Lynne tones and felt Jeff Lynne vibes as Analog Man played. Within a hiccup, I noticed this sentence printed on the back cover of the CD digipak: “Produced By  Jeff Lynne And Joe Walsh”. I guess my ears and vibes were correct!

Any longtime visitor to Metal Odyssey knows by now, that I am a HUGE fan of Electric Light Orchestra. Always have been. Hell, I was an ELO fan before I was really introduced to Heavy Metal; with KISS being the only exception. Yes, it was (gulp) decades ago and not just two years ago. As years went by, I dove right into The Traveling Wilburys and couldn’t get enough of ’em. Did I have Jeff Lynne fever? Even the Jeff Lynne (co-produced) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Into The Great Wide Open, and George Harrison’s Cloud Nine both have that certain extra charm to my senses. Maybe it has always been ELO on my brain.

Throughout this entire Analog Man album, the musical imprint of Jeff Lynne is heard. Don’t get me wrong, Joe Walsh has his legendary Rockin’ imprint here too; this is a Joe Walsh album after all! Joe’s legendary vocals and signature guitar tones are clear-cut, dynamite and out-of-sight! (Whoa… that sounded kinda ’70’s didn’t it?). The ELO vibe and feel that is essentially Jeff Lynne comes sonically through on drums, percussions, guitars, bass, keyboards and backing vocals. Once again, this is still a bonafide Joe Walsh album of songs and not an ELO album. I’m only pointing out what I truly hear and absorb. Plus, I’m not complaining one micro bit.

After so many listens to Analog Man, I’ve come to the conclusion that Joe Walsh surely could have been a member of The Traveling Wilburys. Joe would have fit right in! Back in the day, I would have never connected the Rock ‘N Roll sound of Joe Walsh to Jeff Lynne’s (eventual) musical direction. Now that these two Rockin’ gentlemen have teamed up on Analog Man, I get it! As I reflect on the discography of Joe Walsh, the one song that keeps popping into my brain (that comes across with a healthy sliver of what Jeff Lynne creates) is All Of A Sudden from the 1991 album Ordinary Average Guy.

Joe Walsh – Ordinary Average Guy (1991 – Epic)

Thanks for visiting and reading Part Three of my fun & random thoughts on Analog Man. If you’ve missed out on Part One and/or Two, don’t panic! Just click on the two links below to read ’em! Metal be thy name.

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part One)

JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Two)

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* For more info on JOE WALSH, click on the link below!

http://joewalsh.com/

LONG LIVE JOE WALSH.

LONG LIVE JEFF LYNNE.

Stone.

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JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part Two)

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, Music, rock albums, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on June 12, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

JOE WALSH – I’ve been listening to Analog Man, the new solo album from the legendary Joe Walsh and decided to write my random thoughts on it. It has been a couple of decades since Joe Walsh released a solo album and Analog Man is a dandy. These fun and random thoughts will be posted in a series of parts.

Here is Part Two:

I am going to discuss in Part Two, the title track: Analog Man. What a song. (What an album for that matter and that is a topic for another time). Analog Man is an autobiographical song (and album) about Joe Walsh; only this title track represents how some of us old schoolers feel about the rapid ascent of the digital world; especially when this same digital world has tried to send analog into extinction. I lived the majority of my teen years during the 80’s and I still hold quite an affection towards analog.

Joe Walsh lyrically describes himself as an Analog Man and justifiably so. With so many generations that grew up with vinyl (45’s, LP’s & even 78’s), 8-tracks and cassettes, the digital revolution took us all by surprise in the early 80’s and I for one was never prepared. (Despite my being the first dude in the old neighborhood to own a Realistic CD player from Radio Shack). What I learned in college for computer technology was obsolete one year after I graduated! Plus, I, like Joe Walsh, have had a ten-year old show me how to use functions on a laptop and cell phone for that matter! That is absolutely not a lie.

When I first listened to this song, I kept nodding my head to both this song’s rhythmic beats and (agreement) to its lyrics. Joe Walsh nailed it when it comes to (the widespread social change of) movie ratings; with murder and violence getting the PG more often than R. Heck, I can remember when the Nightmare On Elm Street and Friday The 13th movies were rated R at the theaters. Now, these same slasher films are shown on Saturday afternoons (with little to no editing), on numerous cable networks.

The “new age” of television is touched upon by Joe Walsh so well in Analog Man. “With 100’s of channels and nothing being on” referenced, I can surely understand Joe’s point here. I find it amusing that there are numerous 24/7 news networks to begin with. We live in an era of information overkill and still advertisers flock to hock their products on these redundant networks.

The “digital dream” that Joe Walsh references throughout this title track is never going away anytime soon in our now global social network culture. Maybe I’m living the digital dream with Metal Odyssey? I’m also guilty as charged experiencing instant gratification of mp3 downloads… and it’s a necessary function of being a part of the music blogosphere.

In short summary, Analog Man is a lyrically genuine and super fun song that I definitely relate to. It’s as if Joe Walsh took the words right out of my mouth. Oh… this song without question Rocks my ears off too. Metal be thy name.

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* For more info on JOE WALSH, click on the link below!

http://joewalsh.com/

LONG LIVE JOE WALSH.

The word “dandy” was used in this post.

Stone.

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JOE WALSH “Analog Man” – Some Fun & Random Thoughts From Stone (Part One)

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, Guitar, guitarists, Hard Rock, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on June 8, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

JOE WALSH – Yesterday I bought the new Joe Walsh CD, Analog Man (the CD/DVD Limited Deluxe Edition) and I’m quite chipper about it. This is the first solo album from Joe Walsh in two decades; I have found both the music and lyrics to be incredibly inspiring. I find it remarkably amazing, how one new album such as Analog Man can trigger so many thoughts about music and life! I’ve always felt that music can connect the dots and profoundly act as a universal language within our fast-paced world.

The Rock ‘N Roll thoughts have been pouring from my brain, since my picking up Analog Man and delving into its music, lyrics and bountiful liner notes. Therefore, I will be writing about my thoughts on Analog Man, from the lyrical content to my memories of hearing Joe Walsh on the radio as an innocent young lad in the seventies. My writings will be posted in parts, all being inspired from Analog Man.

This is a Joe Walsh – Analog Man custom sport metallic watch! Whoa. Do I own one? Nope.

Here Is Part One:

I’ve always been lured by the vocals, musicianship and songwriting of Joe Walsh. What’s “always” Stone? Well, it all started a long time ago, in a childhood far, far, away. I used to hear the song Walk Away from James Gang being played on the radio back in the 70’s and fell in love with it quite easily. I couldn’t get the lyrics or guitar out of my head! Did I actually know who Joe Walsh was back then? Of course I didn’t.

Onto the Eagles. I would hear Hotel California, Life In The Fast Lane and New Kid In Town on none other than… the radio. Onto the solo career of Joe Walsh and the radio airwaves consistently played Life’s Been Good. I was in 7th grade during 1978 and thought this song was damn good! All these songs I’ve mentioned remind me of going camping with my family back in those late 70’s. (Whoa). It’s due to the widespread campers playing their radios really loud all the time… it would be “battle of the Woolworth’s, Montgomery Ward (or Sears) cheap radios”. This was before the big (and expensive) “boom boxes” became popular.

Joe Walsh – But Seriously, Folks… (1978 – Asylum)

During 1976, 1977 and 1978, I still had no clue that Joe Walsh was a key figure involved in these (eventual) iconic songs. However, that all changed in 1979. Read on for more excitement…

When the Eagles released The Long Run, I was psyched-out by Heartache Tonight. Every kid in my class was psyched-out by this song back then. 1979 was a huge year for me; kissing a girl (or two) for the first time, getting chicken pox, missing my eighth grade graduation from Parochial school due to the chicken pox, going to the Dom Perno’s University Of Connecticut Summer Basketball Camp and receiving The Long Run (on vinyl) as a christmas present from my parents. Phew.

Uh… before I actually received The Long Run as a Christmas gift, well, um… I honestly thought Heartache Tonight was titled and sung as: Party Tonight. Red Forman, the father character from That 70’s Show would have said to me: “Stone, you’re a dumb ass.” As messed up as it sounds, my school friends and I would sing at the top of our lungs, during recess: “There’s gonna be a party tonight! A party tonight I know!” Back in ’79, we were all a bunch of dumb asses in that Parochial school playground.

I remember the album jacket  for The Long Run was a gatefold. I would stare at each member of The Eagles, as each song from this album played on my turntable. It got to the point where I actually thought each band member was staring back at me. (Whoa). My favorite song from The Long Run then and now? In The City. Guess what? After holding and staring at that gatefold album jacket of The Long Run and listening to In The City about 999 times on my $25 turntable and before the New Year of 1980 was ushered in, I finally knew who Joe Walsh really was. Metal be thy name!

In The City appears on The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for the 1979 film: The Warriors. I remember (finally) seeing this movie on HBO during the early 80’s. It’s a (violent) cult classic. I’ve never owned this soundtrack; I probably will buy it eventually, one day.

My Joe Walsh – Analog Man thoughts will continue… stay tuned!

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* Joe Walsh – Analog Man was released on June 5th, 2012, via Fantasy.

* For more info on JOE WALSH, click on the link below!

http://joewalsh.com/

LONG LIVE JOE WALSH.

Stone.

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Kip Winger – “From The Moon To The Sun” shines bright

Posted in 1980's heavy metal music, Album Review, Alice cooper, classical music, concerts, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal guitarists, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, joe walsh, Led Zeppelin, Metal, metal concerts, Metal Reviews, Music, Rock, rock music, symphony music, the beatles, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 18, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

173147821Yes, Kip Winger is still creating music. Only you will not hear the Winger of the 1980’s on “From The Moon To The Sun” – this is Kip Winger accentuating his diverse affection for all music. Really, this is not an album to pass over if you are an open minded Hard Rock or Metal fan. With so many musicians in Hard Rock and Metal experimenting musically these days, it does not come as a huge surprise to listen to a softer, more mature (musically), Kip Winger. I hear Kip Wingers influences throughout “From The Moon To The Sun.” Kip Winger gives special thanks, in the liner notes, to his musical heroes, they are: Honegger, Ravel, Debussy, Bach, Brahms, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Kurek, Vaughan Williams, Adams, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel and Joe Walsh. Seeing the list of Kip’s musical heroes definitely solidifies my saying this album is truly musically diverse. Quite honestly, there are some dudes on this heroes list that I have absolutely no clue as to who they are. I am innocent, for I am a Metalhead after all. (I am not used to too many mellow musicians, especially Classical musicians, however, I am a work in progress).

Now, I actually bought this CD without hearing a single song first. You betcha. Why did I do such a thing you may be asking? First, I always liked Winger and the catchy/sometimes near sappy, Hair Metal music that Winger really was. Secondly, I saw Winger live, with Cinderella and The Bullet Boys. It was at the Springfield Civic Center, in good ol’ Springfield Massachusetts, back in the late 80’s. Winger rocked the house that evening in Springfield, Kip Winger was cool, flashy, yet he was in position to be as flamboyant as he wanted to be back then, he had every darn right. Thirdly, Kip Winger once was a member of Alice Cooper’s band, making two albums with the legendary Alice Cooper. For this Metal fanatic, I think those 3 reasons are good enough for embarking on my purchasing this Kip Winger solo CD.

I definitely hear The Beatles, I especially hear the influence of George Harrison (guitar licks), on the tracks – “Where Will You Go” and “What We Are.” Let me just say that these are definitely my two favorites on this album. “Every Story Told” has an Electric Light Orchestra sound, especially at the beginning with the synthesizer sounds. “Nothing” has an almost Native American and Middle East vibe sound and feel, (I cannot decide which it really sounds like), the vocals at the beginning of this tune explains my comparisons better. “Nothing” is definitely the heaviest of the songs found on this album, it is very catchy and very cool with Kip Wingers vocals stealing the show on this one. “Ghosts” is a Classical/Symphonic masterpiece of a musical work. Yes, an instrumental is found on this Kip Winger solo album and it is Classical and Symphonic. Need not worry, the music on “Ghosts” is not sadness saturated, what I mean is – it is not sad sounding or fast forward worthy. This is obviously, music that means a lot to Kip Winger, I do not mind at all if a Classical/Symphonic tune appears on this CD, for heaven sake, the music of “Ghosts” is not going to bite me.

I have to honestly say that I really dig this Kip Winger solo album. “From The Moon To The Sun” is as complete and honest of a diverse Rock musical effort as you will ever find or hear. Overall, the vocals of Kip Winger are superb, he convinced me that he can change harmony without flaws and be truly dynamic with his range on these songs. The only song on this album that I need to have grow on me is “Pages And Pages,” for some silly reason or another I think this song eventually will. I recommend Kip Winger and his brilliant release “From The Moon To The Sun” to all Rock fans and especially Winger fans who just need to own all things music from Kip. I will say this again, Hard Rock fans and Metal fans who want to chill it down once in awhile, here is your opportunity – what better way to mellow out than to listen to a guy like Kip Winger,17314782 who has without doubt, carved out his place in Heavy Metal history.

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