"But Seriously, Folks..." by JOE WALSH – May 1978 Fourth Studio Album on Asylum Records featuring Joey Murcia on Second Guitar, Joe Vitale of Barnstorm on Drums, Keyboards and Flute, Jay Ferguson of Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne on Keyboards with Willie Weeks on Bass – Guests included Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Don Felder and Timothy B. Schmit of Eagles with Jody Boyer on Backing Vocals and Production by Bill Szymczyk (December 2012 US-Only Audio Fidelity 24 KT Gold Audiophile CD Reissue in Die-Cut Numbered Card Sleeve (5000 Copies) with Original Artwork and a Steve Hoffman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Life's Been Good..."

 

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*** This Review for 2012 Audio Fidelity CD – Steve Hoffman Remaster ***

 

On first listen - and certainly without giving your stereo some welly - this rather pricey and now long-deleted American-only Audiophile CD comes on as a tad underwhelming. But crank it and the Audio is absolutely gorgeous (no hiss, all muscle).

 

The name of Audio Engineer STEVE HOFFMAN is enough to have most Audiophile aficionados gripping their arthritic knees in too much excitement – and on the evidence of this so subtly brilliant transfer on a really well produced album – it's easy to hear why. To the Boat Weirdos and the display windows at a Second Hand Store and the Maserati that does 185...

 

US-only released 11 December 2012 – "But Seriously, Folks..." by JOE WALSH on Audio Fidelity AFZ 079 (Barcode 780014207922) is a '24 KT + Limited Numbered Edition' CD Reissue with a STEVE HOFFMAN Remaster that plays out as follows (35:53 minutes):

 

1. Over And Over [Side 1]

2. Second Hand Store

3. Indian Summer

4. At The Station

5. Tomorrow [Side 2]

6. Inner Tube

7. Theme For Boat Weirdos

8. Life's Been Good

Tracks 1 to 8 are his fourth studio LP "But Seriously, Folks..." – released 16 May 1978 in the USA on Asylum 6E-141 and June 1978 in the UK on Asylum K 53081. Produced by BILL SZYMCZYK – it peaked at No. 8 in the USA and No. 18 in the UK. 

 

Tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8 written by Joe Walsh – Track 4 co-written with Joe Vitale – Track 2 co-written with Mike Murphy of REO Speedwagon – Track 7 co-written with Bill Szymczyk, Jay Ferguson, Joe Vitale and Willie Weeks.

 

PLAYERS were:

JOE WALSH – Lead Guitar, Synths and Lead Vocals

JOEY MURCIA – Second Guitar

JAY FERGUSON – Keyboards

WILLIE WEEKS - Bass

JOE VITALE – Drums, Percussion, Synths and Flute and Backing Vocals on Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8

(Producer) BILL SZYMCZYK – Tambourine on "At The Station" and Backing Vocals on "Life's Been Good"

 

GUESTS were:

DON FELDER of Eagles – Pedal Steel Guitar on "Second Hand Store" and Guitar on "At The Station"

DON HENLEY, GLENN FREY and TIMOTHY B. SCHMIT of Eagles – Background Vocals (arranged by Frey) on "Tomorrow"

JODY BOYER – Backing Vocals on "Second Hand Store", "Indian Summer" and "Life's Been Good"

 

I am a self-confessed Joe Walsh worshipper - 1972's studio debut "Barnstorm", 1973's "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get", 1974's "So What" [1975 in the UK] and the live platter from 1976 "You Can't Argue With A Sick Mind" – are all albums that make me wobble on the inside (his three with The James Gang before he went solo are the same - reviewed the lot). So the idea that I could nab a genuinely real Audio Upgrade of his underrated fourth studio platter "But Seriously, Folks..." was always going to get my headspace in a dither.

 

Audio Fidelity AFZ 079 certainly looks the part - the die-cut outer card sleeve showing the jewel case beneath, itself numbered in gold on the rear (5000 copies), the 8-page booklet repro'ing the US LP labels on Asylum Records, the inner gatefold and even that rather pointless table-cloth inner too. Unfortunately there isn't any new liner notes apart from the AF credits – Mastered for compact disc by Steve Hoffman at Stephen Marsh Mastering – but as an audio experience - it rocks and is wonderfully detailed (crank it). To the music...

 

The tunes come across as simple at first – like the soft opener "Over And Over" and the gorgeous "Second Hand Store" (which fades out and in again towards the end of the song) – Eagle Don Felder playing an absolute blinder on Pedal Steel. But perceived as slight or not, they get their hooks into you. I mean was there anyone out there making a single like "Life's Been Good" on the A-side with "Theme For Boat Weirdos" on the flip-side in 1978? Not really...

 

Truthfully, I have had my problems with Audio Fidelity releases – the Randy Newman one, the Rod Stewart and Faces issues all felt decidedly ordinary to me – better Remasters available Universal and at a fraction of the cost. But here – you crank "Tomorrow" and those Eagles harmony vocals come soaring out – that fantastic break in the middle – the huge riffage in "Life's Been Good" rattling the cones (as it should). But that floating keyboard ditty called "Inner Tube" – even at one-minute and twenty-five seconds sounds more substantial too. "At The Station" and it's guitar chugging is superb and at 4:20 when it fades out and returns with the "Over And Over" guitar refrain, it is so clean yet ballsy. And the instrumental "Theme From Boat Weirdos" is just magnificent – Bass, Guitars, all those swirling keyboard and flute ideas from Walsh and Vitale – fabulous. 

 

You could argue that it wouldn't have taken a whole lot of effort to include the 4:35-minute single edit of the near nine-minute "Life's Been Good" as a Bonus Track – but no such luck. Man what a great tune, knowing, funny as fuck and still relevant. About five minutes in – when all those guitars start to crescendo – what a glorious sound Walsh and his band made – including the very silly flock of wah-wahs at the end (8:56 minutes).

 

"I make hit records, my fans they can't wait, they write me letters, tell me I'm great, just leave a message, maybe I'll call..." – Joe Walsh sang on the fabulous "Life's Been Good". He was/is a journeyman who had made it out of the insanity alive. And in 2022, he is still with us and never stops thanking the Universe and Friends for being able to play and enjoy life in sobriety – a fate that was not to be for far too many of his contemporaries.

 

I love Joe Walsh – this world-class guitarist and songwriter - always have and always will. And CD Remaster of "But Seriously, Folks..." is a great way to celebrate one of his undervalued albums from that halcyon decade – the Seventies. Joe for President folks (and I don't mean Biden)...

 

PS: Check out my review for (Audio Engineer) Kevin Gray's equally magnificent Audio Fidelity Remaster of JW's second studio album "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get". AFZ 059 was issued in 2009 and is also deleted, but in October 2022 – still remains the best version of a great album ("Rocky Mountain Way" and "Meadows")...

"Hand Sown…Home Grown / Silk Purse / Linda Ronstadt” by LINDA RONSTADT (2014 Beat Goes On 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...The Long Way Around..."

This stunning 21 July 2014 (UK released) 2CD set gives us Linda Ronstadt's three albums on Capitol Records between 1969 and 1972. There's a lot to get through so here's the details for Beat Goes on BGOCD 1156 (Barcode 5017261211569)...

Disc 1 (61:35 minutes):

1. Baby You've Been On My Mind

2. Silver Threads And Golden Needles

3. Bet No One Ever Hurt This Bad

4. A Number And A Name

5. The Only Mama That'll Walk The Line

6. The Long Way Around

7. Break My Mind

8. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

9. It's About Time

10. We Need A Whole Lot More Of Jesus (And A Lot Less Rock `n' Roll

11. The Dolphins

Tracks 1 to 11 are her debut solo album "Hand Sown...Home Grown" - released March 1969 in the USA on Capitol ST-208 and September 1969 in the UK on Capitol E-ST 208

12. Lovesick Blues

13. Are My Thoughts With You?

14. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?

15. Nobody's

16. Louise

17. Long Long Time

18. Mental Revenge

19. I'm Leavin' It All Up To You

20. He Dark The Sun

21. Like Is Like A Mountain Railway

Tracks 12 to 21 are her 2nd album "Silk Purse" - released March 1970 in the USA on Capitol ST-407 and August 1970 on Capitol E-ST 407 in the UK

Disc 2 (31:47 minutes):

1. Rock Me On The Water

2. Crazy Arms

3. I Won't Be Hangin' Round

4. I Still Miss Someone

5. In My Reply

6. I Fall To Pieces

7. Ramblin' Round

8. Birds

9. Faithful

10. Rescue Me

Tracks 1 to 10 are her 3rd album "Linda Ronstadt" - released January 1972 in the USA on Capital SMAS-635 and April 1972 on Capitol EA-ST 635 in the UK

The outer card wrap is now a feature for Beat Goes On and gives the whole shebang a very classy feel. The chockers 24-page booklet features detailed histories by noted musicologist JOHN TOBLER with reproductions of the original liner notes, period photos and musician credits. The sound quality is truly superlative (Andrew Thompson 2014 remasters - tapes licensed from Universal) - incredibly clean and alive. Fans will love this.

The first two LPs have the feel of an artist trying to hit that sweet spot somewhere between Traditional Country and Country-Rock and not quite getting there. Her voice is fabulous on Randy Newman's "Bet No One Ever Hurt This Bad" and Mickey Newbury's "Are My Thoughts With You" - the same on Paul Siebel's "Louise". She goes full fiddle country with the bitter Mel Tillis post relationship classic "Mental Revenge" and vocal Americana on "Life Is Like A Mountain Railway". The sound quality is superb throughout - vocal, Dobro and mandolin.

"Rock Me On The Water" opens her 1972 album and this Jackson Browne cover (from his "Saturate Before Use" 1972 debut album) is the first real sight of a template that would serve her for decades to come - covers of great Rock songs by quality songwriters known and unknown. I love the keyboard slink of "I Won't Be Hangin' Round" (an Eric Kaz song) and "In My Reply" is a rare take on a Livingston Taylor song (James Taylor's brother). The whole album is everything the first two should have been.

But better than that - her 3rd self-titled album is famous for being an early Country-Rock classic and for bringing together THE EAGLES who were at the time dispersed between the bands SHILOH and LONGBRANCH PENNYWHISTLE while doubling -up as Ronstadt's touring band. Randy Meisner, Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon play and harmonize of six of the tracks and would release their debut album later that year with Ronstadt's blessings. Other notable contributions to the record are Herb Pedersen on Banjo and National Steel with Sneaky Pete on Steel Guitar. Three of the songs on Side 2 are `live' - the Hank Cochran classic "I Fall To Pieces", a truly beautiful cover of Neil Young's "Birds" and a boppin version of Fontella Bass's 1965 Checker Records Soul Classic "Rescue Me" (which finishes the album on a high).

I've really enjoyed re-hearing these records - and especially in such wonderful clarity and with liner notes by someone who knows what's what.

Yet another top quality remaster/reissue by Beat Goes On - and I can only hope they can get access to her Asylum Records catalogue and deliver it with the same sonic results.

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is CLASSIC 1970s ROCK - an E-Book with over 260 entries and 2450 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

"Home Free/Souvenirs" by DAN FOGELBERG - 1972 and 1974 Debut and Second Studio Albums featuring Guests Joe Walsh, Eagles (Henley, Meisner and Frey), Graham Nash, Members of Stephen Stills' Manassas and more (May 2006 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Compilation - 2LPs onto 2CDs - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...When Faced With The Past...The Strongest Man Cries…"

Dan Fogelberg’s particular way with a melody has always tugged at my heart strings – and this genuinely classy Beat Goes On 2CD reissue of his first two albums from the early Seventies – only hammers home that great way he had with words about hurt and love – and all of it wrapped up in a fiendishly hooky Eagles-like Country Rock tune. Here are the hickory groves, changing horses and songs from half mountain…

UK released May 2006 - "Home Free/Souvenirs" by DAN FOGELBERG on Beat Goes On BGOCD 709 (Barcode 5017261207098) offers two albums from 1972 and 1974 (USA) remastered onto two CDs and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (46:58 minutes):

1. To The Morning

2. Stars

3. More Than Ever

4. Be On Your Way

5. Hickory Grove

6. Long Way Home ((Live In The Country) [Side 2]

7. Looking For A Lady

8. Anyway I Love You

9. Wysteria

10. The River

Tracks 1 to 9 are his debut album “Home Free” issued in the USA in October 1972 on Columbia KC 31751 and 1974 in the UK on Epic S EPC 31847 (re-issued in July 1976 on Epic 80697 in the UK).

[Note: earlier CD issues of this album have tended to use a ‘remixed’ version of the album that was done in the Eighties. This CD uses the original master tape - so is the album as heard on release].

Disc 2 (43:29 minutes):

1. Part Of The Plan

2. Illinois

3. Changing Horses

4. Better Change

5. Souvenirs

6. The Long Way

7. As The Raven Flies [Side 2]

8. Song From Half Mountain

9. Morning Sky

10. (Someone’s Been) Telling You Stories

11. There’s A Place In The World For A Gambler

Tracks 1 to 11 are his 2nd LP released December 1974 in the USA on Full Moon Records PC 35872 and March 1975 in the UK on Epic EPC 80623.

His debut is good rather than being great but already had his melody strengths on show - a sort of singer-songwriter lone Eagles persona. Tracks like the piano opener “To The Morning” and the largely acoustic “Be On Your Way” are melancholic but also beautiful in their way. It’s been years since I first heard these songs (now sounding crystal clear) and a full forty years plus - it’s impressive stuff (like a male Judee Sill). But things took a quantum leap with LP number two...

With guest appearances on illustrious albums like “So What” by Joe Walsh, “Late For The Sky” by Jackson Browne and “Peace On You” by Roger McGuinn of The Byrds – Dan Fogelberg was already moving in elevated circles when he went to make the gorgeous “Souvenirs” album. Packed with catchy tunes and even a chart hit or two - this hugely polished effort put the album into the Top 50 charts in late 1974. “Part Of The Plan” was even lifted as a 7” single and did reasonably well.

Produced by JOE WALSH - “Souvenirs” featuring most of the Eagles (Henley, Meisner, Frey), Graham Nash, Kenny Passarelli, Russ Kunkel, Joe Lala and Al Perkins - the musician credits reads like a whose who of what was hot at the time. In the USA it was issued as a gatefold sleeve but in the UK as a single sleeve with a lyric insert. This CD reproduces the inner American artwork (a painting of his) and the lyrics for both LPs. The John Tobler liner notes are excellent (features an interview with Joe Walsh).

But the big news for me is the sound. I had “Souvenirs” on a 2007 Japanese remaster and 5” card repro sleeve - and that was good - this remaster is light years better. ANDREW THOMPSON did the remaster at Sound Mastering in London (he handles large numbers of BGO’s reissues) and his transfer here has brought out Walsh’s accomplished original production values. You can hear the squeaking of strings, air around the instruments - even the normally muddied “Part Of The Plan” sounds more open. There are so many goodies on here - a plaintive “The Long Way” and the gorgeous title track “Souvenirs” (lyrics from it title this review). “Song From Half Mountain” where he plays all the instruments himself is so pretty and the chugging Eagles Rock of “Someone’s Been telling You Stories”. “Changing Horses” and “Better Change” still stand up as great melodies - only the countrified “Morning Sky” lets the side down. All in all - moving stuff.

I posted a note on Fogelberg’s website when he sadly succumbed to cancer in December 2007 - yet another teenage hero of mine gone to the great gig in the sky.

“There’s a song in the heart of a woman...that only the truest of loves can release. Set it free...” These lyrics from the album finisher “There’s A Place In The World For A Gambler” get me to this day - nearly 40 years after the event. My younger sister Cathy even described him once as ‘beautiful’.

Well - now Dan is free - and this beautiful-sounded 2CD does his memory proud...

"Karla Bonoff/Restless Nights/Wild Heart Of The Young" by KARLA BONOFF - 1977, 1979 and 1982 Albums on Columbia Records (November 2013 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation - 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sings Me Sweet Things..."

Like most people I came to Karla Bonoff and her affecting songs via Linda Ronstadt. I'd loved both "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me" and "If He's Ever Near" - Bonoff originals issued as singles by Linda in the USA. This excellent 2CD set is a great place to look for more...

UK released November 2013 – "Karla Bonoff/Restless Nights/Wild Heart Of The Young" by KARLA BONOFF on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1126 (Barcode 5017261211262) features 3 albums Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (74:20 minutes):

1. Someone To Lay Down Beside Me

2. I Can't Hold On

3. Lose Again

4. Home

5. Faces In The Wind

6. Isn't It Always Love [Side 2]

7. If He's Ever Near

8. Flying High

9. Falling Star

10. Rose In The Garden

Tracks 1 to 10 are her debut solo LP "Karla Bonoff" released in September 1977 on Columbia PC 34672 in the USA and January 1978 in the UK on CBS S 82455.

11. Trouble Again

12. Restless Nights

13. The Letter

14. When You Walk In The Room

15. Only A Fool

16. Baby Don't Go

17. Never Stop Her Heart

18. Loving You

19. The Water Is Wide

Tracks 11 to 19 are her 2nd album "Restless Nights" released in September 1979 on Columbia JC 35799 in the USA and January 1980 on CBS S 83587 in the UK

Disc 2 (37:56 minutes):

1. Personally

2. Please Be The One

3. I Don't Want To Miss You

4. Even If

5. Just Walk Away

6. Gonna Be Mine

7. Wild Heart Of The Young

8. It Just Takes One

9. Dream

Tracks 1 to 9 are her 3rd album "Wild Heart Of The Young" released in April 1982 on Columbia FC 37444

The card wrap pictures all 3 albums and the detailed 16-page booklet outlines session details and a history of her career and associations (John Tobler liner notes). Quite apart from Ronstadt, the albums are littered with the West Coast session mafia - Russ Kunkle, Waddy Watchel, the Eagles, Andrew Gold, Steve Forman, Leland Sklar, Joe Walsh, and long-time producer and friend Kenny Edwards. ANDREW THOMPSON at Sound Performances in London did the remastering and they're beautifully clear and full of presence - reflecting the superb original production values.

The debut album is probably the best with gems like "Home" (lyrics above), "Faces In The Wind" and "Falling Star" as well as the fabulous "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me". In fact as the tunes and ace musicianship go softly by - you're hit over and over by her affecting song writing - rather like a female Jackson Browne on a good day. You could just imagine the Eagles recording an entire album of her songs and making them sound like their own compositions. Bonnie Raitt covered "Home" on her April 1977 LP "Sweet Forgiveness" and Warners even released it as a UK 7" single on K 16953 in May 1977 to promote the album. In the meantime Linda Ronstadt arguably took "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me" to even greater heights. She featured it on her April 1976 album "Hasten Down The Wind" (a top 3 record in the USA) and the song turned up as a US and UK 45 in late 1976 and early 1977 (it was also featured on her May 1980 "Greatest Hits Vol.2"). Bonoff is like this – a songsmith – picked up on by others who know a winning melody when they hear one. Her self-titled debut rose to No. 52 on the US Pop LP charts and had a 40-week run – but it's unfairly forgotten now and shouldn't be.

The second and third albums saw the tunes drop too many times into terrible late-Seventies Neil Diamond schlock territory. Jackie De Shannon provides backing vocals on her own song "When He Walked Into The Room" and another winner is her beautiful cover of the Traditional "The Water Is Wide" (James Taylor does a gorgeous version of it on his "New Moon Shine" album from 1991). The polished "Wild Heart..." from 1982 is unfortunately all production and too few actual tunes ("Just Takes One" is a lovely exception with nice slide guitar from Joe Walsh). And Kenny Edwards and Andrew Gold (long-time collaborators with Bonoff) have their talent and presence on almost every track (both are now sadly passed on).

It might not be everyone's idea of heaven - but those languid melodies I've mentioned will affect you. If you're a Karla Bonoff fan - this superlative sounding and well-presented reissue is a must own...especially for that lovely debut...