Maps of Music

Analog Man (2012)

Where the lyrics of Analog Man take you, and where it was really made.

Analog Man was Joe Walsh's first new solo studio album in 20 years, and it reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200 in the US.

Place unknown

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Analog Man: eleventh solo studio album by Joe Walsh
Walsh is a former member of the James Gang and lead guitarist for the Eagles
Released in mid 2012 on Fantasy in the United States and the United Kingdom
Release date: 5 June 2012
Contains ten new songs
First new solo studio album since 1992's Songs for a Dying Planet, 20 years earlier
Co-produced by Walsh and Jeff Lynne, who also plays various instruments and sings backing vocals
Tim Armstrong of the punk band Rancid co-wrote one song and plays guitar on it

Walsh toured with the Eagles and struggled with alcohol and drug addictions for many years
He then decided it was time to record a new album
His wife supported the project during the making of the album
She also gave Walsh Jeff Lynne's contact number to start the collaboration

Walsh met Lynne socially, and Lynne asked to hear his tracks
Lynne's comments and ideas led to work on both artists' material
Walsh said Lynne really helped him finish the album and ended up producing it
Guests include Ringo Starr, who plays drums on tracks 3 and 6
Former Barnstorm members Kenny Passarelli and Joe Vitale take part
Former James Gang members Jim Fox and Dale Peters take part
David Crosby and Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills & Nash sing backing vocals on track 7
The album includes a duet with Little Richard

American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, born November 20, 1947 in Wichita, Kansas.
Best known as a member of the rock band Eagles, joining in 1975 as guitarist and keyboardist, replacing Bernie Leadon.
Earlier played with local Ohio bands, then the James Gang (1968–1971), known for the hit "Funk 49".
Led Barnstorm (1971–1974) with Joe Vitale and Kenny Passarelli; "Rocky Mountain Way" reached No. 23 on the US Top 40.
Solo hits include "Life's Been Good" (No. 12 Billboard Hot 100) and "A Life of Illusion".
Rolling Stone ranked him No. 54 on its 2011 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Eagles in 1998.

Overall reception was mixed
Rolling Stone critic Jon Dolan wrote that life has been good to Walsh, noting he is sober and still has a good command of his guitar chops
Dolan singled out 'Funk 50' as a reinvention of the James Gang's 1970 'Funk #49', with new and carefree lyrics
AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that apart from a few lyrical references to an iPod and Walsh's recovery, the album could have come out in 1992
Erlewine credited Jeff Lynne for the record's sound: crisp, clean, hook-laden, and sequenced so tightly there is no room to breathe

Walsh's wife, Marjorie Bach, was the sister of Ringo Starr's wife, Barbara
Marjorie Bach also gave Walsh Jeff Lynne's contact number to make the album possible
Ringo Starr, the former Beatles drummer, played drums on two tracks
David Crosby and Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills & Nash sang backing vocals on track 7
Walsh has said Lynne began by giving comments and ideas, and then took the music in a direction Walsh would never have gone alone