Maps of Music

But Seriously, Folks... (1978)

Where the lyrics of But Seriously, Folks... take you, and where it was really made.

A satirical song from this album, 'Life's Been Good', became Walsh's biggest solo hit, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Key places

Bayshore Studios in Coconut Grove (1978)

Recording site Bayshore (Coconut Grove) — The album was recorded at Bayshore Studios in Coconut Grove, Florida. Bill Szymczyk produced and engineered the sessions with Ed Mashal as engineer. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh
• Released in mid-1978 on the Asylum label
• Includes the satirical song 'Life's Been Good'
• The album version runs 8:04, or 8:57 on CD releases with a speech at the end
• Single edit runs 4:35
• Track listing: all songs written and composed by Joe Walsh, with additional writers noted

Background

• Walsh had joined the Eagles two years before this album
• The other four Eagles members also appear on the album
• Jay Ferguson, a former member of Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne, plays keyboards and co-wrote one track
• Joe Vitale, from Walsh's former band Barnstorm, plays drums and other instruments
• Willie Weeks plays bass

Recording

• Recorded at Bayshore Studios in Coconut Grove, Florida
• Bill Szymczyk produced, engineered and digitally remastered the album
• Ed Mashal worked as engineer
• Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York City

Cover

• Jimmy Wachtel credited for album design and cover photography
• Lorrie Sullivan credited for sleeve photography

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• 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.

Recognition

• Eagles won five Grammy Awards in total, with Walsh a member of the group.
• Earned an honorary music degree from Kent State University in 2001.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Robert Christgau in The Village Voice: Walsh has a gift for tuneful guitar schlock, but most songs fall far short of the irreverent style of 'Life's Been Good'
• Cash Box praised the single 'Over and Over' for its rhythmic breaks, organ backing and slide guitar solo by Walsh

Reappraisal

• AllMusic's Al Campbell called it Walsh's most insightful and melodic album
• Campbell described it as a reflective song cycle along the same thematic lines as Pet Sounds, only for the '70s

Records

• 'Life's Been Good' became Walsh's biggest solo hit and peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album was conceived while work on The Long Run was underway, according to the Italian article.
• Producer Bill Szymczyk said the album was written in about two weeks aboard a yacht.
• The album version of 'Life's Been Good' was edited down to 4:35 for the single release.
• The Discogs notes say one track was recorded aboard a 72-foot four-track boat named Endless Seas.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com · it.wikipedia.org

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