Maps of Music

So What (1974)

Where the lyrics of So What take you, and where it was really made.

Several members of the Eagles sang backing vocals on this album before Walsh himself joined the band.

Key places

Recorded at Record Plant, Sausalito (1974)

Recording site Plant Recording (Sausalito) — The album credits list The Record Plant in Sausalito as one of its recording locations, alongside studios in Los Angeles and New York City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami (1974)

Recording site The Hit Factory Criteria — The album credits list Criteria Recording Studios in Miami, Florida as a recording location, the first place named among the album's studios. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• So What is the third studio album by the American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh
• Released in late 1974 on ABC-Dunhill Records
• Mixes hard rock songs such as "Welcome To The Club" with more introspective material such as "Help Me Through the Night" and "Song for Emma"
• Includes a remake of "Turn to Stone", a track originally from Walsh's debut album Barnstorm
• On some tracks, Eagles members Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Randy Meisner contribute backing vocals
• Over a year and a half after release, Walsh was drafted into the Eagles to replace founding member Bernie Leadon
• He played on the Eagles' best-selling studio album Hotel California (1976)

Background

• Two months before release, Walsh said the album would be an important one for him
• He did not want the album to sound like a set of outtakes from his previous record Smoker
• He wanted the album to show the difference between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper, in thoughts, vocals, playing and maturity
• He held back the release until that development was there, even though the record company pressed for it
• "Song for Emma" was written as a memorial for Walsh's almost three-year-old daughter
• She was killed in a car crash on April 1, 1974, four weeks shy of her third birthday
• Stevie Nicks later wrote a song for Walsh after visiting Emma's grave with him

Recording

• Recorded at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami, Florida
• Also recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito, in Los Angeles, and in New York City
• Some recording was also done by mobile truck at Joe Walsh's house
• Producers: Joe Walsh, John Stronach, Bill Szymczyk
• Engineers: Al Blazk, John Stronach, Bill Szymczyk
• Mixing by John Stronach and Bill Szymczyk
• Don Henley wrote the lyrics for "Falling Down"

Cover

• Photography by Joe Walsh and Lorrie Sullivan
• Design and artwork by Jimmy Wachtel

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

• Record World said "Time Out" has a combination of Walsh's tasty, extended guitar licks and his vital vocal and lyric abilities
• The review singled out the guitar playing and vocal work on the track

Reappraisal

• AllMusic critic Ben Davies, writing retrospectively, said the album features a number of classic Walsh tracks
• He noted a more polished version of "Turn to Stone", first heard on Barnstorm, delivered in a somewhat more riotous style
• Davies said most of the nine tracks feature solos of unquestionable quality in Walsh's usual rock style
• He wrote that the classic rock genre Walsh had defined on his earlier albums is present throughout
• He said the album pulls this off with the usual Walsh ability

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Producer Bill Szymczyk had a phrase written on the first pressings of the vinyl's run-out groove
• "Song for Emma" came from the death of Walsh's daughter in a car crash in April 1974
• The crash involved a driver who failed to stop at a stop sign and hit the Porsche driven by his then-wife, with Emma in the car
• Stevie Nicks wrote a song for Walsh after visiting Emma's grave with him
• Three members of the Eagles sang backing on the album, and the band members appeared on an album with the future Eagle for the first time

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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