Maps of Music

You Bought It – You Name It (1983)

Where the lyrics of You Bought It – You Name It take you, and where it was really made.

Joe Walsh fired the producer of this album over a recording-truck plan, and more than half of it was then recorded in an old ballroom on Santa Catalina Island.

Key places

Old ballroom on Santa Catalina Island (1983)

Recording site The Casino Ballroom — Six of the album's ten tracks were recorded in an old ballroom on Santa Catalina Island during a 14-day session. The recording credits name The Casino Ballroom in Avalon. The point sits at the town centre, not at the exact building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Santa Barbara Sound Recording (1983)

Recording site Somewhere (Santa Barbara) — The recording credits also list Santa Barbara Sound Recording in Santa Barbara, California, as a place where the album was recorded. The point sits at the city centre, not at the exact studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh
• Released in mid 1983 on the Warner Bros. label
• Came out two years after Walsh's successful album There Goes the Neighborhood
• Walsh's second and final studio album to feature George "Chocolate" Perry as producer

Background

• After There Goes the Neighborhood succeeded, Walsh decided it was time to record its follow-up
• In July 1982 he asked Bill Szymczyk to produce the new album
• Walsh planned to rent a 2-inch 16-track non Dolby mobile truck to record the album; Szymczyk completely disagreed, and Walsh immediately fired him
• The album contains hard rock songs such as "I Can Play That Rock & Roll"
• It includes a cover of the Dick Haymes track "Love Letters"
• More introspective material includes "Class of '65" and a song titled "I.L.B.T.s"

Recording

• Work on the album began in late September 1982
• A 14-day recording session was held on Santa Catalina Island, outside Los Angeles
• Six of the album's ten tracks were recorded in an old ballroom on the island
• The other four tracks were recorded in a different studio
• The album was not finished until the end of 1982

Cover

• The cover shows the American aircraft carrier USS Yorktown at the Battle of Midway, hit by enemy bombers and appearing to be on fire
• Smoke comes from the funnel, caused by damage to the funnel uptakes and engineering spaces
• A person in a fireman suit has his feet up on the bench behind Walsh
• A person seated on the bench beside Walsh reads a book titled "Aircraft Carrier"
• On the back sleeve, Walsh holds a photograph of the fireman suit with the face cut out, so his own face shows through it
• The single "Space Age Whiz Kids" used the same image of Walsh

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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

• Most music critics received the album negatively, while some reviewers noted good points
• Robert Christgau, in a contemporary review, wrote that the album is "Joe Walsh's Comedy Album"
• Christgau singled out "Class of '65" as bathetic relief
• He said "I Can Play That Rock & Roll" isn't stupid, though it comes close

Reappraisal

• In a retrospective review for AllMusic, critic James Chrispell described the album as rather retro in feel
• Chrispell said the album harkens back to a wackier time, like its title
• Chrispell's verdict: good, but flawed

Records

• Peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200, less successful than Walsh's previous albums
• Walsh found moderate success with the single "Space Age Whiz Kids", about the pinnacle of the 1980s video arcade craze
• "Space Age Whiz Kids" peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100
• The same single peaked at number 21 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• An outtake from The Long Run (1979), "Told You So", features a guest appearance from former Eagles member Don Felder, who also co-wrote the track.
• Eagles members Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit provide backing vocals on the album.
• Former REO Speedwagon lead singer Mike Murphy and session guitarist Waddy Wachtel also contribute.
• Drummer Joe Vitale, from Walsh's former band Barnstorm, appears on the album.
• The album includes a song titled "I.L.B.T.s".

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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