Song of the Day 11/17: James Gang, “Walk Away”

People think of the James Gang as Joe Walsh’s old band from Cleveland, but despite fronting the power trio and doing most of the songwriting during its 1968-71 heyday, Walsh was neither the first nor last to hold that job — the best-known was Tommy Bolin, who later joined Deep Purple — in a band drummer Jim Fox formed and named after himself. In fact, it was Walsh’s emergence as a guitar hero and songwriter that led to his departure after their 1971 LP “Thirds,” on which this track appeared. It was the highest-charting single of the band’s career, reaching No. 51 in Billboard.

Though the LP went gold, it didn’t break the band as the arena-rock headliners fans thought they should be. It remains a classic-rock standard, but the recorded version is rather tame compared with this live version. It won’t embed but if you like music, you’re gonna love this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo0vBdlWQs0

Walsh, of course, went on to greater fame after joining the Eagles, giving them some much-needed rock cred, while maintaining a solo career on the side. Ever since he joined, the band has played his tunes in concert, and “Walk Away” has been a frequent highlight. The most striking difference, besides the surfeit of guitars in the Eagles version, is between Don Henley’s anodyne drumming and Fox’s frenzied approach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41n_oo2VPig