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