Yer' Album

If there is one era of Joe Walsh's musical career that is severely underrated, it would have to be his years with the James Gang. Before going solo or joining the Eagles, this is where Walsh did lead vocals. It's a shame that the James Gang tends to get little recognition outside their hits Walk Away and Funk #49, because this era features some of the best stuff that Walsh ever recorded. The Gang's debut LP, Yer Album, was released in 1969. Read on for my review of it.

This album captures the James Gang in their prime - before they went mainstream and focused on scoring hit singles. The band's sound stayed excellent from their formation right up to their final days, but it's their debut that captures the band in their finest hour. The band kicks things off with the ever-so-bizzare introduction. This song is strange in that it uses classical music excerpts! Weird stuff, but it sure is an attention-getter! A slower, more melodic track entitled Take A Look Around comes next. The fact that this song never became a big hit for the band is just insulting, because this is a damn fine song. Third up is Funk #48, not to be confused with the more popular Funk #49. This is an excellent jam that truly captures the band in their prime. No, it's not as popular as the similarly-titled track from a later album, but it's equally excellent. Bluebird is a cover of an old Buffalo Springfield, and an excellent one too. It's more electric than the original version, which was more on the acoustic side, but solid nonetheless. Walsh's vocals really shine here. The next track is Lost Woman. This is blues-based rock at its finest. Drummer Jim Fox even serves up a drum solo for your listening pleasure! Stone Rap is an interesting little transitional piece. Not spectacular, but still worth listening to. The next track, Collage, is country-flavored rock reminiscent of the slower tunes that Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young recorded. I Don't Have The Time is straight-up classic hard rock, remiscent of the Who's stuff from the late sixties and early seventies (ironic, considering the band would be an opening act for that band during an early seventies tour!) The weirdest song on the album would have to be Wrapcity In English, which features orchestral work. Surprisingly, this only makes the album stronger! Fred is another excellent tune as only the James Gang could do, and the closer, Stop, is a song that seems to get a lot of praise from people, and why not? It's a damn fine closing song. Is the James Gang's debut their finest hour? I think so.

This album was remastered and rereleased circa 2000, and I must say, the remastering really does make a difference. It's tough to take music recorded thirty years prior and make it sound better, but the record company manages to do just that with their James Gang remasters! I wish they would have added a few new extra features/bonus tracks, but I'm not complaining.

What more can be said? Yer Album is a James Gang masterpiece, and in my mind the finest material that the band ever recorded (although many of the fans would beg to differ.) The fact that this album is underrated fills me with rage, because this really is excellent material. If you want classic rock that almost certainly won't fail to please, or maybe you just want to check out Joe Walsh's early days, don't hesitate to purchase this or any other James Gang release.