Joe Walsh has been on a bit of a roll as of late. He toured for his first solo album in almost 20 years, the critically acclaimed and Jeff Lynne produced Analog Man, then he hooked up with his old friends the Eagles and had a successful run of shoes celebrating the documentary, “The History of The Eagles”.  In recent interviews and in the movie Walsh talks of his post Eagle drug and alcohol addiction and that he eventually was unable to produce any music.

While the Eagles where on their 19 year vacation Walsh produced 6 solo albums. 1983’s You Bought It You Name it was by far the best. The album peaked at #48 on the Billboard album chart, a disappointment considering its predecessor, There Goes the Neighborhood reached #20, but “You Bought It..” had big stones. Walsh teamed with his friend, longtime producer and Eagle overseer, Bill Szymczyk. Szymczyk kept things simple by bringing in Walsh’s road band, bassist George “Chocolate” Perry and longtime friend, keyboardist, flutist and drummer Joe Vitale. Walsh also bought in guitar ringer Waddy Wachtel on rhythm and synth guitar. The results is fine, three cord rock and roll, emotional ballads and whimsical funk work outs.

The albums starts with a Who/Rolling Stone stomper, “I Can Play That Rock and Roll” (#13 on the rock charts). Waddy does his best Keith Richards impersonation and Walsh delivers a trademark slide solo. The next song is an Eagles song…well sort of. Don Felder wrote the music and contributed the dueling co-lead guitar to “Told You So”. Walsh delivers the howling solo guitar and lyrics. One can only imagine how it would have sounded if  Henley and Frey had contributed to the words and arrangement. Walsh is not known for his slower songs but has written a few middle of the road classics, the song “Here We Are Now” comes close to reaching his prior glory and features Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmidt on vocals. Side one concludes with the Vitale and Walsh tribute to boobies, “I.L.B.T.’s”!

Walsh had a minor pop hit (#52) on his hands with “Space Age Whiz Kids”. Still fun though a little dated. “Class of ‘65” should have been an Eagles song. Great harmony vocals, and effective acoustic lead guitar and lyrics which are pensive and subtle. The highlight of the album is the track “Shadows”. The track gives a glimpse at the darkness that was closing in on Walsh’s personal and professional life, while Walsh and Waddy’s guitars create a swirling tapestry. The album closes with “Themes From Island Weirdo’s” and piano, bass and guitar instrumental which is as relaxing as it is enjoyable.

Here’s hoping that Joe Walsh’s rumored blues project hits the musical heights of this 1983 gem.