Customer Reviews

The Definitive Collection

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the definitive Joe Walsh-collection. The double-disc "Look At What I Did" is simply too much for anyone but the very serious fan (and the very serious fan probably has Joe's studio albums and doesn't need a compilation album).

But this one gets it right. Fifteen songs culled from Walsh's solo career, as well as his James Gang-days (although a real James Gang-lover should probably go get their Greatest Hits in addition to this album).

And all the best and best-known songs are here: "Walk Away", "Turn To Stone", "Help Me Trough The Night", "All Night Long", "Life's Been Good" and ten more. No filler at all, and even though some fans could probably point to one or two tracks that definately should have been here, this will satisfy almost everyone who doesn't want to invest in the original albums.

As a longtime fan of Joe Walsh's work, this is clearly the best sampler for those looking to explore the guitarist's catalogue. Yet, completists will want to pick this up because of the inclusion of the complete version of "The Bomber" -- with the previously-editied Bolero in the middle. Also of note, it includes Joe's last great song, "The Confessor" (whereas the rest of that album, The Confessor, was rather mediocre) and the studio version of "All Night Long." In terms of compilation, this is far preferable to the disappointing Look What I Did (which suffers from questionable song selections, particularly from the 80s-period on).

Personally, I would have chosen a couple of different tracks -- "County Fair" from So What, for example -- but all of Joe's 70s-period albums from Barnstorm up to But Seriously Folks are well worth picking up anyway.

This compact disc has almost all of the best tunes that Joe Walsh made during his period with the James Gang through his days with Barnstorm and his solo career, not including any of the music he made with the Eagles. I'm giving this compilation four stars instead of five due to one glaring omission: "In the City" from the Warriors soundtrack.

One reviewer claims falsely that "In the City" is an Eagles song. If you check out the soundtrack cd for the film "The Warriors" you can confirm that the song is credited to Joe Walsh, not the Eagles. The reviewer may be confused as the Eagles covered "In the City" on their "The Long Run" album (after Joe Walsh's solo version) - either that or he was smoking the same stuff as the Amazon editorial reviewer who claims that this compilation includes the song "Bolero" (see above).

Actually, "In The City" was first released by Joe solo - NOT the Eagles - on "The Warriors" Original Soundtrack. (So perhaps SOME reviewers might want to get THEIR facts straight before being so rude!) And I agree that its omission here really makes this release a 4 1/2 stars since this is the perfect vehicle for re-releasing the song. Otherwise, you have to buy the "Warriors" soundtrack in order to hear Joe's ORIGINAL version.

A few other notable omissions I would have liked to seen here - "At the Station," "Over and Over," for example - but it's still hard to quibble with the selection. This collection deserved 2 cd's. Maybe the next "Best of" release will get it exactly right. But until then, all of the songs that are included are all first rate. A great introduction to a truly underrated artist; and if you want more, check out the rest of Joe's catalouge. (Amazon has several of them CHEAP!) You'll be glad you did.

When people talk about guitar legends they usually talk about Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Santana, but rarely do they mention the guitar heroics of one of the best-Joe Walsh. Maybe it was his self styled "Ordinary Average Guy" image or some of his jokey lyrics that made critics overlook him in the pantheon of rock greats, but he was definately the people's choice. Joe Walsh is the coolest and this collection rocks the house right out of the gate with "Funk #49" and continues with more groovy tunes from his days with The James Gang through his classic solo hits like "All Night Long", "Life Of Illusion" and the immortal "Life's Been Good". He could get heavy too, like on "The Confessor" which was one of the more ominous sounding rock songs coming out of radios in 1984. Also, in the middle of "The Bomber" he does his own take on "Bolero" that is just as magnificent as Beck's {or Ravel's). Walsh's humor and guitar virtuosity are all well spotlighted here on his greatest performances. A must have for any Classic Rock fan!

Joe Walsh's adventurous songcrafting and soloing as well as some of his own character shine brightly on this disc. Not every song on here is a "hit," but each one is a classic. Yes, even "Ordinary Average Guy." At least I'm admitting that I like it.

The reason why most would want to buy this is because it has "Funk 49," "Walk Away," "Rocky Mountain Way," "Life's Been Good," and "A Life of Illusion," but there's a lot more in store here. For starters, try "The Bomber." Seven minutes of pure rock nirvana, all coming out of three instruments and Walsh's vocals opening and closing the song. This track alone is a reason to buy this disc. Then there's "Meadows," which aside from it's bizarre opening (sounds to me like someone else used the water while Walsh was in the shower!) is driven by a simple but beautiful riff that draws you in. "The Confessor" is probably the best piece Walsh created in the 80s aside from "Illusion" (Waslh recently joked on an XM radio show that he was in outer space during the 80s).

Not many cons to site, other than the fact that including "In the City" would've been fitting since he gained a bit of a following from the song when it was included in The Warriors, but we'll save that for an Eagles collection.

Classic rock freaks and guitarists should pick this up. No disappointments here.

THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is a terrific career-spanning single-disc retrospective of Joe Walsh's career from the James Gang's second album up through 1991's "Ordinary Average Guy." Although several songs drag a bit, there are enough prime cuts here to make this a five-star release.

Although I think Angus Young of AC/DC is one of the best guitarist of all time, I like Joe Walsh better. To me Joe Walsh combines his talented vocals and guitar playing ability to create some of the best music in 70s Rock. He truely in "Life's Been Good" proves to be "the best guitarist of all time". If you want just a taste of Joe Walsh, get this cd and he'll prove to you that he's more than what you thought, and leave you wantin more than just a taste. He rocks hard. Long live the greatest guitarist the Eagles ever had.

Weather you are a fan of Joe Walsh or not, you should be able to recognize some of these titles. As far as the song titles you aren't familiar with, I think you will be surprised. Buy this album and I think you will realise what an underrated talent he is. Well worth it.

By the way, am I the only one that thinks Jon Bon Jovi ripped off Joe Walsh's "The Confessor" when he wrote "Dead or Alive?" How did "Dead or Alive" ever become a hit single? It pales in comparison to "The Confessor." Anyway, enough ranting, just buy this album.

"Ashes, The Rain and I" was missing, but "The Bomber" is here. Healthy selection of James Gang and classic 70s solo material (pick up "Barnstorm", "The Smoker You Drink", "But Seriously Folks", and "There Goes The Neighborhood" by any means neccessary), and the 80s-90s era (if you were listening to Howard Stern before he went national, you know why) is relegated to 3 songs at the tail end. Joe did a lot of these songs with the Eagles on the "Farewell I" tour.

But it's a shame that Warners doesn't license out 2 essential Joe songs to this collection, "In The City" and "Pretty Maids All in a Row" to balance out the retrospective as if the only reasons to buy "Hotel California" and "The Long Run" are just for THOSE songs alone. They do have the greatest selling album ever, I think that they could afford to just give MCA/Universal these songs. So BUY this one and (assuming you already have the 2 Eagle songs I mentioned) BUY "Best of James Gang", put these and "Ashes" on your "personal backup copy" for the perfect Joe mix until they can make things right.

But even without doing that, the collection is great, and all the songs are essential Joe in their own right.