Customer Reviews

James Gang Rides Again

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was one of those '70s albums that was really 2 completely different mini-albums. For those who don't date back to vinyl, you need to know that the album changes so dramatically between tracks 4 & 5 because 1 - 4 comprised side 1, while 5 - 9 were side 2. Most people remember the hard-rock-heaven of side 1, with Funk 49 through The Bomber medley. When it was announced that Joe Walsh would replace one of the Eagles, my college roomie expressed astonishment -- until I made him listen to side 2, where Joe's wistful common ground became more apparent.

Both of the mini-albums were/are classics that really exceeded all of Joe Walsh's later work. I blew tons-o-dough for years hoping for another "Rides Again," but Joe never reached these lofty peaks again, as much fun as his solo stuff could be.

Here's an interesting (well, to me at least) historical/trivia note that none of the other reviews have mentioned. In the first pressing of James Gang Rides Again, Walsh's guitar solo worked in an extended bit from Ravel's Bolero, fully credited. Extremely well played, & it worked well in the medley. Unfortunately, Maurice Ravel apparently provided in his will that Bolero could only be performed in full orchestration. All later pressings edited the Bolero section out. A few fortunates received albums where the deletion had been made in the album cover, but not in the album itself.

THE JAMES GANG RIDES AGAIN is a wonderfully varied second album by the James Gang. The classic "Funk #49" is a get-your-act-together warning that could teach party animals and addicted persons a thing or two, but there are plenty of gems here. This and 15 GREATEST HITS are the first James Gang albums you should purchase, if you haven't already done so.

My very first album. I was in 3rd grade and listening to this and Alice Cooper when most of my friends were still into the Monkeys, etc. (Okay okay, I liked them too). Every song on it was and is a classic. From the opening hammond organ on Tend My Garden which I've manage to re-work into about a dozen other songs, to my all time favorite guitar song Bomber, I loved them all. And other than Double Trouble, Fox and Peters were my all time favorite hard rock rythym section. The base knew how to walk, and the constant fills and frills of the drums never got dull. I saw the Eagles Hell Freezes over tour. And as great a show as it was, the whole Tacoma Dome went nuts when Joe took over in the middle of the show with his solo work. Then things went crazier from there when Joe went into this killer little lead and all of a sudden slammed into the all time classic, opening lick of Funk 49. People of all ages were screaming through that one! I've beens listening to this album since before I was 10 yrs old, and it is still my all time favorite. In fact it was Joe's version of Reville's Mother Goose Suite and Bolero from the original Bomber that eventually got me into classical music. The only thing at all I can say bad about this cd, is the fact that the all time greatest album jacket was for some reason left off of it! Three long hairs on choppers, in the snow, shot in black and white. What the hell were they thinking with that omission? Oh well, Smokin Joe's still my fave though I listen to a little of everything. If you're younger and are curious about "old school" rock and roll from the 1970's, buy this cd post haste. I swear to God, when/if I'm 80 yrs old, I'll be playing air guitar to this one, cranked up to the max!

Is it just me or did Joe Walsh do most of his better work while he was in the James Gang? I just got this album today and allready I love it. Part of it's electric, part of it's mellow. All of it is great. Not only is it a great sounding album, but it also has a damn nice cover. Simple, but nice.

Hadn't heard James Gang's music since the early 70's. Listening to the song samples over the net almost brought me to tears. They don't make music like this anymore! Those were the days of being a kid and living.

I have danced to, partied to, tripped to and just quietly listened to this album since it first came out. Yes, one of all my time oldie favorites that I would never get tired of listening to, except for......

The recording quality of this cd. Seems flat, over compressed maybe? Listening to "Rides Again" used (LP days) to be a roller coaster ride. Now it seems like going down the interstate with the cruise control on. I assure you, the fault is not my playback equipment.

Damn shame, if it wasn't for the nostalgia trip, it'd be a struggle to give it 2 stars.

I was in high school when this album was released and a copy was added to my collection. I would like to see this album released on CD in remastered form. Anyone notice the similarities between Joe's guitar in Tend My Garden and Tom Scholtz's guitar in More Than A Feeling by Boston? I saw Joe with Barnstorm and his equipment crates still had the James Gang stenciled on the sides. This is a classic album and I still own a copy on vinyl.

Just the best James Gang album. Just the album cover is slightly better. Get it you will love it.

I can remember when I was 16 years old in 1973 and heard this album for the first time. It was a great album and still is.. Side one takes you on a journey of electric guitar melodies, rock riffs and energy and side two melows to acoustic and syphony ballads. Very well produced and written. They dont make music like this any more..

James Gang is a classic. Wish thatthey would come back