Biography
Barnstorm was Joe Walsh's first solo effort after leaving the James Gang in the early seventies. This eclectic mix of haunting melodies, mellow acoustic and edgy electric guitar work remains one of Joe's most satisfying efforts, standing the test of time for over thirty years. Although a short-lived two-record effort, the quartet of Joe Walsh, Joe Vitale, Kenny Passarelli and Rocke Grace produced a catalogue of music that still inspires today. Highlights are the beautiful opener "Birdcall Morning", an alluring acoustic track that builds to a thoughtfully layered crescendo. One of the first recorded versions of "Turn To Stone" appears here in a raw and impactful form with Joe's outstanding licks punctuating the legacy of the original James Gang. "Mother Says" is another familiar Walsh favorite, and leads into a signature Walsh instrumental that carries on in nearly every studio album he created going forward. The haunting "Midnight Visitor" remains a personal favorite for playing around the campfire. This lineup of talented musicians, and here it should be said that Joe Vitale is one of the most underrated drummers in Rock history, produce beatifully crafted songs in an effort that is at once melodic, edgy, and inspirational. Barnstorm laid the foundation for Walsh's solo career, proving that he is so much more than just one of the greatest rock guitarists. Joe Walsh is as talented a musician, songwriter, and arranger as anyone in the annals of rock.
Recorded: March, 1972
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Joe Walsh - Synthesizer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer, Engineer
Barnstorm - Performer
Paul Harris - Piano, Keyboards
Kenny Passarelli - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Al Perkins - Guitar (Steel)
Chuck Rainey - Bass
Bill Szymczyk - Vocals, Producer, Engineer
Joe Vitale - Flute, Percussion, Drums, Keyboards, Vocals
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.