But Seriously, Folks...

"But Seriously, Folks..."
Studio album by Joe Walsh
Released	May 16, 1978
Genre	Rock, hard rock
Length	35:24
Label	Asylum
Producer	Joe Walsh, Bill Szymczyk
Joe Walsh chronology
You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind (1976) But Seriously, Folks... (1978) The Best of Joe Walsh (1978)

"But Seriously, Folks..." is the fourth studio album by Joe Walsh, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music). It included the satirical song "Life's Been Good". The original eight-minute album version of this track was edited down to 4½ minutes for single release and this became Walsh's biggest solo hit, peaking at #12 on the Billboard chart.

The album also features the other four members of the Eagles—which Walsh had joined two years earlier—as well as singer-guitarist Jay Ferguson, a former member of the group Spirit (who co-wrote one track on the album), drummer Joe Vitale from Walsh's former band Barnstorm, and bassist Willie Weeks.

Original pressings of this record had text engraved on the carry-out grooves:

Side 1: Luncheon Counter of the Deli Kind

Side 2: Call It In the Air!

The leadout track after Life's Been Good has a recording of "A flock of wah-wahs" which is a minute of gibberish wah-wahs.

Walsh ran a mock campaign for President in 1980; one of the planks of his platform was to make "Life's Been Good" the new national anthem.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Writing for Allmusic, critic Al Campbell wrote of the album "As far as studio albums go, But Seriously Folks is Joe Walsh's most insightful and melodic... It captures a reflective song cycle along the same thematic lines of Pet Sounds, only for the '70s... The only way But Seriously Folks could have been improved, was to include "In the City," essentially solo Walsh, which unfortunately ended up on The Long Run instead."

Track listing

All songs by Joe Walsh, except where noted.

1. "Over and Over" – 4:53
2. "Second Hand Store" (Murphy, Walsh) – 3:35
3. "Indian Summer" – 3:03
4. "At the Station" (Joe Vitale, Walsh) – 5:08
5. "Tomorrow" – 3:39
6. "Inner Tube" – 1:25
7. "Theme from Boat Weirdos" (Jay Ferguson, Bill Szymczyk, Vitale, Walsh, Willie Weeks) – 4:43
8. "Life's Been Good" – 8:04

Personnel

• Joe Walsh – vocals, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizer
• Jody Boyer – backing vocals
• Don Felder – guitar, Steel guitar, backing vocals
• Glenn Frey – backing vocals
• Don Henley – backing vocals
• Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals
• Jay Ferguson – keyboards, vocals.
• Joey Murcia – guitar
• Bill Szymczyk – tambourine, vocals, background vocals
• Joe Vitale – drums, percussion, keyboards, synthesizer, flute, vocals.
• Willie Weeks – bass guitar

Production

• Producers: Joe Walsh, Bill Szymczyk
• Engineers: Ed Mashal, Bill Szymczyk
• Mastering: Ted Jensen
• Remastering: Bill Szymczyk
• Design: Jimmy Wachtel
• Photography: Lorrie Sullivan, Jimmy Wachtel

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1978	Billboard 200	8

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1978	"Life's Been Good"	Billboard Hot 100	12