Analog Man (album)
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 57/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [4] |
| Country Weekly | [5] |
| Drowned in Sound | 6/10[6] |
| Rolling Stone | [7] |
| American Songwriter | [8] |
Analog Man is the eleventh (and latest) studio solo album by the American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh, formerly of the James Gang and lead guitarist for the Eagles. The album was released in mid 2012, on the label Fantasy in the United States and the United Kingdom, It is his first studio solo album to be released since 1992's Songs for a Dying Planet, 20 years prior. The album features 10 new songs, and was co-produced by Jeff Lynne. The album also features contributions from the former Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr, the former Barnstorm members, Kenny Passarelli and Joe Vitale, former James Gang members, Jim Fox and Dale Peters, and also a duet with Little Richard.
The album peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart, as well as No. 4 on the top rock albums chart.
Production and recording
After touring with the Eagles and struggling with alcohol and drug addictions for many years, Walsh decided that it was time to record a new album while being supported by his wife, Marjorie Bach (sister of Ringo Starr's wife, Barbara). To pursue making the album, she also gave Walsh Jeff Lynne's contact number.[9] When Walsh was asked about his collaboration with co-producer Jeff Lynne, he said "Jeff and I met socially, and at one point he said, "Why don't you bring your tracks over sometime and we'll have a listen." That led to some comments and ideas that he had. Gradually, we worked on some stuff and checked out some of his stuff too. It ended up that he really helped me finish it up and ended up producing. He really put his stamp on my music and took it in a direction I never would have gone, and I'm really grateful to him."[10]
Critical reception
The album received mixed reviews, with review aggregator Metacritic assigning an overall rating of 57/100.[3] Reviewing the album in Rolling Stone, critic Jon Dolan wrote of the album "life's clearly been pretty good to Walsh: He's sober ("One Day at a Time"), loves his family ("Family") and still has good command of his guitar chops (check out "Funk 50," a reinvention of the James Gang's 1970 killer "Funk #49," complete with new, carefree lyrics)."[7]
Reviewing for AllMusic, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote of the album "apart from the odd lyrical reference to an iPod or Walsh's ongoing recovery, Analog Man sounds like it could have come out in 1992 and that's all due to Lynne, a man who makes a record in one particular way: crisp, clean, hook-laden, and sequenced so tightly there's no room to breathe."[4]
Track listing
All songs written by Joe Walsh, except as noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Analog Man" (Joe Walsh, Drew Hester, Gannin Arnold) | 4:02 |
| 2. | "Wrecking Ball" (Walsh, Tommy Lee James) | 3:45 |
| 3. | "Lucky That Way" (Walsh, James) | 4:14 |
| 4. | "Spanish Dancer" | 3:49 |
| 5. | "Band Played On" (Walsh, James) | 4:03 |
| 6. | "Family" (Walsh, James) | 4:21 |
| 7. | "One Day at a Time" | 3:18 |
| 8. | "Hi-Roller Baby" (Tim Armstrong) | 3:18 |
| 9. | "Funk 50" (re-written by Chase Grzenkowicz in 2015) | 1:57 |
| 10. | "India" | 3:44 |
| 11. | "Fishbone" | 3:48 |
| 12. | "But I Try" (Walsh, Jim Fox, Richard Penniman, Dale Peters) | 6:40 |
Vinyl LP Track listing
All songs written by Joe Walsh, except as noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Analog man Man" (Joe Walsh, Drew Hester, Gannin Arnold) | 4:02 |
| 2. | "Wrecking Ball" (Walsh, Tommy Lee James) | 3:45 |
| 3. | "Lucky That Way" (Walsh, James) | 4:14 |
| 4. | "Spanish Dancer" | 3:49 |
| 5. | "Funk 50" | 1:57 |
| 6. | "Band Played On" (Walsh, James) | 4:03 |
| 7. | "Family" (Walsh, James) | 4:21 |
| 8. | "One Day at a Time" | 3:18 |
| 9. | "Hi-Roller Baby" (Tim Armstrong) | 3:18 |
| 10. | "India" | 3:44 |
Personnel
- Joe Walsh – Guitars, vocals, bass guitar (track 10), drums (track 10), piano (track 6)
- Jeff Lynne – Drums, bass, keyboard, guitars, backing vocals
- Steve Jay – Percussion
- Bruce Sugar – Percussion, programming
- Ringo Starr – Drums (tracks 3, 5)
- Rick Rosas – Bass guitar (track 3)
- Kenny Passarelli – Bass guitar (track 5)
- Joe Vitale – Keyboards, sitar (track 5)
- Greg Leisz – Pedal steel guitar (track 3)
- Jay Dee Maness – Pedal steel guitar (track 3)
- Tommy Lee James – Backing vocals
- Graham Nash - Backing vocals (track 6)
- David Crosby – Backing vocals (track 6)
- Richard Davis – Synthesizer, programming (6)
- Tim Armstrong – guitar (track 8)
- Little Richard – Lead vocals (track 12), piano
- Dale Peters – bass (track 12)
- Jim Fox – drums, background vocals (track 12)
Production
- Producers: Jeff Lynne, Joe Walsh, Tim Armstrong
- Engineers and mixing: Steve Jay, Bruce Sugar, John Morrical, Jeff Lynne, Ken Hammon
- Mastering: Howie Weinberg & Dan Gerbarg
- Art direction: Jeri Heiden/Smog Design, Inc.
- Package design & Background photography: Ryan Corey/Smog Design, Inc.
- Management: Irving Azoff, Azoff Management, Los Angeles, CA
See also
References
- ^ "Analog Man - Single". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ "Lucky The Way - Single". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ a b "Analog Man review". Metacritic. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Analog Man". Allmusic. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ Morley, Steve (July 2, 2012). "Analog Man by Joe Walsh". Country Weekly. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ Lucas, Dan (June 13, 2012). "Joe Walsh – Analog Man". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
- ^ a b Dolan, Jon (June 5, 2012). "Analog Man". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ Horowitz, Hal (June 6, 2012). "Joe Walsh: Analog Man". American Songwriter. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-joe-walsh-on-his-new-lp-eagles-and-james-gang-plans-20120522#ixzz1vtrnenSm
- ^ "Analog Man: A Conversation With Joe Walsh". Huffington Post. May 23, 2012.