Barnstorm

Barnstorm is the first album by Joe Walsh following his departure from the James Gang, released in 1972 (see 1972 in music). The core band on this album – Walsh, bassist Kenny Passarelli and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Joe Vitale – was also named Barnstorm. With this album, Walsh and Barnstorm moved away from the hard rock sound of the James Gang and explored a more folk-based, acoustic sound, influenced by such artists as James Taylor and Cros... more

Barnstorm is the first album by Joe Walsh following his departure from the James Gang, released in 1972 (see 1972 in music). The core band on this album – Walsh, bassist Kenny Passarelli and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Joe Vitale – was also named Barnstorm. With this album, Walsh and Barnstorm moved away from the hard rock sound of the James Gang and explored a more folk-based, acoustic sound, influenced by such artists as James Taylor and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Taking a cue from The Who's Pete Townshend, Walsh utilized the ARP Odyssey synthesizer to great effect on such songs as "Mother Says" and "Here We Go." The lone hard rock track on Barnstorm, "Turn To Stone," has become the best known song from the album, since Walsh later re-recorded it for his solo album So What. At the time of its release, Barnstorm was only moderately successful. For years, the only CD version available was an expensive Japanese import. Nonetheless, the album became a cult classic among Walsh fans. It... less