Barnstorm (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Barnstorm
Type = Album
Artist = Joe Walsh and Barnstorm


Released = 30 September, 1972
Recorded = March, 1972
Genre = Rock
Length = 37:48
Label = ABC/Dunhill
Producer = Bill Szymczyk, Joe Walsh
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:o9nyxddbjols~T1 link]
Last album =
This album = "Barnstorm"
(1972)
Next album = "The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get"
(1973)

"Barnstorm" is the first album by Joe Walsh following the disbanding of 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." Ironically, the lone hard rock track on "Barnstorm", "Turn To Stone," has become the best known song from the album; Walsh later re-recorded it on 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 was recently reissued in the U.S. on CD by Hip-O Select in January 2006.

Track listing

#"Here We Go" (Joe Walsh) – 4:58
#"Midnight Visitor" (Walsh) – 3:13
#"One and One" (Walsh) – 1:15
#"Giant Bohemoth" (Joe Vitale, Walsh) – 4:19
#"Mother Says" (Kenny Passarelli, Vitale, Walsh) – 6:14
#"Birdcall Morning" (Walsh) – 3:42
#"Home" (Walsh) – 2:53
#"I'll Tell the World" (Gordon, Jacob) – 3:54
#"Turn to Stone" (Terry Trebandt, Walsh) – 5:16
#"Comin' Down" (Walsh) – 1:54

Personnel

*Joe Walsh: Lead guitars, keyboards, piano, synthesizer, vocals.
*Kenny Passarelli: Bass guitar, guitar, vocals.
*Joe Vitale: Drums, percussion, keyboards, electric piano, flute, vocals.
*Paul Harris: Piano, vocals.
*Al Perkins: Steel guitar.
*Chuck Rainey: Bass guitar.
*Bill Szymczyk: Backing vocals.

Production

*Producer: Bill Szymczyk, Joe Walsh
*Engineer: Bill Szymczyk, Joe Walsh

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)