The James Gang was a stripped-down band that mostly played primitive rock and roll (which I love) very well, and Rides Again is an example of that, but Ashes the Rain and I isn’t primitive at all; five minutes of contemplative beauty.
Disclosure: Joe Walsh has been, and remains, one of my musical heroes; a guy with a reputation for dumb stuff who really doesn’t seem to be dumb at all. Plus, his guitar tone is second to, well “none” might be taking it a bit high, but it sure sounds great. If I keep doing this, he’ll get a rocker into Song of the Day.
My only copy is on an original vinyl of Rides Again, and it’s at the end of the last track and it’s pretty scratchy, but I still enjoy listening to it. I went and found a modern digital version of it while writing this up, and it’s really a fine-sounding piece of music.
This is part of the Song of the Day series (background).
Links · Spotify playlist. This tune on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon. There’s no live video worth sharing, but there’s a fine treatment which I gather is from Supernatural, whatever that is.
