But Seriously Folks
Encyclopedia
"But Seriously, Folks..." is the fourth studio album
by Joe Walsh
, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music
). It included the reggae-styled satirical song "Life's Been Good". The original 9-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 by the time the album was released—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 renowned bassist Willie Weeks
, who is well known for his association with singer Donny Hathaway
.
Original pressings of this record had text engraved on the carry-out grooves:
Originally, the Walsh song "In the City", was recorded for this album, but released on the Warriors soundtrack
, and re-recorded for the Eagles album, The Long Run
. The leadout track after Life's Been Good
has a dubbed 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.
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music
1978 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1978.-January–April:*January 14 – The Sex Pistols play their final show at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom....
). It included the reggae-styled satirical song "Life's Been Good". The original 9-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 by the time the album was released—as well as singer-guitarist Jay Ferguson
Jay Ferguson (American musician)
Jay Ferguson is an American rock and roll musician, known for his work with Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne, and his 1978 solo hit "Thunder Island". His later career has been as a composer of music for television programs and films.-Childhood and early musical career:He was born in Burbank, California, in...
, a former member of the group Spirit
Spirit (band)
Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/progressive rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967, based in Los Angeles, California.- The original lineup :...
(who co-wrote one track on the album), drummer Joe Vitale
Joe Vitale (musician)
Joe Vitale is an American musician primarily known as a drummer but also a flautist, keyboardist and singer. He has played with many of the top names in music during a career dating back to the 1970s.-Biography:...
from Walsh's former band Barnstorm, and renowned bassist Willie Weeks
Willie Weeks
Willie Weeks is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also gained notoriety touring with many of rock's heavyweights throughout his career...
, who is well known for his association with singer Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway
Donny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer-songwriter and musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music."His collaborations...
.
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!
Originally, the Walsh song "In the City", was recorded for this album, but released on the Warriors soundtrack
The Warriors (soundtrack)
- Charts :...
, and re-recorded for the Eagles album, The Long Run
The Long Run (album)
The Long Run is the sixth studio album by the Eagles, released in 1979 . This was the first Eagles album not to feature founding member Randy Meisner, who was replaced by Timothy B. Schmit....
. The leadout track after Life's Been Good
Life's Been Good
"Life's Been Good" is a 1978 song by Joe Walsh, which first appeared on the soundtrack to the film FM. It was released as a single and appeared on Walsh's album But Seriously, Folks.... It peaked at #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100, remaining his biggest solo hit...
has a dubbed 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
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.- "Over and Over" – 4:53
- "Second Hand Store" (Murphy, Walsh) – 3:35
- "Indian Summer" – 3:03
- "At the Station" (Joe VitaleJoe Vitale (musician)Joe Vitale is an American musician primarily known as a drummer but also a flautist, keyboardist and singer. He has played with many of the top names in music during a career dating back to the 1970s.-Biography:...
, Walsh) – 5:08 - "Tomorrow" – 3:39
- "Inner Tube" – 1:25
- "Theme from Boat Weirdos" (Jay Ferguson, Bill Szymczyk, Vitale, Walsh, Willie WeeksWillie WeeksWillie Weeks is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also gained notoriety touring with many of rock's heavyweights throughout his career...
) – 4:43 - "Life's Been GoodLife's Been Good"Life's Been Good" is a 1978 song by Joe Walsh, which first appeared on the soundtrack to the film FM. It was released as a single and appeared on Walsh's album But Seriously, Folks.... It peaked at #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100, remaining his biggest solo hit...
" – 8:56
Personnel
- Joe Walsh – vocals, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
- Jody Boyer – backing vocals
- Don FelderDon FelderDonald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...
– guitar, Steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
, backing vocals - Glenn FreyGlenn FreyGlenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
– backing vocals - Don HenleyDon HenleyDonald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
– backing vocals - Timothy B. SchmitTimothy B. SchmitTimothy Bruce Schmit is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as bass guitar player and singer for Poco and the Eagles. Schmit has also worked for decades as a session musician and solo artist.-Early career:Raised in Sacramento, Schmit began playing in the folk music group...
– backing vocals - Jay FergusonJay Ferguson (American musician)Jay Ferguson is an American rock and roll musician, known for his work with Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne, and his 1978 solo hit "Thunder Island". His later career has been as a composer of music for television programs and films.-Childhood and early musical career:He was born in Burbank, California, in...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals. - Joey Murcia – guitar
- Bill SzymczykBill SzymczykBill Szymczyk is an American music producer and technical engineer best known for working with rock and blues musicians, most notably the Eagles in the 1970s. He produced many top albums and singles of the 1970s, though he retired from the music business by 1990...
– tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
, vocals, background vocals - Joe VitaleJoe Vitale (musician)Joe Vitale is an American musician primarily known as a drummer but also a flautist, keyboardist and singer. He has played with many of the top names in music during a career dating back to the 1970s.-Biography:...
– drums, percussion, keyboards, synthesizer, flute, vocals. - Willie WeeksWillie WeeksWillie Weeks is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also gained notoriety touring with many of rock's heavyweights throughout his career...
– bass guitar
Production
- Producers: Joe Walsh, Bill Szymczyk
- Engineers: Ed Mashal, Bill Szymczyk
- Mastering: Ted JensenTed JensenTed Jensen is an American recording engineer. Jensen is the chief mastering engineer at Sterling Sound. He started his career as a mastering engineer in 1976 and is currently the most active Mastering Engineer in the industry...
- Remastering: Bill Szymczyk
- Design: Jimmy Wachtel
- Photography: Lorrie Sullivan, Jimmy Wachtel
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Billboard Top 200 | 8 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Life's Been Good" | Pop Singles | 12 |