James Gang "Rides Again"

 
James Gang "Rides Again" 9/10

A monster power trio makes a monster sophomore album.  This classic is a masterpiece of both single-minded discipline, freeform rock, and acoustic rock n roll jams.  This album does everything right, and has left this Cleveland trio as the best band Joe Walsh was in.  

The term "power trio" gets tossed around a lot for any 3 piece band.  Some 3 piece bands sound like thin nonsense.  Some bands, however, figure out how to maximize the output of each of their duties to create a giant wall of sound.  Power trios can be the absolute most impressive bands to see live, simply to see 3 people create so much sound.  James Gang was an amazing live band in their own right, but they still managed to capture that rough, off-the-cuff sound on tape as well.  There are some overdubs and studio trickery on this LP, but for the most part it really is the sound of 3 guys making music in a room together.

This was the first James Gang record to feature Dale Peters on bass guitar.  He was in indispensable missing piece to the formula that makes James Gang absolutely unforgettable.  Original bassist Tom Kriss was a capable player, but the band just really reached its full magic with Dale.  

James Gang's legend still hangs around today, despite the long and storied career of Joe Walsh.  His solo work hit many creative peaks and borrowed from many of the inspired impulses of James Gang.  He was also in The Eagles, where his creativity was often overshadowed by the easy listening tendencies of the band's compositions.  James Gang would go on after Joe Walsh left the group following its 3rd album, but they never captured lightening in a bottle twice, and this record stands as a testament to what they were capable of.

1) "Funk #49"

The more spirited sequel to the "Funk #48" cut from their debut effort, "Yer Album."  This song, with its wailing biker-rock guitar intro, mid song percussion jam, instantly catchy riff, and walking bassline has been a staple of classic rock radio for 50+ years.  It is easy to see why; it is a lesson in rock n roll swagger, with lyrics lambasting late night parties, debauchery, and good times.  

2) "Asshtonpark"

This jam picks up where "Funk #49" leaves off.  Sort of an extended outro to the song.  It makes good use of the trippy delay effect, as the band just has fun playing off of one another.

3) "Woman"

This is really the only "okay" song on an album full of gems.  It is a basic love song, with a deep bass line.  It feels like it was written to be an AM radio single to move albums, but it is very phoned in.  Not really an expression of all that James Gang was capable of doing.

4) "The Bomber: A) Closet Queen B) Bolero C) Cast Your Fate to the Wind"

This is a monster of a track.  This is one of those numbers where the producer probably just started to roll the tape, and let the band play.  It starts with a proto-metal riff and some tongue in cheek lyrics, and delves into a long jam, including an incorporation of an interpretation of music from the ballet, Bolero.  Coming out of the jam, the main riff starts, and Joe Walsh kicks back into his fun story.  The way the guitar rings out at the end feels like a statement of the power of a long chord in rock n roll.  It just has a beautiful ring that will leave you in awe.

5) "Tend My Garden"

Side 2 is the softer side of James Gang, and we get some more acoustic, introspective ballads.  This is where the record really starts to become Joe's.  A slow organ fade in as well as a volume pedal controlled guitar pulls the song.  The distorted Hammond organ plays the lead to this easy ballad.  The refrain adds some heavy notes, but the songs stays on its midtempo track.  The piano solo in the middle is unexpected but absolutely beautiful.

6) "Garden Gate"

This is a short acoustic blues ditty.  Joe Walsh occasionally likes to throws these tracks around, and they are always fun.  This one feels like an intimate story; I can imagine Joe Walsh pulling out an acoustic guitar and diving into this on a foggy morning on a porch somewhere over a smoke and a cup of coffee.

7) "There I Go Again"

A gentle riff pulls us into this easy going track.  The back half of this album really starts to sound like what an Eagles album would sound like if The Eagles were good (sorry, not sorry).  Great country rock anthem, singing of a happy Spring day.

8) "Thanks" 

*Almost* a sequel to "Garden Gate," a little less stripped, but the same hopeful vibe.  Another acoustic blues rock song.  This track feels like a great send up to the softer side of James Gang.

9) "Ash The Rain and I"

This song could stand as a sort of statement piece of Joe Walsh and his writing, if he didn't have such a deep and storied catalog.  it sits deep on a classic album, but serves as a fantastic closer to a gem of a record.  The layered guitarwork feels like traditional folk made for the rock crowd, the a phenomenal string section tastefully tagged onto the end.  Dale Peters' double duty on bass and acoustic guitar show his versatility.  The song gently fades out, and shows us the many dimensions of what was a three piece hard rock group.


Joe Walsh would go on after a few tours and another album to become a successful artist.  He often cited the pressure of being half of the sound of the band, as well as the main creative driving force as being too much pressure in James Gang as his reasons for leaving.  Which is kind of weird to do, and then go on to be a solo artist.  But, the legacy of James Gang is undeniable in hard rock and heavy metal.  As is the legacy of Joe himself.  The band could never *really* find a guitarist and/or singer that could make lightening strike twice.  Everything Joe Walsh touched seemed to turn to gold.  We do have this record to stand as a testament and stamp in time to a band that was only around for a few short years, but have outlasted their impact.