You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind album cover

On the eve of joining Eagles, Walsh released this live disc to fulfill his contract with ABC Records.

Kronomyth 4.0: If you can't soar with the eagles.

In 1975, Joe Walsh went on tour with a literal busload of players including 3 drummers, two keyboard players and his futurity partner in crime, guitarist Don Felder. It was a far cry from the trio arroyo of James Gang and early Barnstorm, but not and so far a cry from the expanded lineup of Traffic on Welcome to the Canteen. Which wasn't a great live album either. The performance of Turn to Stone on here is worth whatsoever butane y'all have left in your Bic lighter, don't become me incorrect, but Y'all Can't Argue with a Sick Mind is arguably his to the lowest degree essential anthology to date.

In Walsh'south defence, the original 1975 setlist had a few songs that probably would have sounded awesome: "Welcome to the Club," "The Bomber," "Funk #49." They didn't brand the cutting, with ABC opting to cut its costs with a single live album (no Frampton Comes Alive here). Also missing is the encore operation of The Beatles' "Get Dorsum" and Spencer Davis Group'southward "Gimme Some Lovin'," which I have kindly included in the video link below, considering I figured what you lot really needed today was to hear "Gimme Some Lovin'" for the billionth time.

Like the guy in Amadeus who complained most likewise many notes, but I feel there are as well many players here — the grouping is one guitarist shy of a lifetime achievement award functioning. As a consequence, songs like Walk Away and Rocky Mount Way, whose greatness lie largely in their economy, get loose treatments that lose some of their original energy. On the longer tracks, such every bit Meadows, the contrary happens as the arrangements are given a chance to stretch out. And, in a few cases, the live versions are actually better than the originals. Time Out sounds ameliorate than I call back and the sweetness harmonies on Assistance Me Thru the Night, though probable the beneficiary of some studio doctoring, are a harbinger of the great things to come in the next chapter of Walsh's career.

Honestly, I wasn't holding my breath for a Joe Walsh alive album. Given the diminished expectations I had, it's amend than I expected. The guitar solos, though too few, are a source of joy, and "Turn to Stone" is eight-and-half-minutes of awesomeness (so are the concluding few minutes of "Meadows"). I'chiliad sure there are Joe Walsh fans who would defend this anthology to the death. I'll bet they even similar the album cover.

Original elpee version

A1. Walk Away (Joe Walsh) (3:07)
A2. Meadows (Joe Walsh/Patrick Cullie) (seven:05)
A3. Rocky Mountain Way (Joe Walsh/Joe Vitale/Ken Passarelli/Rocke Grace) (seven:36)
B1. Time Out (Joe Walsh) (4:xiv)
B2. Help Me Thru the Dark (Joe Walsh) (three:34)
B3. Plough to Stone (Joe Walsh/Terry Trebandt) (8:42)

eight-rail version
A1. Walk Away
A2. Meadows (continued)
B1. Meadows (conclusion)
B2. Rocky Mountain Way
C1. Turn to Stone
D1. Fourth dimension Out
D2. Assistance Me Thru the Dark

The Players

Joe Walsh (guitar, vocals), Rocky Dzidzornu (percussion), Don Felder (guitar, backing vocals), Jay Ferguson (keyboards), David Mason (keyboards), Andy Newmark (drums), Joe Vitale (drums), Willie Weeks (bass) with Glenn Frey (vocals on B2), Don Henley (backing vocals on B2). Engineered by Tom Wing, mix-downwards engineered by John Stronach.

The Pictures

Art management and design by Jimmy Wachtel. Photography by Lorrie Sullivan, Jimmy Wachtel.

The Plastic

Released on elpee, 8-track and cassette in March 1976* in the US (ABC, ABCD/8022-932/502 20932), the Great britain (ABC, ABCL-5156) and Japan (ABC, YX-8020-AB) with picture innersleeve. Reached #xx on the United states of america charts. (*Beginning appeared in 3/27/76 issue of Billboard.)

  1. Re-issued on elpee in Taiwan (First, FL-2744) with unique cover.
  2. Re-issued on elpee and cassette in 1979 in the The states (MCA, MCA/MCAC-37051).
  3. Re-packaged with The Smoker You Drink, The Player You lot Get on 2-for-1 cassette in 1982 in the Us (MCA, MCAC2-6910).
  4. Re-issued with The Smoker You Drink, The Role player You Go on 2-for-1 compact disc in 1986 in the US (MCA, MCAD-5869).
  5. Re-issued on meaty disc in the US (MCA, MCAD-33120).
  6. Re-released on super high material compact disc on April 22, 2009 in Japan (Geffen, UICY-94065).
  7. Re-issued on SHMCD in 2016 in Nippon (Geffen, UICY-25678).