But Seriously, Folks... is the fourth studio album by the American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh. The album was released in mid-1978, on the Asylum label. It included the satirical song "Life's Been Good". The original 8:04 (8:57 on CD releases with a speech at the end) album version of this track was edited down to 4:35 for single release, and this became Walsh's biggest solo hit, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
| But Seriously, Folks... | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 16, 1978 | |||
| Studio | Bayshore (Coconut Grove, Florida) | |||
| Genre | Rock, hard rock, soft rock | |||
| Length | 35:22 | |||
| Label | Asylum | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Joe Walsh chronology | ||||
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The album also featured the other four members of Eagles – which Walsh had joined two years earlier – as well as singer-keyboardist Jay Ferguson, a former member of the groups Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne (who co-wrote one track on the album), drummer Joe Vitale from Walsh's former band Barnstorm, and bassist Willie Weeks.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C+[2] |
In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau wrote that, although Walsh has "a gift for tuneful guitar schlock", most of the album's songs fall "far short of the irreverent shuck-and-jive" of "Life's Been Good".[3] In a retrospective review, AllMusic's Al Campbell said that the album is "Joe Walsh's most insightful and melodic", and "captures a reflective song cycle along the same thematic lines of Pet Sounds, only for the '70s".[1]
Cash Box said that the single "Over and Over" "has several distinctive rhythmic breaks, organ backing, swirling guitar work, slip and slide beat and good double-tracked vocals" and praised Walsh's slide guitar solo.[4]
Track listing
editAll songs written and composed by Joe Walsh, with additional writers noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Over and Over" | 4:53 | |
| 2. | "Second Hand Store" | Mike Murphy | 3:35 |
| 3. | "Indian Summer" | 3:03 | |
| 4. | "At the Station" | Joe Vitale | 5:08 |
| 5. | "Tomorrow" | 3:39 | |
| 6. | "Inner Tube" | 1:25 | |
| 7. | "Theme from Boat Weirdos" | Vitale, Jay Ferguson, Willie Weeks, Bill Szymczyk | 4:43 |
| 8. | "Life's Been Good" (Life's Been Good ends at 8:04 and is followed by an untitled hidden track that runs for 42 seconds) | 8:56 | |
| Total length: | 35:22 | ||
Personnel
editMusicians
- Joe Walsh – vocals, synthesizers, guitars
- Jay Ferguson – keyboards
- Joe Vitale – synthesizers, drums, percussion, flute, backing vocals (1-4, 7, 8)
- Joey Murcia – 2nd guitar
- Willie Weeks – bass
Guest musicians
- Don Felder – pedal steel guitar (2), guitar (4)
- Bill Szymczyk – tambourine (4), backing vocals (8)
- Jody Boyer – backing vocals (2, 3, 8)
- Glenn Frey – background vocal arrangements and backing vocals (5)
- Don Henley – backing vocals (5)
- Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals (5)
Production
- Bill Szymczyk – producer, engineer, digital remastering
- Ed Mashal – engineer
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Jimmy Wachtel – album design, cover photography, sleeve photography
- Michael Curtis – design assistant
- Mark Foltz – design assistant
- Jage Jackson – design assistant
- Lorrie Sullivan – sleeve photography
- Recorded at Bayshore Studios (Coconut Grove, Florida)
- Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York)
Charts
edit| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[5] | 31 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[6] | 9 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[7] | 46 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8] | 10 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[9] | 16 |
| US Billboard 200[10] | 8 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[11] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[12] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[13] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ a b Campbell, Al. "But Seriously, Folks... > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 21, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (September 4, 1978). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 21, 1978. p. 28. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 332. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4671a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Joe Walsh – But Seriously, Folks" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Joe Walsh – But Seriously, Folks". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Joe Walsh Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Joe Walsh – But Seriously, Folks". Music Canada.
- ^ "British album certifications – Joe Walsh – But Seriously Folks". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – Joe Walsh – But Seriously, Folks". Recording Industry Association of America.
