Peters' other contribution to Thirds, 'Dreaming In The Country,' is the obligatory shitkicking throwaway, it might be judicious of Walsh, Fox, a concerned roadie, the group's manager, Bill Szyczyk, or the president of ABC Records to throttle him the next time the look in his eyes says, 'I gotta new 'riginal!' The rest of the album is just kinda real negligible, albeit listenable, except for bassman Dale Peters' 'White Man/Black Man,' a real no-two-ways-about-it embarrassment in the form of an overproduced plea for Greater Understanding between the races so that we can all Live Together. Perhaps Pete Townshend, who's reportedly an admirer of both, could introduce King Crimson's lyricist to James Gang. I should mention drummer Jim Fox's 'Live My Life Again' because it's the only interesting words on the album (and, debatably, the worst guitar solo). Right after 'Walk Away' there's a pleasant supper-club background jazz work-out featuring Jim Fox on vibes (no pun intended) called 'Yadig,' which for no discernable reason makes the reviewer yearn to say, 'James Gang In A Mellow Mood At The Club Relaxez.'

It's so fucking cute your mind will fall out. Never mind that in several ways it's an unblushing, ahem, ripoff of 'Nowhere Man' - can anyone deny that the Hawaiian guitar and background singing are real, real nice? Furthermore, what I personally love most about it is how, after Joe's sung two verses about how he's the midnight man, blah blah, a young lady with a fabulous silky and completely expressionless 1962 voice comes in to sing the third verse to the midnight man, or, in this case, Joe. 'Midnight Man,' though, is Joe Walsh at his best when all is said and done. And even though Joe is no terrible shakes as a balladeer, his slower tunes 'Again' and 'It's All The Same' nonetheless emerge slightly enjoyable owing to the pretty horns and pretty acoustic guitar riff they're endowed with, respectively. Valentine's Day Massacre than of their namesakes), is catchy, tuneful, and capable of inducing the uninhibited to perform the funky chicken, skate, hitchhike, or other teenage dance. 'Walk Away,' for instance (wherein the Gang bang and bash in a manner more reminiscent of the St. Nevertheless, he writes pleasant little tunes that he sings in a pleasant little voice.

James gang albums