Customer Reviews

Barnstorm (Ltd Ed)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'll never forget the first time I heard this album. College, 1975. A friend brought it over and said I had to hear it. Rolled it off on a reel-to-reel tape as I listened, and STILL went out and bought the album. Played the tape all the time so I wouldn't wear out the LP. It's showing its age, but I still have it and wouldn't part with it for anything. I find it incredible that MCA has not released this domestically on CD. All of Joe's albums are great, but this one is superb. If only ONE of them was available, this should be the one. Instead it's the only one you can't get. The music industry never ceases to amaze me... Thanks, Lynne, wherever you are, for turning me on to this masterpiece all those years ago!

This was Joe's first 'solo' venture after the James Gang and for me his finest hour. Barnstorm was actually the name of the band supporting Joe, namely Joe Vitale and Kenny Passarelli whose musicianship throughout is first class.

It's actually a difficult album to categorise, but is much looser in feel than the 'Smoker You Drink' LP form the following year. It's almost Country Rock, but with some jazy symphonic instrumental passages and the raw 'Turn to Stone' which sits rather uneasily on the album and is given much better treatment on the 'So What' LP.

The whole LP seems to be evoking a fontier life feel to match the cover of a deserted barn on a remote hillside. Tracks such as 'Midnight Visitor' with its swirling pedal steel and the uplifting 'Birdcall Morning' still sound fresh after many years of playing. Perhaps the highlights are the instrumental sections notably Joe Vitale's Giant Bohemoth which sounds almost like Pink Floyd and the closing and very touching 'Comin Down'

This is really great stuff and sadly in the UK almost impossible to get hold of on CD. Its worth checking out if you enjoy bands like Poco and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

I was dirving over to Gary's house listening to Meddle and was really into that at the time, got to Gary's and he pop's on Barnstorm and I sat down and didn't say a word until it was over. I was blown away, start to finish, wish this would have been a double album. Picked up the album cover and looked it over asked Gary where he got the album and then left and went out and bought it. Listened to Meddle and Barnstorm until I wore them out. I picked up the cd several years back and still listen to it. As far as I'm concerned this is the best Joe. I agree with all the people who have written before me. This is genuis and I would have loved to have been there while they were recording this one. If you don't have a copy of this pay the money and you will not be disappointed. THIS IS MAGIC. Like I said the only thing that could compare to this is Pink Floyd. If you don't believe me the put on Meddle and then Barnstorm and then Wish You Were Here and see for yourself. Oh, and by the way happy 50th on the 9th Gary.

This is truly a lost gem from the 70's. Right there next to Dark Side of the Moon. My vinyl's getting scratchy.

The period 1972-1975 generated five classic albums from the multi-instrumentalist pair, Joe Walsh and Joe Vitale: BARNSTORM, THE SMOKER YOU DRINK, SO WHAT, YOU CAN'T ARGUE, and the glorious Vitale solo album, ROLLER COASTER WEEKEND. It's beyond me why the first and last albums in that list are unavailable in the US. (In fact, it's one of life's tragedies that ROLLER COASTER WEEKEND has never been released on CD anywhere in the world.) But I digress ...

It's as though Joe Walsh was visited by the muse once or twice around 1972/73, given a lego-set of melodies, riffs and solos, and told to get on with assembling them into some songs. Many themes keep returning on the four Walsh solo albums: 'Turn to Stone' for instance shows up on three of them. A guitar solo from 'Here We Go' on BARNSTORM gets woven into a totally different song on YOU CAN'T ARGUE. 'Giant Behemoth' gets recast and becomes 'County Fair' on SO WHAT. With each album, it's as if he pulls his lego-set apart and starts rebuilding again.

What I love about this album is the breadth of it all. Like Steve Miller, Joe could play both guitars, piano and synthesizer, but he was better than Steve at each of them. Joe Vitale was no slouch either on piano, flute and synth, and, though now much overlooked, he was certainly one of the top 10 rock drummers of the time. Bassist Kenny Passarelli went on to a financially more lucrative career with the Elton John band (e.g. ROCK OF THE WESTIES).

This album was recorded in an era when the band and their session guests wrote and played everything -- the producer didn't, as he might today, overlay his selection of drum machine rhythms, library samples and synths. Producer Bill Szymczyk creates a warm ambience, but the mix is cloudy. I've heard much clearer albums, even from 1972.

I still believe that THE SMOKER YOU GET is Walsh's masterpiece, but it's extraordinary that this, its precursor, is so hard to buy.

Joe Walsh's genius has always been evident, from his days in James Gang right up to the present.

Never was his talent more ably demonstrated than on this album.

His melodic sense, superlative guitar playing and understated lyrics all combine into a true masterpiece.

The album is timeless - It sounds as fresh to me now as when I first heard it way back in 1972.

There are many moments of beauty on Barnstorm, but I don't believe I have ever heard such moving song about family as "One and One".

Joe's abilty to express his thoughts in class songs is what sets him apart from the mass of song-writers.

IMHO he is right up there with Jimy Webb.

People of the US! Get this CD released !!

PS. There is a morse code message in "Giant Bohemoth" which reads "Register and vote".

Thank god I finally found this cd, even at the import price it's well worth it. I love most of Joe's stuff but this is the one that hits the "core". Very solemn and thoughtful with beautifully played instruments, nothing overstated. Joe's very unique guitar style really shines as every note and bend has purpose. Put it on, dim the lights, and ride off on a sweet adventure.

I could not wait to receive this CD of my absolute favorite album from the 70's. Everytime I listen to this masterpiece I am transported to a different era when my life was unashamedly and strangely warmed by my nuturing Mom and loving Dad; when life was simple and pure. It is difficult for me to describe this place. I guess you would have to have been there to relate. But, then again, maybe you have.

Mama says be carefull and do the best you can.When I hear those words in the song it brings back memories of a child around thanksgiving time I can close my eyes and swear I can smell the turkey cooking in the oven at my parents house.It is haunting but I feel great like my family is all togeather again when times were simple

This stinko import is hardly worth the exorbitant price. Even "Turn to Stone" sounds sloppy and amateurish compared to its later incarnation on SO WHAT! The sound quality here is murky. Remastering may help a bit, but when you don't have much to work with, why make the effort? This CD is fit only for hardcore fans of the funkmeister. Better to spend your hard-earned dough on the likes of SO WHAT! or BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS...