You Bought It, You Name It

Joe Walsh's 1983 record You Bought, You Name It may not reach the heights of his earlier solo efforts or his times with The James Gang and other outfits, but it does sport some colorful and amusing tracks.  To this day, it occupies a comfy space in my brain as I played the hell out of the cassette, one of my many Columbia House acquisitions in my early teen years.  

Maybe Joe's inspiration was fading? Nothing on this album feels like new ground being broken, including "Told You So", which was originally recorded (and discarded) some years earlier for the Eagles' The Long Run album (and co-written by Walsh's former bandmate Don Felder, who lends his axe as well).  Walsh had little left to prove by this point, but like so many of his peers was trying to remain relevant in the New Wave and post-New Wave era.  Or maybe he wanted to just "play that rock and roll" as the opening track proclaims, slyly commenting on all the music biz fads/genres that may grab Joe's attention for a minute, but it's always back to the licks, baby.  And throughout the album they're still good, if largely unambitious. 

"Space Age Whiz Kids" is a commentary of the popularity of video games, and does sound a bit embarrassingly quaint today.  There was a heavily rotated video on MTV to go along with it.  There are light mellow rock ditties ("Here We are Now, "Love Letters") and even a bid for sentiment with "Class of '65", which in spite of its heavy handedness proves effective.  The album concludes with the spooky/groovy "Shadows" and the rather sweet instrumental "Theme From Island Weirdos", presumably a sequel to 1978's "Theme From Boat Weirdos", and with choice grand piano by Joe Vitale.  

Perhaps the most distinguishing and memorable bit is "I.L.B.T.s".  I will not spell out this acronym but suffice it to say that I doubt many women would be quick to endorse it.  It is a shamelessly crude, crass, and absolutely hilarious novelty song that would've set the phones ablaze at AOR rock stations had a DJ dared play it.  These days, Walsh would not only be "canceled" but possibly burned at the stake for it. 

Walsh would continue to make new music into the '80s and beyond but never reached the fame of other Eagle compadres Don Henley or Glen Frey.  You do have to check out his wailing solo on the Les Paul midway through the title track of 1985's The Confessor.   Positively smokes.