Monday September 19, 2022 “The Radio Song” Joe Walsh

Someone recently said “What a wonderful resource the radio can be, exposing us to songs we may otherwise never hear.”  Oh wait, that was me.  I have a special fascination with the value of radio, screw Spotify and Pandora.  OK they are fine resources and their algorithms can put you in touch with similar sounding tunes but the radio isn’t even slightly concerned with what your musical tastes are, it plays the music it wants you to hear…and every once in a while it hits a home run gem and you’re thinking “wow I love that song”.

So let’s spend a musical week with radio songs and we’ll start with cousin (not really) Joe Walsh and his “Radio Song” which comes from his 1987 album Got Any Gum.

Colorful rock & roll character that he is, Joe Walsh is a remarkable guitarist and a credible singer/songwriter who has given us classics like “Funk 49”, “Walk Away”, “Life’s Been Good” “Life in the Fast Lane” and co-written “Hotel California” among many others.  His career spans early recordings with the James Gang, a robust solo career and a long term relationship with the supergroup The Eagles.

Joe started out playing oboe and clarinet but realized early on that you can’t sing while playing either of them and if he wanted to attract women he needed to sing.  So he took up guitar.

Joe Walsh is a man with an unusual imagination as indicated by some of his solo album titles; “The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get”, “You Can’t Argue with a Sick Mind” and “You Bought It, You Name It”.

In a world of odd facts, Walsh ran for president in 1979, you might remember that he didn’t win, and he is Ringo Starr’s brother-in-law, being married to Marjorie Bach who is Ringo's wife Barbara's sister .  Those must be interesting family gatherings. 

And Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks, in her autobiography, referred to Joe Walsh as "the love of her life”...they were together for three years…weird, pairing, no?

Stay safe and well…and like Joe says “it’s like your favorite station playing your favorite song”.

I like to listen to music

I like the way that it sounds

On the radio

 I like to sit in a silent place

When no one's around

And listen inside it

 Inside the silence is a melody

Voices singing harmony

I close my eyes and listen carefully

The silence starts to get loud

 It's like your favorite station

Playing your favorite song

Just like they do on the radio

Like they do on the radio

 Inside the silence is a symphony

Every note there is in every key

The music tells me how it wants to be

I help it write itself down

I hear the way that would sound

 It's like your favorite station

Playing your favorite song

Just like they do on the radio

Like they do on the radio

But the radio isn't on

On the radio