Walk Away

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Walk Away" by James Gang from their 1971 album Thirds, a track that’s got the Zoo Freaks vibing with its raw, funky edge. This song, written by Joe Walsh, is a hard rock-funk hybrid with soul influences, featuring Walsh’s wild guitar work, including slide guitar and layers of distortion. The liner notes for Thirds humorously credit Walsh with “guitar, vocals, and train wreck” for his chaotic, multi-tracked guitar clash at the song’s fade-out. Walsh himself described this “train wreck” in an interview, saying he cranked the fuzz tone, threw the guitar in the air, and jumped on it—though he didn’t set it on fire, joking that it wouldn’t show up on the record. The song’s lyrics capture the bitter end of a relationship, with lines like “Seems to me / You just turn your pretty head and walk away,” hitting hard for anyone who’s been there. It peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100, the band’s best chart performance, and became a staple in classic rock circles, even finding its way into Phish’s improvisational jams in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Another cool tidbit comes from drummer Jim Fox, who shared a wild story about recording Thirds. Little Richard showed up with a massive entourage during a session in Cleveland, leading to a three-hour jam that the band wanted to release as part of a double album. Contract issues buried the tapes for decades until they were remixed for Joe Walsh’s 2012 album Analog Man. “Walk Away” also caught the ear of critics, with Allmusic’s Matthew Greenwald calling it “one of the most realized James Gang songs,” praising Walsh’s guitar for creating a “universe of hard rock virtuosity.” The song’s live version on James Gang Live in Concert (1971) cranks up the energy, and it’s been covered by bands like Tesla and performed by the Eagles after Walsh joined them in 1975, keeping it alive in setlists through 2024.

James Gang got their start in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1966, born out of the local rock scene. Drummer Jim Fox, bassist Tom Kriss, and guitarist Ronnie Silverman kicked things off, with keyboardist Phil Giallombardo and guitarist Glenn Schwartz rounding out the early lineup. Joe Walsh stepped in when Schwartz left in 1968 to join Pacific Gas & Electric, and his arrival shaped the band’s gritty, bluesy sound. By the time Dale Peters replaced Kriss on bass for their second album, Rides Again (1970), the classic power trio of Walsh, Peters, and Fox was locked in. Their debut album, Yer’ Album (1969), laid the groundwork, but it was Rides Again and the hit “Funk #49” that put them on the map, blending hard rock with a Cleveland edge. They opened for heavyweights like The Who and Led Zeppelin, building a cult following despite never hitting mainstream stardom. Walsh’s departure in 1971 to form Barnstorm and later join the Eagles marked the end of their peak era, but the band’s influence endures.

While James Gang doesn’t have an active official website, fans can check out Joe Walsh’s site at https://joewalsh.com for updates on his solo work and Eagles gigs, which sometimes nod to his James Gang days. The band’s legacy lives on through social media, though they don’t maintain official accounts. Joe Walsh is active on Facebook, Instagram, and X, often sharing tour info and throwbacks. Fans keep the spirit alive on sites like Last.fm, where you can dig into listener stats and band history. There’s also a vibrant James Gang fan group on Facebook where Zoo Freaks can connect, swap stories, and celebrate tracks like “Walk Away.”