This is what I’d go with. Though, I’m not a scholar of these guys’ solo efforts. Other than Joe’s stuff, I’ve just heard* the hits*.
Joe Walsh is an interesting case. Personally I don’t think I would consider his pre-Eagles solo work under the terms of the OP, just during or after. So “Rocky Mountain Way” is out, but “Life’s Been Good” is good.
Also, according to his Wikipedia page, his “solo” albums after he left The James Gang were marketed as Joe Walsh albums even though he had actually formed a band called Barnstorm to record them.
As a side note, Joe Walsh is one of a handful of guitarists that I have always been able to recognize for some reason, even when doing session work. I’ll hear a song and think “that guitar sounds like Joe Walsh”, and I’ll go look up the credits, and sure enough…
Heavy Metal, Baby!
All of them have had success as solo artists. Glenn Frey had a couple of decent albums: “No Fun Aloud” and “The Allnighter” which had a hit called ‘Smuggler’s Blues’. Timothy B. Schmit had a decent solo album and a hit song on the ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ soundtrack.
But Don Henley is by far the most successful solo Eagle, both financially and artistically. My favorite album of his is ‘I Can’t Stand Still’, which features coolaborations with artists as varied as Paddy Malone and Warren Zevon.
If I had to rank the solo careers of the Eagles, it would be Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit, and Don Feldet, in that order. Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon don’t really make the list.
This confuses me. What does Vince Gill have to do with it? Are some Eagles playing in his band?
Desperado, closely followed by One of these nights.
Neither of which are solo Eagles albums, as per the thread title. However, on edit I see that the OP confusingly includes ‘group’ albums.
No, Gill has joined the Eagles, along with Glenn Frey’s son, Deacon.
I loved Walsh’s guest appearances on The Drew Carey Show as the character Ed. I like to think he wasn’t really acting, just being himself.
Wow, I did not know that!
Agreed. There are very few songs that I will crank the radio up LOUD and sing along with. That’s one of them.
That thread title is a bit problematic.
Agreed. Unfortunately Joe himself doesn’t seem to think so, having jokingly remarked once that had he’d known he was going to be singing it for the rest of his life, he’d have done a better job writing it.
I’ll add “Funk 49” to the list of great Joe Walsh / James Gang songs.