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Joe Walsh — Indian Summer
Album: But Seriously Folks
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 653









Released: 1978
Length: 2:59
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I was taken by surprise by the thunder
Sit and stared out at the rain
Taken back, I was younger
In a vacant lot day

And the fall brought an Indian summer
And plenty of places to play
I can still hear 'em calling (far away)
I can hear thunder (far away)

Well, the summers are hot and the winters get cold
Not a lot smarter, but another year old
Sometimes I'm still at the fishing hole

And you never needed bait where we used to go
Just a safety pin hook on a bamboo pole
Take the big ones home; let the little ones go (far away)

I can hear thunder
Walking down the alley
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh)

And it's not as easy as it used to be
Finding time to let my mind wander
I can still hear 'em calling

Indian summer
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Comments (73)add comment
Take it away Joe..
Just the whole album start to finish is awesome.  "life's been good" is the "worst" song on it.  Everything else is just one wonderful continuous story.
I kind of dig the minor-accented harmonies on the chorus... that was used by many popular music hits in 1978-1979.  It takes me way back when I hear them.
Back in the day, JW was a fave to listen to on the headphones. A real "full" sound. Sort of Wall-of-Sound-ish. It never translated well to radio, imo.
 Cueburned wrote:
The is the kind of tune that makes some of us browse e-bay for 70's Japanese hi fi gear. You never get over those glowing blue lights.  
 
I have three Sansui Model 2000s!

The first one, my Dad bought around 1971. I had it tuned up/relamped around 1989. It still runs like a champ, outperforms lots of modern gear. The others are projects - but I would part with them under the right circumstances...
c.
The is the kind of tune that makes some of us browse e-bay for 70's Japanese hi fi gear. You never get over those glowing blue lights.  
Drifting off...
"Well the summer's are hot and the winter's get cold, not a lot smarter but another year old..." 
I never knew his middle name was Fidler (according to Wikipedia).I guess he was destined to be a musician. 
Oh man, the 70’s were heaven with the music to go with it!!
Anything by Mr. Walsh is worth a fav rate because it takes me back.
I'm 20 again.
Sigh.......
Soooo good to hear this! A beautiful song by one of the all time best guitarists.
7 for this song, 8 for the album as a whole.  Great memories from first yr college.
Whoa, that was a GOOD one!
this guy was WAY too cool for the room... {#Cool}
 Cynaera wrote:

Kurt, you are my hero!!!  Joe Walsh has always followed his own path, (and to acknowledge another poster who wrote that he never had to join Eagles, with which I totally agree) and I love his work. I'd be so jazzed to hear "Time Out" or "All-Night-Laundry-Mat-Blues."  I think "Rocky Mountain Way" was the first thing that made me shut down the outside world and tune in to the music. (My personal favorite, though, is "Happy Ways." Something about it just makes me grin.)

Going away now.

 
"Happy Ways' is classic nobody plays.

I uploaded years ago.
Alas, it won't get played here either.

"Meadows" is a classic that nobody plays.
L-O-N-G time since I've heard this. Oh, my! This was one of my worst teenage earworms.
It's amazing how distinctive some guitarists are. I've never heard this song, and knew instantly it was Joe Walsh.
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:

{#Yes}
This song is just awesome.

And it's one of the hundreds of uploads I did that actually made it!
 
Kurt, you are my hero!!!  Joe Walsh has always followed his own path, (and to acknowledge another poster who wrote that he never had to join Eagles, with which I totally agree) and I love his work. I'd be so jazzed to hear "Time Out" or "All-Night-Laundry-Mat-Blues."  I think "Rocky Mountain Way" was the first thing that made me shut down the outside world and tune in to the music. (My personal favorite, though, is "Happy Ways." Something about it just makes me grin.)

Going away now.

I always liked the rocky side of the Eagles,,guess it was this chap that supplied it ! {#Guitarist}

Yeah man, that's what I'm saying, James Gang, The Bomber, Cast your fate to the wind, and Walk Away. It's all good. Walsh, definitely a talent for the decades.


 buddy wrote:
Classic.

Joe, you never needed to do The Eagles.



 
No but aint we glad he did  {#Yes}  Look at all the great songs he contributed and how he enhanced their sound by fusing it with his own.

 CascadianPDX wrote:
RP really needs to mine the JW catalog... it's a deep, rich vein. The gag songs that most folks have heard are usually the least interesting. C'mon, RP, I only see 4 tunes that you've played... there's sooooo much more. How about "Rosewood Bitters" or "Over and Over". Heck. just play em! I know it's old shit, but like fine wine, it just gets better.

 
I tried.
And failed.

 ddbz wrote: 
I love this album...
 

Love it too. Reminds me of growing up in Cleveland. 


 CascadianPDX wrote:
RP really needs to mine the JW catalog... it's a deep, rich vein. The gag songs that most folks have heard are usually the least interesting. C'mon, RP, I only see 4 tunes that you've played... there's sooooo much more. How about "Rosewood Bitters" or "Over and Over". Heck. just play em! I know it's old shit, but like fine wine, it just gets better.

 
Yeah, yeah, yeah!  More Joe.  Anything from the first 3 James Gang albums, and the solo stuff too.

Whoa ...... heavy nostalgia hearing this song again.  Nice ambience to this tune.
 ddbz wrote:
I love this album...
 
{#Yes}
This song is just awesome.

And it's one of the hundreds of uploads I did that actually made it!


I love this album...
 hippiechick wrote:
Hometown boy, he spent time in various bands playing around the Cleveland area, including The Measles, while attending Kent State University. We at Kent used to go see the James Gang for a buck.

 
I heard Ashes, Rain & I once on the local FM station, went to my local record store (yes kids, you had to go to a store and buy records) and had to order it. Rides Again has been a favorite of mine ever since.

Bill, Thanks for the Joe and Ruby Falls was a great follow.  Thanks for the music all the time.

CascadianPDX:  Why don't you burn a few mp3 files and upload for consideration?  Am not that aware of Walsh's full repertoire. 
Barnstorm!

CascadianPDX wrote:
RP really needs to mine the JW catalog... it's a deep, rich vein. The gag songs that most folks have heard are usually the least interesting. C'mon, RP, I only see 4 tunes that you've played... there's sooooo much more. How about "Rosewood Bitters" or "Over and Over". Heck. just play em! I know it's old shit, but like fine wine, it just gets better.




Hometown boy, he spent time in various bands playing around the Cleveland area, including The Measles, while attending Kent State University. We at Kent used to go see the James Gang for a buck.

RP really needs to mine the JW catalog... it's a deep, rich vein. The gag songs that most folks have heard are usually the least interesting. C'mon, RP, I only see 4 tunes that you've played... there's sooooo much more. How about "Rosewood Bitters" or "Over and Over". Heck. just play em! I know it's old shit, but like fine wine, it just gets better.

Ditto on the respect.  Joe did himself no favours by teaming up the the California Musical Mafia (The Eagles - Henley & Frey) and I always felt he brought more to that group than he was ever given credit for.  Joe remains a musical enigma and is to date the only rock guitarist to ever have run for the presidency.  :-)

I agree. Joe doesn't get enough respect. Great tune.

 
lmic wrote:
Totally glad that BillG gives Joe the respect.
 


Totally glad that BillG gives Joe the respect.
 Papernapkin wrote:
It's interesting that people write 'Oh, this brings back memories.' The song's not that special and kind of sappy, but if you associate it with a special time in your life it takes on more meaning and emotion. That's the power of an getting old.
 
Every rock musician I have talked to considers this tune a classic.  The "boy" bands (whiny) of today would kill to write this tune.

It's interesting that people write 'Oh, this brings back memories.' The song's not that special and kind of sappy, but if you associate it with a special time in your life it takes on more meaning and emotion. That's the power of an getting old.
 cptbuz wrote:
Dutch Flat Ca. (population- one of 200 mailboxes or else general delivery) I was the community pool lifeguard

summers of 1978, 1979 and 1980

my first times living on my own. I lived in the attic of an antique store...it was haunted. The roof above my head had a slope. It was 5' 11 at one end, about 5'7 at the other...I was 6'1" Fell in love...

some of the best memories of my life...and this song was right there at the time...can't help but make it godlike right?

 

Beautiful story. We never forget the songs of our youth, do we? {#Music}
One of my favorites......
Dutch Flat Ca. (population- one of 200 mailboxes or else general delivery) I was the community pool lifeguard

summers of 1978, 1979 and 1980

my first times living on my own. I lived in the attic of an antique store...it was haunted. The roof above my head had a slope. It was 5' 11 at one end, about 5'7 at the other...I was 6'1" Fell in love...

some of the best memories of my life...and this song was right there at the time...can't help but make it godlike right?

I can hear boredom.........................

Not improving with age.

How do you give this a six?

Full frontal lobotomy? 
FOR SURE  veegez wrote:
What an amazing Radio Station. :)
 


Love hearing Joe and the James Gang.

Also loved his cameo appearance on Clapton's 2004 Crossroads benefit concert DVD!
Summer of 78, one of the best ever...
 I'm a 76'er.  So many memories bring back so much emotion vandal wrote:

The year I graduated from High School. . .

 

 tylerpoint wrote:
i love the big kettle drums towards the end. classy touch in a pop rock song.
 
Great thunder effects!

I saw him a year ago on his casino tour.
He played this song by himself with an acoustic guitar.
Then later, he played "Meadows" with his band.
I was happy. That's what I came for.
Thanks Joe.

 trekhead wrote:


Same here. New one on me. I like the subject matter!

8. for Joe.
 
Yes, it's a lovely song — somewhat reminiscent of Todd Rundgren and Utopia (from whom I'd like to hear on RP).

great pick! brings back memories when i was about 12 and bought the tape.
joe was my first concert. don't think i've ever heard indian summer on the radio, but it's a favorite! good pick!
thanks for digging deep guys! more walsh is always welcome!

(to clarify, unlike some of the other posters for whom this brought back memories... i'm 24 {#Angel} )

 gjeeg wrote:
I've never heard this song.
I love when rare, archival vinyl from the 70's is hauled out.
Thank you RP.
 

Same here. New one on me. I like the subject matter!

8. for Joe.

The year I graduated from High School. . .

Joe was quite influential in the mid-seventies - he did a great producing job and played on what I believe is Dan Fogelberg's best album - "Souviniers"
I've never heard this song.
I love when rare, archival vinyl from the 70's is hauled out.
Thank you RP.
 cptbuz wrote:
This is quite simply a pleasure to listen to. Not just this song, but the entire disc. One of my favorites...anytime anywhere.
 
{#Yes} yupyupyup


you must be joking
Joe!! I really like this song, probably have it on vinyl somewhere.
nice change-up here :)
great song haven't heard in years takes me back to the late 70's and real fm rock stations like the late KSFM Earth Radio and KZAP from Sacramento, CA
Wow! Great tune! This brings back memories!
Gregorama wrote:
What s/he said.
Yep. Summer of 1978, between graduation from High School and starting college in the fall. One of the best summers of my life, no doubt. Played this album all the time. Hard to believe that was almost 27 years ago. How the years have flown.....
I love this tune. Haven't heard in maybe 5 years!
Leslie wrote:
Great song. I haven't heard this in at least 20 years. This brings back great memories.
What s/he said.
Joe on guitar: excellent. Joe trying to sing: el stinko.
i can't complain, but sometimes i still do. gotta love joe even tho he's part of the eagles hit machine.
RotoPeter wrote:
This is a great song and a very under-rated album. Only "Life's Been Good" gets any play, but the rest of the album is better.
i agree.
What an amazing Radio Station. :)
i love the big kettle drums towards the end. classy touch in a pop rock song.
Walsh at his emotional best. Harmonies, both vocal and guitar that take you someplace else but don't drag you back to the era it was recorded. Timeless
This is a great song and a very under-rated album. Only "Life's Been Good" gets any play, but the rest of the album is better.
Great song. I haven't heard this in at least 20 years. This brings back great memories.