The record earned a dedicated following by musicians including Pete Townshend, legendary guitarist for British rock band The Who. Produced by Bill Szymczyk (who went on to produce some of the Eagles biggest records), the album, which contained mostly originals with a few covers (Buffalo Springfield, the Yardbirds), hit number 83 on the Billboard charts and although it didn't contain any huge hit singles, it was clear that the band had potential to be big. The newly revamped James Gang signed a record deal with ABC/Dunhill Records in 1969 and released their debut, Yer Album, later that year. It was then that the true James Gang was formed. According to Fox, not a day after he quit, fellow Kent State University student and guitarist Joe Walsh knocked on his door to see if he could join the band. Just as Fox got his new trio all set, a few months in, Schwartz decided to leave to join the band Pacific Gas and Electric. Fox later dwindled the band down to a three piece that included himself, new guitarist Glenn Schwartz and Kriss. ![]() Fox was left to play with bassist Tom Kriss, keyboardist Phil Giallombardo, and a new member, guitarist Bill Jeric. Not long after the band got their name and began to play shows however, Silverman was drafted into the army. Silverman named the band after the famous Jesse James outlaw gang. Growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, drummer Jim Fox and his friend, guitarist Ron Silverman, began to play music together around 1966 under the name James Gang. It's most famous member, Joe Walsh, left the band early on to join the Eagles and his replacement, Tommy Bolin, later quit to join Deep Purple, never giving the band a proper fighting chance at becoming superstars. Though the band never reached the same height of fame as other power trios like Rush or Cream, the James Gang became an influential source for decades after the band's demise in 1976. Combining catchy boogie guitar riffs, funky time changes and a heavy rock rhythm, the James Gang were one of America's first bands to be called hard rock in the early 1970s. Though the band's line-up changed numerous times during a seven-year existence, rock historians and fans cite the line up of Joe Walsh, Jim Fox, and Dale Peters as the James Gang's definitive line up. In the previously mentioned liner notes, Szymczyk also mentions that the “number 48 came out of thin air.” Presumably the same holds true for the follow-up “Funk 49” from their subsequent long player Rides Again (1970).The James Gang is one of classic rock's earliest power trios. For example, Kriss and Fox are able to stop on a proverbial dime and allow Walsh to effectively fill those open pockets with some fat fluid fretwork. Both as a band as well as soloist, the triumvirate maintain a tight reign on their respective musicality. ![]() This side also displays the James Gang’s lightning fast, and to some degree intuitive, musical interaction. Rather than effectively ‘force’ lyrics into these pockets, their nonsensical (“na, na, nana …”) rhythmic interjections are not only highly original, but equally as effective in this decidedly limited capacity. ![]() Case in point: the freewheelin’ vocal improv between Walsh and Fox at the conclusion of the song’s respective verses. ![]() The strength of their song writing and ensemble musicianship allowed them to rely on substance rather than sheer power. Their unique sonic assault contrasts other ‘heavy’ groups who began to emerge in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s. This well-jammed out side also includes the efforts of the original line-up, featuring Tom Kriss (bass), Jim Fox (drums/vocals) and of course Joe Walsh (guitar/vocals). In the liner notes to the thoroughly excellent James Gang Greatest Hits (2000) compilation, the band’s producer, noted knob-tweaker Bill Szymczyk commented that “Funk #48 “started out as a soundcheck warm-up riff.” The track quickly developed into the infectious greasy R&B flavoured rocker found on the power-trio’s debut effort Yer Album (1969).
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