I’ve always loved this song. Around Middle Tennessee, it seemed like Joe Walsh and Bob Seger were adopted as hometown favorites. Even though Walsh was from Cleveland, you’d hear him everywhere here. This song was just one of those songs that made you want to roll the windows down and keep driving. Sometimes that’s all a great rock song has to do. More than forty years later, it still has that same effect on me. Also, Joe seems like a regular blue-collar working-class guy who doesn’t take himself seriously. Joe Walsh: The most terrifying thing that ever happened to me was that Keith Moon decided he liked me.
Some songs don’t need to be complicated. They just need to make you turn the volume up. The song has always been one of those songs for me. It’s a straight-ahead rocker with a great guitar riff, a catchy chorus, and packed with fun energy. Another thing I like about Walsh is he never takes himself seriously. He always has a good time and wants everyone else to join in.
This was released in 1980 on the soundtrack to the movie Urban Cowboy, It arrived at the perfect time. The film introduced a new audience to country-rock and Southern-flavored rock music, and Walsh’s contribution fit right in. The song became one of the soundtrack’s highlights and climbed into the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. By this point, Walsh had already built an impressive career with the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the eagles, but he never lost the sense of fun that made him stand out from so many guitar heroes of the era.
He is, of course, an outstanding guitarist, but he’s also one of rock’s most likable characters. Whether it’s his slide guitar, his sense of humor, or the way he never seems to take himself too seriously, there’s something genuine about him. This song captures that perfectly. It isn’t trying to be profound. It’s simply a great rock-and-roll song played by musicians who sound like they’re having the time of their lives.
Along with having a good time, he is one of the best rock guitarists. All Night Long peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #13 in Canada in 1980.
All Night Long
We get up early and we work all day
We put our time in ’cause we like to stay up
All night long
All night long
We keep on grinning ’til the weekend comes
Just a pinch between your cheek and gum
All night long
All night long
Start in the morning and get the job done
Take care of business and we have some fun
All night long
All night long
We like a long neck and a good old song
Turn it up and then we’ll sing along
Sing along
Oh, we’re staying up all night long
All night long
All night long
All night long
All night long
Discover more from PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Love Joe. I’ll enjoy these vids with my AM coffee. Chers, Max! ☕️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool! Joe is always a lot of fun. I got to see him once…I went to see Ringo on his birthday at the Ryman in 2012…he called his brother in law Joe…it was fantastic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smoking classic! 😎🎸
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great song choice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to go with the studio version on this song, because the mix is much better. Nice song Max.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yea I agree…he is fun watching regardless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG, he looks so young! I haven’t heard this in ages, also forgot about the Urban Cowboy soundtrack. As you say uncomplicated straight up great Rock music.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I forgot about that soundtrack as well…he is a lot of fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, no brilliant profound songwriting, just a fun foot-tapping heads-nodding tune. Sometimes it’s all you need.
LikeLiked by 2 people
One of my favorites of his, a basic, not too complicated rocker. The movie-makers were smart in varying the music they used in that film, it really helped the soundtrack take off and lifted all the singles fortunes as a result
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so much fun! Just a pinch between the cheek and gums lol. That movie had a huge impact at the time. I remember people talking about those damn robotic bulls being installed in a lot of places.
LikeLike
Seger and Walsh. Tennessee knows it’s stuff. I lost track of Joe when he joined those feathered guys. I was on board early in his career. He has also done some great later work. Good choice Max. A very lickable guy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks CB…he is one of the most personable guys you can get….plus a damn great guitar player…yea he slummed it for a while.
LikeLike
Even with joe I never caught on with those guys, maybe because I didnt know he was with them. He’s just”A Ordinary Average Guy’
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes he is…I never thought he fit really with them…like casting a clam in a movie about frogs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Joe’s a cool dude and a great guitarist. To me, “All Night Long” is up there with “Rocky Mountain High” and “Life’s Been Good.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes he is…thanks Christian!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember the song, I remember Urban Cowboy, but I don’t remember the song in the movie. I remember both John Travolta and Debra Winger were in their prime when the movie came out. I do like Joe Walsh and it still surprises me he was in The Eagles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it surprises me as well that he joined them. I love Joe…he is one guy I would love to meet…and I don’t say that a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Joe Walsh is one of the greats, Max. I got to see him open for Stevie Nicks years ago. Great performance!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw him once…as a guest of his brother in law…Ringo Starr.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I knew this was from a soundtrack, but I had it in my head that it was from Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Same time frame I guess. He is a funny guy, but he’s had some heartbreak too. I was reading something that said he had a young daughter that died in an auto accident, I believe. He called his next album So What because he just didn’t care. He said that was a big reason why he joined the Eagles at that time, because he just didn’t have the strength for a solo career.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I didn’t know that about his daughter…that is terrible. I know he dated Stevie Nicks for a while.
Well that makes sense about him joining…I know I’m ugly toward them…I guess Don and Glen helped that out lol. But…I do like some of their earlier songs….I would be lying not to admit that.
LikeLike
There’s a song on So What called “Song For Emma” that is about his daughter. As far as the Eagles go, I get it. I can take them or leave them. I liked them more when I was younger, but like so many, they’ve just been overplayed. I like On The Border the best of their albums. Like you were saying about them covering Tom Waits’ “Ol’ 55”, I’m grateful that they covered Steve Young’s “Seven Bridges Road” because it made me look into his music and I found a treasure trove.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll check that out…thank you. That was a long time ago. ..I never knew. Yes that is a good point…when an artist can make you look at someone else…that is good. They were good…and they deserve respect…but not love from me lol. I like what Don Felder said…he said they polished the soul out of a lot of their later songs…I do agree with that….he was probably talking about the Long Run album.
LikeLike
joe walsh was great and part of the eagles of course later. glenn frye grew up not far from me, and there’s a street named after him. when i adopted a rescue cat they had named him glenn frye, but none of the younger people understood the name. )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow…that is cool…that doesn’t surprise me about the name! I’ve seen pictures of Glenn Frye with Bob Seger really early on in the 60s. I think they knew each other from the area as well. A lot of great musicians came from Michigan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they all intermingled and most stayed connected as they got bigger and still would play at each others shows if they were in town –
LikeLike