Joe Walsh – I Can Play That Rock and Roll

Yes Joe you can…When I first heard this in the early 80s on MTV it was such a relief to hear a guitar playing a rock and roll riff. It’s a simple comedic Joe Walsh song… and sometimes that is just what we need.

This is not Joe’s finest work but it’s fun and brings back memories. . After being restrained somewhat with the Eagles it was good to see him let go.  This song was on the album You Bought It You Name It. The album has varied styles from reggae, new wave, and rock and roll. The song peaked at #13 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay list.

The video of Joe trying to kill a fly in a hotel room was burned into my brain as this was on heavy rotation on MTV for a little while. Joe had a deadly aim with the Fender Strat to the television…years of practice I would guess.

In the middle of then current songs such as Safety Dance, Mickey, and Mr. Roboto this minor hit was a welcomed relief to me on MTV and the radio.

I Can Play That Rock and Roll

Well that disco thing can sure get funky
All them pretty songs seem too slow
I like to sit and pick with them good old boys
Maybe New Wave’s in, I just don’t know
When the critics try to analyse the current trend
I just sit back and watch ’em come and go
Cos I can play that rock and roll
Oh, now I can play that rock and roll
Hey now, I can play that rocking rock and roll

If you, if you wanna party at the next election
Only one way to go
Put on a rocking rock and roll selection
Turn up and vote
And you can check out anytime you want
Just call me Joe
And I can play that rock and roll for ya…
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I can play that rock and roll
Yeah, now now, I, I, I, well I can play that rock and roll
Well I can play that rock and roll
I can play that rock and roll

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball fan, old movie and tv show fan... and a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

17 thoughts on “Joe Walsh – I Can Play That Rock and Roll”

  1. How much drugs were taken during the making of this video. lol. That book ‘I Want My MTV’ was brilliant and answers all those questions as by the sounds of it everyone was high lol

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    1. I have that book in ebook format so I will have to finish it! This video is where life imitated art. Looks like everyone had fun on this.

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    1. His personality always comes through. He did have that more serious album a little later with The Confessor. Yes I liked this one a lot.

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    1. LOL…Yea I forgot about this one also…remember the other hit on the album? That is coming up in a couple of weeks.

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  5. Fun tune, Max. Not sure I had heard it before. Then again, at times I forget what I did the previous day! 🙂

    The video almost looks like Walsh is acting out what he sings about in “Life Is Good.” He’s quite a character – a little weird if you ask me but certainly a great rock guitarist when he lets loose.

    I love what Walsh brought to the Eagles. “Life in the Fast Lane” is a great tune. And let’s not forget Walsh was part of the twin guitar solo in “Hotel California,” one of the most epic rock guitar solos I can think of!

    And then, of course, you have the early Joe Walsh with James Gang with “Funk #49”, “Walk Away” and other great tunes.

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    1. I think he was at his best in the James Gang because he had to carry the band with his guitar playing…as far as playing goes.

      I will say that him and Felder made a great team that they have missed badly ever since.

      He was taught hotel destruction by the king…Keith Moon took a liking to him and the rest is history.

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