"Life's Been Good"is a song by American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalistJoe Walshthat first appeared on thesoundtrackto the 1978 filmFM.The original eight-minute version was released on Walsh's fourth studio albumBut Seriously, Folks...(1978), and an edited four-minute single version peaked at No. 12 on the USBillboardHot 100,remaining his biggest solo hit.
| "Life's Been Good" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyJoe Walsh | ||||
| from the albumBut Seriously, Folks...andFM: The Original Movie Soundtrack | ||||
| B-side | "Theme from Boat Weirdos" | |||
| Released | May 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 8:56(album version w/hidden track) 8:04 (album version w/ohidden track) 4:35 (single version) | |||
| Label | AsylumandMCA Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Joe Walsh | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Joe Walshsingles chronology | ||||
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| Audio | ||||
| "Life's Been Good"onYouTube | ||||
In the song, Walsh satirically reflects on the antics and excesses of the era's rock stars, with nods to drummerKeith Moonofthe Whoand others: "I live in hotels, tear out the walls/I have accountants pay for it all", and "MyMaserati[1]does one-eighty-five/I lost my license, now I don't drive ", based on his own experience.
The 1979Rolling Stone Record Guidecalled it "riotous", and "(maybe) the most important statement on rock stardom anyone has made in the late Seventies".
Content
edit"Life's Been Good" has a mid-tempo,reggae-like groove marked by bedrock guitarriffs,synthesizers, and humorous lyrics. According toBillboard,the lyrics are at least partially autobiographical.[2]Walsh'sARP Odysseysynthesizer riff accompanies the lead guitar in the middle of the song. The lead guitar in theoutrois accompanied by the main riff.Bill Szymczykand Jody Boyer perform the backing vocals.[citation needed]
The pre-chorus section on the second and third verses uses acall and responsepattern.
- Joe Walsh: "Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through"
- Call: Bill Szymczyk: "Everybody say I'm cool"
- Response: Jody Boyer: "He's cool"
- Joe Walsh: "They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time"
- Call: Bill Szymczyk: "Everybody say," Oh, yeah ""
- Response: Jody Boyer: "Oh, yeah!"
Record Worldsaid that the song "blends [Walsh's] signature guitar work with a touch ofreggae"and that" the lyrics touch on a number of topics, all treated with a light irony. "[3]
At the end of the LP, there is a clip of anin-jokestating "uh-oh, here comes a flock of wah wahs", recorded from inside the studio. After the music has faded away into silence, there's a 10-second gap before the inside joke. That inside joke would also be included at the end of disc one of theEagles' box set,Selected Works: 1972–1999(2000).[citation needed]
Made after Walsh had joined the Eagles, "Life's Been Good" was incorporated into that group's concert repertoire, appearing in shows at the time as well as reunion tours. It remains a staple ofclassic rockradio playlists. A live version of the song with the Eagles appears on the 1980 albumEagles Live,where some of the lyrics are changed.[citation needed]
Inspiration
editIn a 2012 concert at theTroubadourin West Hollywood, California, Walsh explained that the song's lyrics were largely true. He purchased a home inSanta Barbara, California,shortly before he joined the Eagles, then spent the next two years touring or recording and mostly living in hotels. He preferred asuite:if a hotel did not have one available, he would rent two adjacent rooms, "tearing out a wall" to create one. He owned aMaseratiand did often ride inlimousines.His driving license was lost, not because it was confiscated but because he lost his wallet with it in. He had an office he never visited with gold records on the wall and an answering machine. Walsh often stayed late at parties. Once, when he attempted to leave in the early morning hours, instead of finding the front door, he walked into a closet by mistake.[4]
Chart performance
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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References
edit- ^Rob Maetzig (March 23, 2018)."Life isn't that good for Joe Walsh's Maserati".Stuff.
- ^"Top Single Picks"(PDF).Billboard.June 10, 1978. p. 82.RetrievedJuly 9,2020.
- ^"Hits of the Week"(PDF).Record World.June 10, 1978. p. 1.RetrievedFebruary 13,2023.
- ^Life's Been Good (Spoken Word Version)onYouTube
- ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 332.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
- ^"Joe Walsh > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles".Allmusic.RetrievedJanuary 29,2010.
- ^"CASH BOX Top 100 Singles, August 19, 1978".Archived fromthe originalon February 15, 2015.RetrievedApril 4,2017.
- ^"RPM Top 100 Singles - August 26, 1978"(PDF).
- ^"Search results".Irishcharts.ie.RetrievedFebruary 2,2010.
- ^"Joe Walsh - Life's Been Good".Charts.nz.RetrievedJanuary 29,2010.
- ^"The Official Charts Company - Joe Walsh - Life's Been Good".Official Charts.RetrievedJanuary 10,2020.
- ^"Top Singles – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978".RPM.Library and Archives Canada.Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedJuly 21,2014.
- ^"Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978".Musicoutfitters.com.RetrievedApril 4,2017.
- ^"The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1978".Archived fromthe originalon September 29, 2018.RetrievedApril 4,2017.
External links
edit- "Life's Been Good"atDiscogs(list of releases)