Joe Walsh (1974) Help Me Through the Night - LOST 70s GEMS

Practically an Eagles audition tape, this glistening folk rock ballad was the exact type of harmony and acoustic guitar drenched melody done so well by the California hitmakers, it's no surprise they guested on the backing vocals; you could recognise those characteristic 'oohs' anywhere. The spiritual vibe is great and reminds me of what a good songwriter Joe Walsh is as well as a player, just check out Pretty Maids in a Row on the Hotel California album. But best is Walsh's superbly dour delivery capturing the frustration of the lyrics "Making up for the time is just the price you pay, then they take the prize away and it just ain't fair".

The layered production is what makes it really shine, a top class ballad outlier on a top class rocker album, So What(1974).