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Joe Walsh — Turn To Stone
Album: So What
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2026









Released: 1974
Length: 3:41
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Hey now the well run dry
Pages of the book on fire
Read the writing ...on the wall...

Hoedown, say showdown
Everywhere you look
they're fighting...Hear the call...

And you know its getting stronger,
It can't last very much longer
Turn to stone

[Break/Short Solo 1]

Well there's a change in the wind
You know the signs don't lie
Such a strange feeling and I don't know why
Its takin'... such a long time ...

Backyard people and they work all day
Tired of the speeches
And the way the reasons they keep changin'...
Just to make the Words Rhyme...

And you know its getting stronger,
Can't fake 'em out much longer
Turn to stone

[Solo 2]

And you know its getting stronger,
It can't last very much longer
Turn to stone

[Quiet Break]

[Break/Solo 3 to end]
Comments (71)add comment
My first favorite guitar album as a teenager in the late 70s... 
Am I the only one hearing a Pink Floyd influence in this song?
Liked it so much he recorded it on two of his studio albums. His first with his band Barnstorm (1972, self titled) and then on his second solo album, So What (1974)
Loving you Joe my man. Always will.
 Majestic wrote:

If this doesn't sound like 70s guitar-rock, I don't know what does. 



LOVE IT!  
If this doesn't sound like 70s guitar-rock, I don't know what does. 

 Tippster wrote:

After Knopfler and Gilmour this is my favorite guitarist to just kick back and groove to. Sure there are probably oodles of others better, but Joe can tickle the cat gut in a fine way. 




I would put him above Knopler, but just barely.  I was relieved you did not say Page.   Some people are just born to do certain things.... Joe was born to play music.


They call them "power chords".

And it's got bongos.

Therefore: "Power bongos".

I think Aristole once concluded the same thing...in a conversation with Socrates

Damn this song rocks
Saw James Gang at the Winter Pop concert in Toronto in the early 1970s.

Along with Johnny Winter, Sha Na Na, Chilliwack and a couple of other bands.  Talk about a hard rockin' concert!
After Knopfler and Gilmour this is my favorite guitarist to just kick back and groove to. Sure there are probably oodles of others better, but Joe can tickle the cat gut in a fine way. 
WOW, there's a lot of Floyd in there, cool tune!
Joe Walsh ROCKS!!! You can play Joe more often Mr Bill, I promise I wont be mad at you
They call them "power chords". 

And it's got bongos.

Therefore: "Power bongos".   

I think Aristole once concluded the same thing...in a conversation with Socrates
Thumbs up.
Great tune!!
This is very good, but I really love the live version on You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind – that whole album is awesome. You should give it a listen
That cover photo is friggin' awesome.
 treatment_bound wrote:



Some guy on my floor in college used to crank Joe's live album from '76 (You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind), which had this great song as the last cut.  I'll always remember the ending, which seemed to have an overdubbed Joe going..."Turn to Stone, Thank You"!  
 

On James Gang Yer' Album, the run out groove had 'Turn Me Over!' on side one and 'Play me again!' on side two. That is, if you didn't have an automatic turntable...
love Joe's guitar sound
Eagles made a great move hiring him.
The opening riff is reminiscent of Roy Buchanan.
From Barnstorm originally.  And I still prefer that version.

FWIW ... This is Joe's reaction to the events on May 4, 1970 at Kent State where he was a local at the time.
Joe and Ringo are brothers in law and having a great time right now.
edit
3 months later we are in  a pandemic lockdown



Well there's a change in the wind
You know the signs don't lie
Ahhhhh, back when any 15 yr old could sound like Joe Walsh playing those power chords. 
was so bummed to hear it was a different Joe Walsh running for President. Oh well, Life's been good so far..
Need to hear from Barnstorm. 
 idiot_wind wrote:
Oh my...remember when every 15 year old with a guitar was trying to get that rift down. 
 
its 3 power chords
Cool Between Deep purple and Pink Floyd 
good thing my wife just came home to hold me in her arms!
 I'm with you !  coloradojohn wrote:
It's ALWAYS a good time to hear old smokin' Joe lay down some of the baddest riffing ever put on a set of strings, & he bent them well.

 

Oh my...remember when every 15 year old with a guitar was trying to get that rift down. 
 kurtster wrote:
Ok for a cover of his original version.

 
Sorry...this is the rare example of the cover being better then the original. Another example would be "All Along the Watchtower".
Ok for a cover of his original version.
Can anyone else hear Cobain in this song?
It's ALWAYS a good time to hear old smokin' Joe lay down some of the baddest riffing ever put on a set of strings, & he bent them well.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Those prostate exams are a bitch!

 
Too Funny!
 Crusy wrote:

{#Yes} Just like as the guitar was from PF's Animals

 
This album was released about three years before "Animals".  Crazy, isn't it?  Pink Floyd did not really invent all music.
It's all about them hooks, baby!
 CruzanBits wrote:
This particular Joe Walsh sounds a lot like Pink Floyd.

 
{#Yes} Just like as the guitar was from PF's Animals
 hayduke2 wrote:
YEEE HEEEE!!! WOW-WOW-WOOOOOW NEEEE-OOOOOOOOWW NEEOOOOOOW WOOOOWWW!!!  : )
 
Those prostate exams are a bitch!
YEEE HEEEE!!! WOW-WOW-WOOOOOW NEEEE-OOOOOOOOWW NEEOOOOOOW WOOOOWWW!!!  : )
   Invisible to the naked human eyes.
So who's checking up on the reuptake?
 yeshetarchin wrote:

rocky mountain way was my favourite song on that album - goose bumps..

 
I much prefer "Meadows".
Even though it's the live version there.
"Meadows" is never played anywhere... hence my favorite.
And it REALLY ROCKS.


So What has always been one of my favorite albums. One of those amazing works that I gladly listen to beginning to end. There is a very limited set of albums I can say that about. Turn to Stone is Joe at his best.
Always thought Joe's solo work was pretty ho-hum.  Now his work w/ The James Gang, different story.
 treatment_bound wrote:

Some guy on my floor in college used to crank Joe's live album from '76 (You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind), which had this great song as the last cut.  I'll always remember the ending, which seemed to have an overdubbed Joe going..."Turn to Stone, Thank You"!  

 
rocky mountain way was my favourite song on that album - goose bumps..
You are taking me way back today, Bill. {#Daisy}{#Roflol}
Nice!!!!
 
One of my very first albums, from one of those Columbia House deals where you got like 13 for $1, then had to buy 8 more at "regular" price.  Played this album till the little shavings were coming off of it...
Timing, nostalgia, Friday mood... whatever it is this song gets a 9 right now.
Fucking Joe Walsh!!!
 
This particular Joe Walsh sounds a lot like Pink Floyd.
LOVE Joe Walsh!
 ch83575 wrote:
I hope he didn't expect to be taken very seriously after that album cover... probably not.

 
Judging by the album title, I would say not.
A very tasty blast of rock and roll flavor from the past!



Some guy on my floor in college used to crank Joe's live album from '76 (You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind), which had this great song as the last cut.  I'll always remember the ending, which seemed to have an overdubbed Joe going..."Turn to Stone, Thank You"!  
Can only give this version an 8.  This is gutless compared to the original version on Barnstorm which is a head turning 10.

This song is Joe's personal reaction to the events at Kent State on May 4 1970.
whoa man, super flash-back tune....thank you for agitating the grey cells and dissuading impending simpleness, now s'cuse me while I do a bit of stompin around, YEEE HEEEE!!!
In the words of Frank Zappa; "Shut Up N Play Yer' Guitar".
{#Bananapiano} Joe is "top"
Great guitar work. Always good to hear this.
Remember this album very well. I was in the Navy stationed in Alameda across the Bay from San Fransico. Saw Joe at Winterland. Excllent show
Nice,  Great song!  Thanks for playing.    Why  he felt he had to join the Eagles is beyond me, he is a great on his own.
Nice addition to the playlist. Brings back good memories.
IMO one of those incredible musicians who never got super-popular, but deserved to be. One of my favorite albums from college days. Nice to hear something from Mr Walsh again. 
 oldfart48 wrote:
sounds just like Joe Walsh, who wudda thunk it.

 

Joe's a beauty and a great guitarist {#Bananajam}
Very Good Album
sounds just like Joe Walsh, who wudda thunk it.
I hope he didn't expect to be taken very seriously after that album cover... probably not.

Excellent ! I forgot all about this one.


{#Guitarist} Always loved this.