Album of the Day

“I saw a bum about a block away and I knew he was going to ask me for spare change,” recalled Joe Walsh of the title to GOT ANY GUM? “I'm all ready but he gets up to me and I say, 'Here, help yourself.' He says 'I don't need money, ya got any gum?'” In keeping with that, the 1987 Warner Bros. collection is filled with pleasant surprises; “The Radio Song” reached Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Top 10, follow-up single “In My Car” was co-written with Ringo Starr and such songs as “Malibu” and the title instrumental are infectious fun. Recorded at Ardent Studios with Memphis music stalwart Terry Manning handling production, the underrated GOT ANY GUM? is one of Joe Walsh's best albums of the 1980s, and we'll give it another spin now to wish the performer a happy birthday.