When members of The Eagles stepped out on their own, the results ranged from blockbuster success to forgotten misfires. But according to a new ranking, one solo release stands apart from the rest—earning the distinction of being labeled the worst Eagles solo album ever.
Ultimate Classic Rock recently ranked the best and worst solo albums released by every member of the Eagles, weighing artistic ambition, execution, and long-term impact. While several picks sparked debate, the bottom slot was unusually definitive.
That title went to Got Any Gum?, the 1987 solo album by Joe Walsh.
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In its assessment, Ultimate Classic Rock wrote that the album “earns its spot as the worst Eagles solo album ever,” citing a combination of misjudged production choices, dated ’80s aesthetics, and material that failed to showcase Walsh’s strengths as a guitarist and songwriter.
Released in October 1987, Got Any Gum? arrived during a difficult transitional period for many classic rock artists. Walsh, who turned 40 that year, leaned heavily into then-current keyboard-driven sounds and compressed production, a sharp departure from the guitar-forward style that had defined his work with the Eagles, the James Gang, and earlier solo releases.
The album was both a critical and commercial disappointment. It peaked at No. 113 on the Billboard 200, making it Walsh’s lowest-charting solo album. The Los Angeles Times later summed up its reception bluntly, calling it a “monumental flop.”
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There were flashes of promise. The lead single, “The Radio Song,” reached No. 8 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, and Walsh explained at the time that the track was meant to demystify his songwriting process.
He told Rolling Stone in a 2016 feature, "I decided I would make a song that explains how I write music. Because I got tired of people asking me. And if you read the lyrics, it tells you exactly how I do it: 'I like to sit in a silent place when no one's around and listen inside it/Inside the silence is the melody/Voices singing harmony.' That's it."
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"As far as the album title [1987 's Got Any Gum?], I was in New York City, and I was walking down the street. And this guy was coming toward me, and he was obviously homeless and looking for change and stuff. So I reached into my pocket and pulled out a handful of change, and when he got to me, I held it out and said, 'Here.' And he said, 'Nah, I don't want any money. You got any gum?' And I thought, 'This guy's a genius! That's brilliant!' It was like a Zen riddle and that was the answer," he added with a laugh.
Still, those moments weren’t enough to overcome what critics viewed as an unfocused album weighed down by period trends. In later retrospectives, Got Any Gum? has often been cited as the point where Walsh’s solo momentum stalled, years before the Eagles’ 1994 reunion helped reset his career and personal life.
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By contrast, Ultimate Classic Rock’s ranking also highlighted how uneven solo careers were across the band. Albums labeled “worst” by other members still managed respectable chart runs or certifications, underscoring just how stark Walsh’s misstep appeared in comparison.
Decades later, Got Any Gum? remains a cautionary entry in the Eagles’ sprawling post-band catalog, remembered less for its ambition than for how far it strayed from the sound that made Walsh one of rock’s most distinctive players.
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