Thirds (1971)

""Rides Again" set the stage for the group's third album to propel them to headliner status, but that didn't happen. Among the 9 songs, 4 were contributed by Walsh, 2 each by bass player Dale Peters and drummer Jim Fox, and one was a group composition. But it was Walsh's songs that stood out. The Fox and Peters compositions were a step down in quality. But the problem wasn't just material, it was also musical approach. "Rides Again" had emphasized the band's hard rock sound, which was its strong suit. But they had never given up the idea of themselves as an eclectic unit, and "Thirds" was their most diverse effort yet, with pedal steel guitar, horn and string charts, and backup vocals by the Sweet Inspirations turning up on one track or another. At a time when Walsh was being hailed as a guitar hero, he was not only submerging himself in a group with inferiors, but also not playing much lead guitar. As a result, "Third" was not the expected commercial breakthrough." (W. Ruhlmann, Allmusic; 4 uit 5 sterren)

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