Album: Too Late the Hero

Introduction
"Too Late the Hero" is a 1981 rock album by John Entwistle, the famous bassist of The Who. Launched as his 5th solo studio album, it was taped between sessions for The Who's "Face Dances" and is considered as among Entwistle's many cinematic and diverse works. It included contributions from Joe Walsh on guitars, Joe Vitale on drums, and some backing vocals from John David Souther.

Background
Following the success of previous solo works such as "Smash Your Head Against The Wall" (1971), "Whistle Rymes" (1972), "Rigormortis Sets In" (1973), and "Mad Dog" (1975), Entwistle chose to push his imaginative boundaries by checking out different styles and taking part in cooperation throughout "Too Late the Hero". His normal dark humor, comprehensive storytelling, and extraordinary musicianship stayed undamaged, while the album showcased more elaborate production, arrangement, and instrumentation than his earlier records. It was also Entwistle's very first album released under the ATCO Records label.

Recording Process
The recording of "Too Late the Hero" was expanded throughout 1980 and 1981, with sessions occurring at multiple areas, including Ramport Studios in London and Spectrum Sound Studios in Los Angeles. Entwistle co-produced the album with Cy Langston and Bob Pridden, who had formerly worked with The Who. The album was mixed at the legendary Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, known for its recording deal with the similarity Eric Clapton and The Bee Gees.

Entwistle's perfectionism towards tape-recording the bass guitar defined the noise of this album, with many tunes including dense layers of bass lines intricately woven together to produce an unique texture. This often took precedence over lead guitars, which were primarily contributed to match the abundant bass structure.

Track Listing and Highlights
"Too Late the Hero" included ten tracks, many of which drew from varied stylistic influences such as folk, progressive rock, jazz, blues, and hard rock. The standout tracks consist of:

1. Attempt Me-- The opening track set the tone for the album with its haunting piano melody, slowly building into a complete band arrangement with layered vocals and an effective bass-driven chorus.
2. Talk Dirty-- This acid rock track showcased Entwistle's hallmark humor and double entendres, with an appealing chorus and transmittable groove.
3. Lovebird-- A ballad that pivoted on an emotive singing efficiency from Entwistle, layered harmonies, and a poignant lyric focused around the theme of heartbreak.
4. Falling-- A folk-inspired tune with acoustic guitars, rich string arrangements, and a storytelling method to songwriting.
5. Dancing Master-- With its fusion of jazz and rock affects, this track showed Entwistle's versatility as an artist, composer and arranger.
6. Too Late the Hero-- The album's epic title track runs for 9 minutes, including a skyrocketing vocal from Entwistle, richly in-depth instrumentation, and styles of war, loss, and regret.

Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, "Too Late the Hero" received combined reviews from critics, with some praising its enthusiastic scope and complex arrangements, while others felt that Entwistle's songwriting was overshadowed by fancy production and prolonged structures. The album peaked at # 71 on Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S and did not chart in the UK.

For many years, "Too Late the Hero" has acquired a cult following as fans and artists alike continue to appreciate Entwistle's artistic vision, varied songwriting, and groundbreaking bass playing, strengthening its place in the record of rock history.