The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get
Encyclopedia
The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get is the second album
by Joe Walsh
and his band Barnstorm
, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music
), although the album's front cover (right) credits only Walsh. It proved to be his commercial breakthrough, largely on the strength of the Top 40 hit single, "Rocky Mountain Way
", which helped propel the album into the Top 10.
On this album, Walsh shares the vocals and songwriting with the other three members of Barnstorm, drummer/multi-instrumentalist Joe Vitale
, bassist Kenny Passarelli, and the new member, keyboardist Rocke Grace. As a result, a variety of styles are explored on this album. There are elements of blues, jazz, folk, pop, and even Caribbean music.
After the success of this album, Barnstorm disbanded, and Walsh continued as a solo artist.
, except where noted.
Side one
Side two
This LP had a STEREO release as well as a QUADRAPHONIC release.
The surround sound information on the QUAD LP can be extracted by
today's audio-video receivers using the DOLBY PRO LOGIC setting.
Singles – Billboard (North America)
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
and his band Barnstorm
Barnstorm (group)
Barnstorm was the group created by Joe Walsh after he left the James Gang. The original members of the group were Walsh , Joe Vitale and Kenny Passarelli ; all of the members contributed vocals and songs, although Walsh was the principal singer and songwriter...
, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
), although the album's front cover (right) credits only Walsh. It proved to be his commercial breakthrough, largely on the strength of the Top 40 hit single, "Rocky Mountain Way
Rocky Mountain Way (song)
"Rocky Mountain Way" is a 1973 song by rock guitarist Joe Walsh and his band Barnstorm, with writing credits given to Walsh, Rocke Grace, Kenny Passarelli, and Joe Vitale...
", which helped propel the album into the Top 10.
On this album, Walsh shares the vocals and songwriting with the other three members of Barnstorm, drummer/multi-instrumentalist Joe Vitale
Joe Vitale (musician)
Joe Vitale is an American musician primarily known as a drummer but also a flautist, keyboardist and singer. He has played with many of the top names in music during a career dating back to the 1970s.-Biography:...
, bassist Kenny Passarelli, and the new member, keyboardist Rocke Grace. As a result, a variety of styles are explored on this album. There are elements of blues, jazz, folk, pop, and even Caribbean music.
After the success of this album, Barnstorm disbanded, and Walsh continued as a solo artist.
Reception
Writing for Allmusic, critic Ben Davies wrote of the album "Walsh's ability to swing wildly from one end of the rock scale to the other is unparalleled and makes for an album to suit many tastes... [it] features some of the most remembered Joe Walsh tracks, but it's not just these that make the album a success. Each of the nine tracks is a song to be proud of. This is a superb album by anyone's standards."Track listing
All songs by Joe WalshJoe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
, except where noted.
Side one
- "Rocky Mountain WayRocky Mountain Way (song)"Rocky Mountain Way" is a 1973 song by rock guitarist Joe Walsh and his band Barnstorm, with writing credits given to Walsh, Rocke Grace, Kenny Passarelli, and Joe Vitale...
" (Joe Walsh, Joe VitaleJoe Vitale (musician)Joe Vitale is an American musician primarily known as a drummer but also a flautist, keyboardist and singer. He has played with many of the top names in music during a career dating back to the 1970s.-Biography:...
, Kenny Passarelli, Rocke Grace) – 5:15 - "Book Ends" (Vitale) – 2:45
- "Wolf" – 3:09
- "Midnight Moodies" (Grace) – 3:39
- "Happy Ways" (Passarelli, Bernard Zoloth) – 2:40
Side two
- "Meadows" – 4:36
- "Dreams" – 5:50
- "Days Gone By" (Vitale) – 5:54
- "(Day Dream) Prayer" – 1:56
Personnel
- Joe WalshJoe WalshJoseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
: Lead guitars, synthesizers, bass guitar, keyboards, vocals. - Kenny Passarelli: Bass guitar, guitar, vocals.
- Joe VitaleJoe Vitale (musician)Joe Vitale is an American musician primarily known as a drummer but also a flautist, keyboardist and singer. He has played with many of the top names in music during a career dating back to the 1970s.-Biography:...
: Drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, electric piano, flute, vocals. - Rocke Grace: Keyboards, vocals.
- Joe LalaJoe LalaJoe Lala is an actor and voice actor, notable for his dubbing of Kun Lan of the video-game Killer7.He also played drums and percussion on 32 gold and 28 platinum albums. His credits include Blues Image, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Manassas, The Bee Gees, Whitney Houston, and many...
: Percussion. - Venetta FieldsVenetta FieldsVenetta Fields is an American singer best known as session musician for leading rock and pop acts of the 1970s including Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, Steely Dan and the Rolling Stones...
: Backing vocals. - Clydie KingClydie KingClydie Crittendon is an American singer, best known for her session work as a backing vocalist....
: Backing vocals.
Production
- Producers: Joe Walsh, Bill SzymczykBill SzymczykBill Szymczyk is an American music producer and technical engineer best known for working with rock and blues musicians, most notably the Eagles in the 1970s. He produced many top albums and singles of the 1970s, though he retired from the music business by 1990...
- Engineers: Ronnie Alpert, Al Blazek, Mike "Clay" Stone, Bill Szymczyk
- Mixing: Bill Szymczyk
- Design: Jimmy Wachtel
- Photography: Bob Jenkins
This LP had a STEREO release as well as a QUADRAPHONIC release.
The surround sound information on the QUAD LP can be extracted by
today's audio-video receivers using the DOLBY PRO LOGIC setting.
Charts
Album – Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Pop Albums | 6 |
Singles – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Rocky Mountain Way" | Pop Singles | 23 |
| 1974 | "Meadows" | Pop Singles | 89 |