Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get
Guitar, Vocals - Joe Walsh
Vocals – Clydie King, Venetta Fields
Bass - Kenny Passarelli
Drums, Flute, Keyboards - Joe Vitale
Keyboards - Rocke Grace
Arranged by Joe Walsh
Written by Joe Walsh (A1-3, B1-4), Kenny Passarelli (A1, A4), Joe Vitale (A1, A4, B1, B3), Rocke Grace (A1, A4)
1 LP, Stoughton Printing tip-on gatefold jacket
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Quality Record Pressings
Label : Analogue Productions
Original Label : ABC Records
Recorded in1973 at Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, FL, and Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA
Engineered by Bill Szymczyk, Al Blazek, Howie Alpert, Mike Stone, Ronnie Alpert
Mixed by Bill Szymczyk
Produced by Bill Szymczyk, Joe Walsh
Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
Album Design by Jimmy Wachtel
Photography by Bob Jenkins
Originally released in 1973
Reissued in 2024
Tracks
Side A:
- Rocky Mountain Way
- Book Ends
- Wolf
- Midnight Moodies
Side B:
- Happy Ways
- Meadows
- Dreams
- Days Gone By
- (Day Dream) Prayer
Reviews :
“The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get, Joe Walsh's second solo studio album, continues the heavy and light rock mix of tracks found on his previous release, Barnstorm. Indeed, the opening two tracks bear this out. The first, perhaps Walsh's most recognized track, "Rocky Mountain Way," comes replete with overly distorted guitars and the obligatory solo. The next song, "Book Ends," is a tuneful ode to happy memories. 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. Joe Vitale (drums, flute, backing vocals, keyboards, and synthesizers – a talented man) and Kenny Passarelli (bass and backing vocals) are once again employed, and once again prove themselves adept at handling Walsh's various styles. The album sees an addition to the backing band in the form of Rocke Grace on keyboards and vocals. The legendary Bill Szymczyk works along with Walsh to handle the production, and takes care of the mixing. Szymczyk's work on this area is, as always, astounding. The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get 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.” AllMusic Review by Ben Davies
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4.5 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.62 / 5