Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get

Japanese reissue packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve. Album Description

Classic '70s--Mellow, Moody, and Rock and Roll

This is a must-have in any true Rocker's library. It starts out jamming with Rocky Mountain Way and moves into some mellow tunes like Wolf, Dreams, and Midnight Moodies. I remember well (?) a night in 1973 when the title made perfect sense to me...
Anyway--you need this music in your collection. Seriously. September 11, 2008

"Rocky Mountain Way" is just the start....

of a great album. Every song here is enjoyable. My favorites(besides "Rocky....) have to be "Meadows" and "Bookends". A great mix of rockin and softer songs. I carry this one to work with me often. If you like Joe Walsh this is a must have. May 7, 2008

(4.5 stars) THE LISTEN YOU BETTER, THE MORE IT GETS ! (a solid album from rock's resident comedian/guitar guru)

The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get (1973), Joe Walsh's second solo album, includes two rock classics, Rocky Mountain Way and Meadows. Both include plenty of great guitar, Joe's wry wit, and fine vocal performances. Rocky Mountain Way made famous the "talk box", which would later be used by Peter Frampton on his blockbuster, Frampton Comes Alive. The tune is Joe's signature song, and his most popular recording. It's political/anti-political message begins with:

Spent the last year
Rocky Mountain Way
Couldn't get much higher
Out to pasture
Think it's safe to say
Time to open fire

Meadows has an autumnal theme, a great rhythm guitar riff, and Joe just being his unpretentious and charming self.

Can't help but feel uncertain
Knowing which way to turn
They want to raise the curtain
And you're holding the words to learn

Wolf is a somber minor-key reflection in the tradition of his James Gang composition Ashes, the Rain, and I. Midnite Moodies is a jazzy instrumental that features flute expressions from Joe Vitale. This is not a perfect album, but it's very good, and The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get is essential for Joe Walsh fans. It's one of his best.

November 1, 2007

The Smoker you drink, the player you get - Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh goes back a long way - before he joined The Eagles and this album contains the Rocky Mountain Way track which is a classic. Fully recommend this album. October 1, 2007

Great Joe Walsh CD/Cassette With A Humorous Title

THE SMOKER YOU DRINK, THE PLAYER YOU GET is a great CD/cassette that includes many classic songs, including, especially, the sports anthem "Rocky Mountain Way" and the midtempo rocker "Meadows." The album continues Walsh's direction from his James Gang years while pointing the way towards his work with the Eagles. While there's plenty of humor to be found here, Walsh is clearly no novelty act. Walsh's advocacies of sanctions against countries which convict foreign tourists for trumped-up crimes and increased funding for law enforcement/community policing make this CD/cassette an essential purchase for both your ears AND your conscience. September 19, 2007

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