Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get (2LP, 45RPM)
Joe Walsh – guitars, keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals, lead vocals (A1, B1, C1-2, D2)
Kenny Passarelli – bass, guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (B3)
Joe Vitale – drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, flute, backing vocals, lead vocals (A2, D1)
Rocke Grace – keyboards, backing vocals
Session musicians
Joe Lala – percussion
Venetta Fields – backing vocals
Clydie King – backing vocals
2 LP, Stoughton Printing gatefold tip-on heavyweight cardboard jacket
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 45 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Quality Record Pressings
Label : Analogue Productions
Original Label : Dunhill / ABC Records
Recorded late 1972 – Early 1973 at Record Plant, Los Angeles and Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado
Engineered & mixed by Al Blazek, Howie Alpert, Mike Stone, Ronnie Alpert
Produced by Bill Szymczyk
Remastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
Originally released in 1973
Reissued in 2017
Tracks:
Side A :
- Rocky Mountain Way (Joe Walsh, Joe Vitale, Kenny Passarelli, Rocke Grace)
- Book Ends
Side B:
- Wolf
- Midnight Moodies
- Happy Ways
Side C:
- Meadows
- Dreams
Side D:
- 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 / 5