Maps of Music

The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get (1973)

Where the lyrics of The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get take you, and where it was really made.

The album is credited to Walsh alone, although he made it with the band Barnstorm, and that credit led to the band's demise.

Key places

Recording at Record Plant, Los Angeles (1973)

Recording site Record Plant (Los Angeles) — Discogs lists The Record Plant in Los Angeles among the places where this album was recorded. The pin marks the building listed for this studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Record Plant, Sausalito (1973)

Recording site Plant Recording (Sausalito) — Discogs lists Record Plant Sausalito as a recording location for this album. The map shows only the centre of Sausalito, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Criteria Studios, Miami (1973)

Recording site The Hit Factory Criteria — Discogs lists Criteria Recording Studios in Miami as a recording location for this album. The map shows only the centre of Miami, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Caribou Ranch (1973)

Recording site Caribou Ranch — Discogs lists Caribou Ranch in Nederland as one of the recording locations for this album. The pin marks the studio site listed for Caribou Ranch. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get: second solo studio album by Joe Walsh
• Released 1973 by ABC-Dunhill Records in the United States and the United Kingdom, and also released in Germany
• Walsh's commercial breakthrough, driven by the Top 40 single "Rocky Mountain Way"
• That single helped push the album into the Top 10
• Walsh shares vocals and songwriting with Barnstorm members Joe Vitale and Kenny Passarelli, and new keyboardist Rocke Grace
• Styles explored include blues, jazz, folk, pop and Caribbean music
• Credited to Walsh alone, not to Barnstorm

Background

• Walsh left the trio in December 1971
• Walsh said he felt frustrated as the only melodic instrument in the band
• He formed Barnstorm with Joe Vitale and Kenny Passarelli
• The 1972 self-titled Barnstorm debut was credited to Walsh and did poorly
• Walsh blamed industry pressure for the debut's weak performance

Recording

• Discogs lists recording at The Record Plant in Los Angeles and Sausalito, Criteria Studios in Miami, and Caribou Ranch in Nederland
• Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City
• Bill Szymczyk worked as record producer, engineer and mixer; Walsh is also credited as record producer
• Engineering credits include Mike D. Stone of the Record Plant, Ron Albert (spelled Ronnie Alpert on the album) and Al Blazek
• Session musicians: Joe Lala on percussion, Venetta Fields and Clydie King on backing vocals

Cover

• Cover art features a First World War era British Sopwith Snipe fighter plane with fanciful coloration
• Album design by Jimmy Wachtel; photography credited to Bob Jenkins

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, born November 20, 1947 in Wichita, Kansas.
• Best known as a member of the rock band Eagles, joining in 1975 as guitarist and keyboardist, replacing Bernie Leadon.
• Earlier played with local Ohio bands, then the James Gang (1968–1971), known for the hit "Funk 49".
• Led Barnstorm (1971–1974) with Joe Vitale and Kenny Passarelli; "Rocky Mountain Way" reached No. 23 on the US Top 40.
• Solo hits include "Life's Been Good" (No. 12 Billboard Hot 100) and "A Life of Illusion".
• Rolling Stone ranked him No. 54 on its 2011 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Eagles in 1998.

Recognition

• Eagles won five Grammy Awards in total, with Walsh a member of the group.
• Earned an honorary music degree from Kent State University in 2001.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• A Record World writer said Walsh had gathered his best work since the early James Gang days in this set of electrified and imaginative music
• Billboard described the album as a good straight-ahead rock set

Reappraisal

• AllMusic critic Ben Davies wrote in retrospect that Walsh's ability to swing across the rock scale is unparalleled
• Davies said the album suits many tastes and includes some of Walsh's most remembered tracks
• Davies said each of the nine tracks is a song to be proud of
• Davies praised Bill Szymczyk's production and mixing work

Records

• "Rocky Mountain Way" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 99 on 11 August 1973 and peaked at number 23
• "Rocky Mountain Way" peaked at number 13 on the Cash Box singles chart
• "Meadows" was released on 25 January 1974 as the second and last single and peaked at number 89 on the Hot 100
• A quadraphonic edition came out on LP and 8-track tape in 1974
• Audio Fidelity issued a limited 24-karat gold CD in 2009
• A Japanese SHM-CD version followed in 2011 with a miniature replica of the original sleeve

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title is a play on the saying: the higher you get, the better you play.
• Credit to Walsh alone, not to Barnstorm, is what led to the band's demise.
• Barnstorm's 1972 debut was also credited to Walsh, and Walsh blamed industry politics for its poor results.
• Later streaming releases spell "Daydream (Prayer)" as "(Day Dream) Prayer" and "Bookends" as "Book Ends".

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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