Joseph Fidler Walsh (born Joseph Woodward Fidler; November 20, 1947) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Best known as a member of the rock band Eagles, his five-decade career includes solo work and stints in other bands: James Gang, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, and New Zealand’s Herbs. He was part of the supergroup The Best and had success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, appearing on other artists’ recordings. In 2011, Rolling Stone ranked him No. 54 on its list of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Walsh was a background musician (1st guitar solo) on Eagles bandmember Don Henley‘s 1982 hit “Dirty Laundry” (listed as such in the liner notes of I Can’t Stand Still and Actual Miles: Henley’s Greatest Hits). Walsh has also contributed to albums by Ringo Starr; America; REO Speedwagon; Jay Ferguson; Andy Gibb; Wilson Phillips; Emerson, Lake & Palmer; and Steve Winwood; and to the Richard Marx hit single “Don’t Mean Nothing“.

Joe Walsh’s first solo album, “The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get,” is often considered his breakout album. It was released in 1973 and helped establish him as a solo act. While Barnstorm was his debut album with his band, Barnstorm, this solo release is what truly launched his solo career.

Joe Walsh was married five times and has 4 children. He has admitted to struggling with alcohol and drug addiction for most of his early career, but has been clean and sober since 1993.

My first car was a gift from my parents, my father, really. I turned 16 in 1974 and they got me a 1972 blue Dodge Demon with a 340 cubic inch V-8, vinyl roof, and two bench seats. I had no idea it was a muscle car, I just knew that it was mine. It had an 8 track player and the seller had forgotten to take out the cassette when he sold it. It was Joe Walsh’s “The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get” and I played that thing 100 times. Oh, the memories!

Rocky Mountain Way

Song by Joe Walsh ‧ 1973

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

And we don’t need the ladies
Crying ’cause the story’s sad

‘Cause the Rocky Mountain Way
Is better than the way we had

Well, he’s tellin’ us this
And he’s tellin’ us that
Changes it every day
Says it doesn’t matter
Bases are loaded and Casey’s at bat
Playin’ it play by play
Time to change the batter

And we don’t need the ladies
Crying ’cause the story’s sad

Rocky Mountain Way
Is better than the way we had

This is written in response to Jim Adam’s Song Lyric Sunday. The theme is a Breakout Album.

The Big Time