Rocky Mountain Way (song)
| "Rocky Mountain Way" | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Song by Joe Walsh | |
| from the album The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get | |
| Language | English |
| Released | 1973 |
| Recorded | 1973 |
| Genre | Rock, blues rock |
| Length | 5:17 |
| Label | ABC-Dunhill |
| Songwriter(s) |
Joe Walsh Joe Vitale Rocke Grace Kenny Passarelli |
| Producer(s) | Joe Walsh Bill Szymczyk |
"Rocky Mountain Way" is a 1973 song by rock guitarist Joe Walsh and his band Barnstorm, with writing credits given to Walsh, Rocke Grace, Kenny Passarelli, and Joe Vitale. The song was originally released on the album The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get.
Walsh appeared in studio on The Howard Stern Show on June 12, 2012 and talked about how the lyrics to the song came to him in 1972 shortly after releasing his first solo effort, Barnstorm.
"I'm living in Colorado and I'm mowing the lawn. I look up and there's the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and there's snow on them in the summer. And it knocked me back because it was just beautiful. And I thought, 'Well I have committed. I'm already in Colorado and it's too late to regret the James Gang. The Rocky Mountain way is better than the way I had, because the music was better.' I got the words. Bam!"
Walsh has varied that story over the years, however, telling the Rocky Mountain News that he wrote the lyrics while up recording the album at Caribou Ranch Recording Studio.
The song was used as the title to Walsh's 1985 compilation album, which featured previously released singles and tracks from albums Barnstorm, The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get and So What.
In 1976, Walsh recorded the song on his You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind album.
Walsh played the song frequently while on tour with the Eagles, including the 1977 Hotel California Tour, again in 1979 and later into the first half of 1980's Long Run tour, also being added yet again to the set in the 1994 reunion tour with Eagles.
In 1985, Walsh joined Australian rock band, The Party Boys, and while touring they recorded a live album, You Need Professional Help, which featured an extended guitar duel between Walsh and Kevin Borich on "Rocky Mountain Way".
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