Rocky Mountain Way

Welcome, Zoo Freaks, to another wild ride with the Zoo Crew at THE ZOO radio station, where we’re spinning the iconic "Rocky Mountain Way" by Joe Walsh from his 1973 album The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get. This track, a staple of classic rock, came to life when Walsh, fresh from leaving the James Gang, was mowing his lawn in Boulder, Colorado. As he gazed at the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in the summer of 1972, inspiration struck. He told The Howard Stern Show in 2012 that the stunning scenery hit him hard, cementing his decision to move from Cleveland: “I thought, ‘Well, I have committed. The Rocky Mountain way is better than the way I had, because the music was better.’ I got the words. Bam!” In his haste to jot down the lyrics, Walsh famously left the lawnmower running, which mowed a path through his neighbor’s rose bushes, costing him about $1,500 in damages. He later quipped to Louder, “The neighbor, though, she was pissed. I said to her, ‘You don’t understand! I got the words!’ But she just looked at me.”

Another juicy tidbit about "Rocky Mountain Way" is its pioneering use of the guitar talk box, crafted by sound engineer Bob Heil. This gave the song its futuristic, robotic edge, described by Wikipedia as a “hulking mechanical beast” looming over the mountains. The track was a collaborative effort with Walsh’s band Barnstorm—Joe Vitale, Kenny Passarelli, and Rocke Grace—all credited as co-writers. Producer Bill Szymczyk revealed in Jake Brown’s 2014 book Behind the Boards II that Walsh layered “six or seven” guitars, recorded through a small amp with a single Shure SM57 mic, creating that dense, gritty rhythm. The song’s baseball reference, “Bases are loaded and Casey’s at bat,” nods to the poem “Casey at the Bat,” and has made it a favorite at sporting events, especially for the Colorado Rockies, who play it after home wins. In 1998, Walsh even rewrote the lyrics as “Rocky Mountain Elway” for the Denver Broncos’ John Elway, featured on ABC’s Monday Night Football.

Joe Walsh’s journey to rock stardom began in Wichita, Kansas, where he was born on November 20, 1947. After his father, a pilot, died in a 1949 plane crash, Walsh was adopted by his stepfather at age five, taking the surname Walsh but keeping Fidler as his middle name. Raised in Columbus, Ohio, by his mother, a classically trained pianist, Walsh was steeped in music early on. He picked up the guitar as a teenager, influenced by the likes of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. By the late 1960s, he was studying at Kent State University but ditched academics to join the Cleveland-based James Gang in 1968. His bluesy riffs and songwriting shone on hits like “Funk #49” and “Walk Away,” but feeling creatively stifled, he left in 1971. Walsh then moved to Colorado, formed Barnstorm, and released his debut solo album in 1972, setting the stage for The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get, which hit No. 6 on the Billboard charts, largely thanks to “Rocky Mountain Way.” His later tenure with the Eagles, starting in 1975, cemented his legend status with tracks like “Life in the Fast Lane.”

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Joe Walsh’s latest gigs and musings on his official website, where you’ll find tour dates and merch. Connect with him on Facebook, where he shares updates and throwback photos, or follow his Instagram for behind-the-scenes snaps. On X, Walsh occasionally drops witty posts and interacts with fans. For those craving more, check out the fan-driven Joe Walsh Fan Club on Facebook, a lively group where devotees swap stories, rare clips, and concert memories. Another gem is Eagles Online Central, a fan site with deep dives into Walsh’s Eagles era, including forums and discographies. So, crank up “Rocky Mountain Way,” let that talk box wail, and keep it freaky, Zoo Crew listeners!