Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Mountain Walk" by The Beagles with Joy

by Bob Makin

originally published: 09/18/2026

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Mountain Walk,” the third single from “Listen for a Moment,” the new LP by The Beagles with Joy. PHOTO BY NICK ROMANENKO

“Mountain Walk,” the third single from The Beagles with Joy’s new “Listen For A Moment” album, starts out as a tight yet jammy blues rocker.

But the Makin Waves Song of the Week takes a psychedelic turn on the extended edit featured in the tune’s music video.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Mountain Walk“ also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Sept. 18 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin, Mixcloud and RadioJersey.

In order to remember the song, singer-songwriter-guitarist Rob Freeman sang it over and over while descending into the fog at Stinson Beach on foot from the sunny top of Mount Tamalpais. The scenic 2,571-foot peak in Marin County offers 360-degree views of the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on the edges of 60 miles of hiking trails.

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The song is the first front woman Joy Okoye ever sang with The Beagles. On hearing Rob sing it to her, she said she was struck by its celebration of a blossomed relationship.

“A relationship between two whole people coming together into something larger than themselves,” she said, “rather than looking for someone to complete them with its core refrain: ‘I know that you've been good to me, but I know that you ain't gonna set me free.’”

Vocally inspired by the vibrations of Joy’s sound healing practice, the song’s extended version features Bay Area-inspired improvisation. In an enthusiastic album review, legendary Jersey music writer Jim Testa recently compared the tune to the Grateful Dead.

“I would not deny having enjoyed more than a few of their shows,” Rob said.

The Beagles with Joy also are excited to have “Mountain Walk” and the title track of “Listen For A Moment” in rotation on Blow Up Radio.

Produced by Rob and engineer Peter Gregory at Peter’s Rock Run Recording in Yardley, Pa., the album also features Beagles with Joy guitarist John Mazzeo, organist Jay Posipanko, bassist Christopher Clark and drummer David Ross.

Their latest project is coordinating a live multi-band tribute to The Band's “The Last Waltz,” taking place at Kumo 27 in the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick on Nov. 25. The date is the 50th anniversary of The Band’s historic “farewell” concert at San Francisco’s Winterland that also featured Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters and many more.

The Beagles with Joy also will play Oct. 24 at Kumo 27, as well as Oct. 10 at the Fall Arts Festival, Weeden Park, Lawrenceville, and March 21 at Princeton Public Library. The library show is a memorial tribute concert for the late local vocalist Olive Joseph, known for her work with the Einstein Alley Musicians Collaborative and Painting by Voice.

Olive was a prominent figure in the Princeton music scene. Rather than visual art, Painting by Voice is a musical services company that focuses on live musical performance and vocal entertainment.

Olive also was a core guest lead vocalist for Einstein Alley Musicians Collaborative, which frequently partners with Princeton Public Library and McCarter Theatre Center to bring free public concerts to Hinds Plaza.

She also frequently collaborated with The Beagles with Joy’s ongoing DiscoFunk project at regional music festivals and community Pride events. Her performances also were a staple at the annual Oxtail Fest hosted by Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum and community concerts at Weeden Park in Lawrence Township.

Check out the “Listen For A Moment” LP on Apple Music and Spotify.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.