All 84 Eagles Songs Ranked Worst to Best

As the listing of Eagles Songs Ranked Worst to Best exhibits, they made their legend in a veritable blink of an eye fixed. There have been solely seven studio albums and fewer than 90 songs. Only a kind of studio efforts, 2007’s Long Road Out of Eden, arrived outdoors of a good seven-year span within the ’70s that contains the Eagles’ traditional period.

Glenn Frey and Don Henley had been the constants, at the same time as Joe Walsh changed Bernie Leadon and Timothy B. Schmit adopted Randy Meisner. Don Felder made key contributions however solely over the course of a equally compact three-album swing within the late ’70s – with extra activates 1974’s On the Border and 1994’s appropriately titled reunion document, Hell Freezes Over.

That did not cease the Eagles’ music from altering and rising, even on such a brief timeline. Rootsy early sounds gave means to extra easy rock and R&B influences. Their songs sorted by the collective hangover following the ’60s, explored the contours of contemporary love and took up environmental causes. They revived a vacation traditional and nonetheless discovered time for a cowboy-themed playdate alongside the way in which.

We targeted on full-fledged songs, not interludes or box-set extras. So, “I Dreamed There Was No War,” a brief Frey instrumental from Long Road Out of Eden is included, as a result of it stood by itself. Reprises and repeated instrumental parts from 1973’s Desperado and 1976’s Hotel California had been left off.

See the place the remaining ended up within the under listing of Eagles Songs Ranked Worst to Best.

84. “I Wish You Peace”
From: One of These Nights (1975)

Away from Eagles, Leadon has been a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. So you may need anticipated one in every of his final moments with Eagles to be consultant of that rootsy historical past. Instead, Leadon shared writing duties on this slow-death elegy with live-in girlfriend Patti Davis – daughter of future President Ronald Reagan, who had all however disowned her for cohabitating with the Eagles cofounder. Henley, and he was being form, dismissed the outcomes as “smarmy cocktail music.”

83. “The Disco Strangler”
From: The Long Run (1979)

Co-credited to Frey, Henley and Don Felder, this one feels like Henley at his most dour – solely this time with a disco bass line! As Henley makes use of his gravelly tenor to as soon as once more skewer individuals who would dare exit to have time, this painfully apparent theme can solely settle into an unmusical ever-revolving riff. “The Disco Strangler” may need pushed Eagles followers to their very own murderous deeds had it not mercifully began to fade at concerning the 2:30 mark.

82. “Born to Boogie”
From: Selected Works: 1972–1999 (2000)
The Eagles truly coated Hank Williams Jr. Don’t ask.

81. “I Love to Watch a Woman Dance”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

This mawkish Larry John McNally observe had been floating about because the Eagles first bought collectively prematurely of 1994’s Hell Freezes Over. By the time they lastly bought round to recording it, nevertheless, Henley had already launched a canopy of McNally’s “For My Wedding” on his 2000 solo album Inside Job – making it clear that this was actually only a rewrite of the identical tune. McNally additionally composed Rod Stewart’s Top 10 1990 hit “The Motown Song,” which feels like neither of these different tracks.

80. “Teenage Jail”
From: The Long Run (1979)

Irritating musically, unfocused lyrically and that includes a squiggly synthesizer solo(!) by Glenn Frey, this one way or the other ended up because the B-side to his galloping chart-topper “Heartache Tonight.” That’s the definition of Eagles yin and Eagles yang. It’s nonetheless troublesome to consider that J.D. Souther — the easygoing country-rocker who helped compose signature Eagles songs like “Best of My Love,” “Victim of Love” and “New Kid in Town” — was concerned with such a plodding, flaccid throwaway.

79. “Nightingale”
From: Eagles (1972)

This was by no means supposed to be on the album, however Asylum label head David Geffen wished yet another Don Henley vocal. All they’d left over, nevertheless, was a poor try at this Jackson Browne observe. “Although I agreed that another song from Henley would be great,” producer Glyn Johns mentioned in his 2014 memoir Sound Man, “it had not worked out. The performance of the song by the band never came close to being good enough after several attempts. So, I had little faith in trying again.” Undeterred, Geffen then moved to arrange his personal post-production session. So Johns shortly completed “Nightingale,” and it sounds identical to that – a slapped-together also-ran.

78. “Get Over It”
From: Hell Freezes Over (1994)

Seemingly inclined to dangerous moods, Henley returned to Eagles with a glum tune that attracts out the worst of these tendencies. Even a scalding activate the slide from Joe Walsh cannot get issues again on observe as Henley un-ironically calls out others for “all this bitching, moaning, pitching a fit.” Still, it had been virtually 15 years because the Eagles had final launched a single, so “Get Over It” reached the Top 40 anyway.

77. “The Greeks Don’t Want No Freaks”
From: The Long Run (1979)

Clearly exhausted, each creatively and spiritually, Henley did what many individuals do: He bought nostalgic. In this case, it was for the faculty fraternity-party circuit in Austin, the place Henley’s pre-Eagles band Shiloh used to play on weekends earlier than he discovered fame. But an excessive amount of had modified within the interim. So, “The Greeks Don’t Want No Freaks” shares the fashion – however not the perspective, wit, gumption, looseness or humor – of the previous ’60s frat-rock band ? and the Mysterians.

76. “Chug All Night”
From: Eagles (1972)

Glenn Frey as soon as informed Cameron Crowe that “the only difference between boring and laid-back is a million dollars.” At this level, sadly, Eagles had been solely thousand-aires. In conserving, “Chug All Night” contains a snoozy riff to go along with a good snoozier theme. “And I’ve been meaning to tell you, baby,” Frey sings, “that it makes no sense.” He has a degree.

75. “Frail Grasp of the Big Picture”
From: The Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

For some cause, Eagles determined to stir in most of the best-forgotten parts (OK, let’s simply say it: synths) from their respective ’80s-era solo careers late on this two-disc set. Henley’s “Frail Grasp on the Big Picture” goes one higher, providing a media-hating lyric from I Can’t Stand Still to go along with the glossy keyboards from Building the Perfect Beast. This heaping serving to of Henley’s world-weary condescension is dragged the remainder of the way in which down by a dreary groove that feels like off-brand Steely Dan.

74. “On the Border”
From: (1974)

On the Border arrived throughout Eagles’ transition from roots to rock, personified by the mid-sessions exit of early producer Glyn Johns. (He oversaw solely “You Never Cry Like a Lover” and “Best of My Love,” although the latter truly turned the primary of the band’s 5 chart-toppers.) The title observe illustrated the issue they initially had in toughening up. A careless try at dunking on just lately resigned President Richard Nixon, “On the Border” is not as sharp because it wants to be lyrically – or musically. Were they really attempting for a Temptations vibe?

73. “Outlaw Man”
From: Desperado (1973)

This David Blue replace represents the second the place they took this LP’s relatively doubtful cowboy hyperlink a boot size too far. Henley subsequently admitted that “the metaphor was probably a little bullshit.” After all, “we were in L.A. staying up all night, smoking dope, living the California life.”

72. “Earlybird”
From: Eagles (1972)

There’s solely a lot Bernie Leadon’s fleet fingers on the banjo can cowl. The preliminary tweeting sound impact is each too on-the-nose and fairly annoying. It would not get any higher, with a lyric as predictable as it’s facile. Then the tweeting returns.

71. “Midnight Flyer”
From: On the Border (1974)

Randy Meisner is actually recreation for this bluegrass-y train-themed Paul Craft cowl, however “Midnight Flyer” all the time felt prefer it was dropped in from one other album. Maybe, contemplating the arrival of Don Felder elsewhere, from one other planet.

70. “Busy Being Fabulous”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

In case you had been questioning, Don Henley remains to be means too good for his woman.

69. “You Never Cry Like a Lover”
From: On the Border (1974)

Really, he all the time was, you recognize?

68. “Fast Company”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

Same. Except in falsetto.

67. “My Man”
From: On the Border (1974)

Bernie Leadon was essentially the most gifted instrumentalist the Eagles ever had. As a songwriter, although, not a lot.

66. “I Dreamed There Was No War”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

A beautiful interlude from Frey, however nonetheless … actually solely an interlude.

65. “What Do I Do with My Heart”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

Glenn Frey may do this type of quasi-R&B ballad in his sleep – and, on this case, he would possibly even have been.

64. “Certain Kind of Fool”
From: Desperado (1973)

Gosh, Randy Meisner simply sings the hell out of this tune. Too dangerous it is solely a half-drawn research of a personality who would not appear all that fascinating within the first place.

63. “It’s Your World Now”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

The sentiment turned sadly acceptable within the wake of Frey’s sudden demise, however its influence will all the time be ruled by anybody’s willingness to endure a musical setting finest described as “family-restaurant mariachi band.”

62. “No More Walks in the Wood”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

A vocal showcase within the fashion of “Seven Bridges Road,” however this innocuous cousin lacks Steve Young’s distinctive lyrical imagery.

61. “Visions”
From: One of These Nights (1975)

Written by Don Felder with an help from Henley, this riffy, Southern rock-informed observe is the one Eagles tune to function Felder on lead vocals. He’ll by no means be confused with the group’s better-known singers, however fortunately Felder’s scorching runs on his primary instrument present loads of gritty distractions.

60. “You Are Not Alone”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

The fairly, orchestrated “You Are Not Alone” presupposed Frey’s equally light-weight songbook activate 2012’s After Hours.

59. “Most of Us Are Sad”
From: Eagles (1972)

Frey gave this to Meisner to sing, however – regardless of the crushing title – “Most of Us Are Sad” simply would not ache sufficient to go well with his deeply emotional ballad method on the mic.

58. “Twenty-One”
From: Desperado (1973)

Lyrically, “Twenty-One” is not objectively higher than “My Man.” But Leadon’s picking-and-grinning method is simply contagiously enjoyable.

57. “Guilty of the Crime”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

There was usually extra nation than rock on the Eagles’ remaining studio effort, save for notable examples like this one. Unfortunately, Joe Walsh disappears right into a relatively faceless tune co-written by Frankie Miller and the late Jerry Lynn Williams, the latter of whom composed a bunch of boring songs for Eric Clapton, too.

56. “Take the Devil”
From: Eagles (1972)

Meisner’s first unique composition for Eagles was the dirge-y, hookless “Take the Devil,” exhibiting that he actually did not know the way to showcase his finest vocal attribute both. Still, Frey’s crunchy closing guitar solo hints at larger, typically unrecognized successes to come.

55. “I Don’t Want to Hear Any More”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

Paul Carrack contributes one other showcase for Timothy B. Schmit, however the sweetly forgettable “I Don’t Want to Hear Any More” is not any “Love Will Keep Us Alive.”

54. “Somebody”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

Jack Tempchin co-composes one other showcase for Glenn Frey, however “Somebody” has neither the rootsy gravitas of “Peaceful Easy Feeling” nor the rumbling perspective of “Already Gone.”

53. “The Girl From Yesterday”
From: Hell Freezes Over (1994)

On the opposite hand, Frey and Tempchin’s “Girl From Yesterday” manages a satisfactory approximation of the clip-clop nation lament from “Lyin’ Eyes,” up to date for the jet-set period.

52. “Journey of the Sorcerer”
From: One of These Nights (1975)

This Leadon instrumental begins as a gently conveyed apart earlier than taking over epic proportions with the arrival of a surging orchestra and featured violinist David Bromberg.

51. “Is It True?”
From: On the Border (1974)

Randy Meisner’s later development as a songwriter is without doubt one of the Eagles’ intriguing secondary storylines. “Is It True?” was the primary trace that he may extra totally emerge from behind the lengthy shadows of Frey and Henley, as Meisner provided a lovelorn, almost full ballad. He left in an unlucky line about chainsaws in the course of the center eight, however Frey saves issues with one other sharply drawn activate lead guitar.

50. “Hole in the World”
From: The Very Best Of (2003)

The Eagles reply to the 9/11 assaults with an acceptable message of remembrance. Oddly, nevertheless, the outlet on this tune would not come courtesy of the just lately departed Don Felder however within the type of a mechanized cadence the place Don Henley’s drums ought to have been.

49. “Good Day in Hell”
From: On the Border (1974)

A key second in Eagles historical past arrives, as Felder is requested to turn into a session visitor on slide guitar for this Frey-sung album minimize. After this scorching, Allman Brothers-inspired efficiency – the truth is, the very subsequent day – Eagles requested Felder to be a part of the band.

48. “Out of Control”
From: Desperado (1973)

The Eagles’ shift away from their nation influences did not come out of the blue. The rocked-out “Out of Control” comes smashing by the saloon doorways simply three songs into Desperado, though this album outlined their rootsy first period.

47. “Long Road Out of Eden”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

Songwriters Henley, Frey and Schmit strive for a grandiose assertion, within the fashion of the title observe from Hotel California, and the Eagles virtually get there musically. They simply haven’t got as a lot to work with narratively.

46. “Too Many Hands”
From: One of These Nights (1975)

Meisner co-wrote this sensible twist on an previous non secular trope with Felder, who’d simply turn into an official member. In conserving with Felder’s arrival, “Too Many Hands” additionally takes one of many remaining lengthy strides away from the pastoral sounds of their earlier albums. Felder tangles with Frey on a dueling guitar-dominated outro, whereas Henley fortunately bangs away on the tabla.

45. “Do Something”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

Schmit’s finest exhibiting on the Eagles’ remaining album is a steel-tinged story tune with a defeated sensibility that may have slot in properly among the many deepest sighs on The Long Run.

44. “Tryin'”
From: Eagles (1972)

Just as a result of Randy Meisner had such facility with heartsick balladry doesn’t suggest he could not catch a groove. His unique “Tryin'” lastly gave Meisner a worthy piece of fabric, however not till their debut album’s final moments.

43. “Hollywood Waltz”
From: One of These Nights (1975)

Eagles had been steaming towards a brand new rock-focused method, however this Bernie Leadon co-write confirmed they hadn’t but utterly discarded the band’s dusty-booted unique sound — and to nice impact. Leadon’s all over the place on this observe, plucking away on the mandolin when he isn’t including a ruminative pedal-steel whine.

42. “Last Good Time in Town”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

Joe Walsh wasn’t a lot of a presence on Eagles’ long-awaited observe up to 1979’s The Long Run, singing on simply two tracks. This is definitely his solely credited co-write; Walsh contributed the verses whereas longtime Eagles collaborator J.D. Souther crafted the refrain. Still, “Last Good Time in Town” – with its winking tributes to the fun of residence life after giving up the excessive life – sounds 100% Walsh.

41. “Business as Usual”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

Henley lastly rediscovers the precise steadiness of anger and introspection, however this deep right into a needlessly lengthy double-album slog, many followers may need already wandered off.

40. “King of Hollywood”
From: The Long Run (1979)

There’s a welcome echo of Walter Becker right here, each within the low-voiced foreboding and the observe’s Los Angeles environs – however with out the perverse humorousness, in fact. It all devolves into one other nice guitar exercise.

39. “Center of the Universe”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

A quietly efficient ballad, as flaxen Eagles harmonies elevate Henley’s sense of country-road contentment.

38. “Ol’ ’55”
From: On the Border (1974)

Sure, the Eagles polish the perimeters off the opening observe from Tom Waits’ 1973 debut album Closing Time. But alongside the way in which they uncover a heart-filling refrain buried amid his scuffed-up vagabond sensibility.

37. “Train Leaves Here This Morning”
From: Eagles (1972)

This observe finally turned one thing of a signature second for Bernie Leadon, who was revisiting a tune he co-wrote with Byrds cofounder Gene Clark for 1968’s terrific however commercially disappointing Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark. By the time Leadon turned a part of Eagles’ first lineup, after a equally ignored detour in Flying Burrito Brothers, country-rock was not the outlier it had as soon as been – and “Train Leaves Here This Morning” was born anew.

36. “Waiting in the Weeds”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

It’s straightforward to overlook, amid all the political harangues or complaints about previous girlfriends, however no person does worn-down, middle-aged melancholy in addition to Don Henley.

35. “Doolin-Dalton”
From: Desperado (1973)

“Doolin-Dalton” was a fantastic scene-setter. Maybe too nice. Eagles ended up taking the iffy Old West topic too far, whereas returning to this tune’s musical theme an totally unneeded variety of instances – together with each an instrumental model and an album-closing reprise.

34. “No More Cloudy Days”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

With Frey gone, there’s simply one thing indescribably unhappy about “No More Cloudy Days.”

33. “Love Will Keep Us Alive”
From: Hell Freezes Over (1994)

This tune grew out of a shelved late-’80s supergroup that includes then-former Eagles Timothy B. Schmit and Don Felder, together with Jim Capaldi (Traffic), Paul Carrack (Squeeze, Mike + the Mechanics) and Max Carl (38 Special, Grand Funk Railroad). Schmit revived the concept when the Eagles mounted a shocking comeback.

32. “How Long”
From: Long Road Out of Eden (2007)

“How Long” was maybe the closest Long Road Out of Eden bought to replicating the heft and really feel of Eagles’ finest earlier stuff. Frey and Henley welcome again J.D. Souther, one of many first folks Frey met after he left Detroit for California, then take activates the lead vocal. Along the way in which, all the pieces previous begins to really feel new once more. But not too previous: They preserve the band’s harder-edged Felder-era perspective, though he was lengthy passed by then.

31. “Bitter Creek”
From: Desperado (1973)

Bernie Leadon wrote and sang this album’s remaining unique, earlier than the “Doolin-Dalton”/”Desperado” reprise closes out Desperado. The observe begins simply as you’d count on from the Eagles’ stalwart traditionalist: reserved nation rock – possibly too reserved. But then one thing occurs about three minutes in, when the remainder of the group joins Leadon’s wordless harmonizing on the outro. “Bitter Creek” takes flight.

30. “After the Thrill Is Gone”
From: One of These Nights (1975)

Taking a rueful look again on the wreckage a misplaced relationship was already turning into previous hat for Frey and Henley, even this early on, and that is seemingly why “After the Thrill Is Gone” hasn’t gained wider consideration. This tucked-away gem is made full by Felder’s solo, which provides a contact of simmering anger.

29. “Please Come Home for Christmas”
From: 1978 single

Sessions for the follow-up to Hotel California had been dragging on, and executives at Asylum had grown involved. Everybody wanted a break. Henley recommended the just lately reformulated Eagles cowl an previous Charles Brown tune he remembered as a child rising up in east Texas. “Please Come Home for Christmas” served as an official introduction to Schmit, who changed Meisner after the Eagles’ most up-to-date tour accomplished. It additionally broke the inventive logjam: They accomplished The Long Run mere months after this vacation tune hit.

28. “Learn to Be Still”
From: Hell Freezes Over (1994)

“Learn to Be Still” was solely launched after three different Hell Freezes Over tracks, together with the humorless lead-off single “Get Over It.” That’s most likely why Henley’s transferring ballad about centering your self appears to have been largely forgotten. Still, this message resonates throughout the ages, simply because it presumably did again then for Henley’s stressed cohort Joe Walsh. He memorably slipped into habit in the course of the group’s prolonged hiatus between 1980-94. So, when former Eagles bandmates got here calling a couple of reunion, they’d one caveat: He had to get sober. It saved Walsh.

27. “James Dean”
From: On the Border (1974)

Eagles initially labored up an early model of “James Dean” throughout periods for Desperado earlier than totally committing to a cowboy narrative. Held over for the follow-up, “James Dean” helped introduce followers to their muscular new mind set. But solely after driving a wedge between the band and longtime producer Glyn Johns, who appreciated their country-rock vibe simply wonderful. They fired Johns, bringing within the extra amenable Bill Szymczyk – and he oversaw three extra chart-topping Eagles albums.

26. “Seven Bridges Road”
From: Eagles Live (1980)

The band’s beautiful harmonies on “Seven Bridges Road” belied what was actually occurring behind the scenes. Recorded dwell simply days earlier than their breakup, this tribute to an previous Alabama nation route written by singer-songwriter Steve Young turned the Eagles’ remaining charting single till an unlikely early-’90s reunion. The template for his or her work was a remarkably related 1973 model by Iain Matthews that was produced by Mike Nesmith of the Monkees.

25. “I Can’t Tell You Why”
From: The Long Run (1979)

Poor Timothy B. Schmit. The first Eagles tune to function Meisner’s substitute was additionally the primary to be accomplished for The Long Run. Then it turned a really long term certainly, as periods dragged on from March 1978 by September 1979. “I Can’t Tell You Why,” with one in every of Frey’s most expressive guitar solos, wasn’t launched because the LP’s third single till February 1980. By July, Eagles had been within the midst of a prolonged hiatus.

24. “Victim of Love”
From: Hotel California (1976)

“Victim of Love” begins with a stuttering, snarling guitar, then paints a dim portrait of this determined seek for late-night companionship amid of a sequence of nasty Felder retorts. The guitarist additionally co-wrote the observe, although Henley sang it.

23. “Wasted Time”
From: Hotel California (1976)

Henley sang it, however “Wasted Time” actually speaks to Frey’s ardour for R&B music – on this case, ’70s-era Philly soul. They added some distinctly un-country rock-like strings, after which Frey – who as soon as described Henley as “our Teddy Pendergrass” – left his longtime bandmate to his personal vocal units. “You’re not going to find that track on a Crosby, Stills & Nash record or Beach Boys record,” Frey added. “Don’s singing abilities stretched so many of our boundaries. He could sing the phone book. It didn’t matter.”

22. “In the City”
From: The Long Run (1979)
Joe Walsh had already launched his personal model of “In the City,” as a part of the soundtrack to 1979’s cult traditional The Warriors, when Eagles approached him about rerecording the tune for his or her long-delayed new album. Musically, the method was lighter however largely the identical; the foremost distinction is their beautiful vocal mix. Later, after “In the City” had turn into a dwell and radio staple, Eagles added a memorable reference to the Beatles’ “Day Tripper” onstage.

21. “Those Shoes”
From: The Long Run (1979)
The musical relationship between Don Felder and Joe Walsh, as each foils and buddies, helped outline the group’s sound within the late ’70s. Together, they provide this Henley-sung observe a steely menace. Felder co-wrote “Those Shoes” and impressively mixes it up with Walsh throughout one of many decade’s most memorable talk-box avenue fights – and that is saying one thing.

20. “Peaceful Easy Feeling”
From: Eagles (1972)

Eagles had been collectively just a bit greater than every week when Frey introduced on this tune from buddy Jack Tempchin. Written on and off whereas Tempchin was woman watching round his hometown of San Diego, the third single from their debut is introduced to life by sunlit backing vocals from Leadon and Meisner. Its timeless message about destiny did the remaining: “Part of the idea is when you give up looking for something, a lot of times that’s when you find it,” Tempchin informed Culture Sonar. “Your looking was getting in the way.”

19. “Saturday Night”
From: Desperado (1973)

A real band composition, “Saturday Night” grew out of a stray thought Meisner had about rising up. “I was sitting there one night, and I came up with the line ‘What ever happened to Saturday night?'” Meisner later remembered. “When I was younger, I would be out partying and with girls and having fun. And that’s what it was about: Whatever happened to it? And the answer was, ‘You’re older now.'” This second of introspection, delicately led alongside by Leadon’s mandolin, grounds an album which may have in any other case gotten slowed down in its Big Concept.

18. “Tequila Sunrise”
From: Desperado (1973)

One of the primary songs Henley ever wrote with Frey virtually did not occur. “I think he was ambivalent about it because he thought that it was a bit too obvious or too much of a cliche because of the drink that was so popular then,” Henley mentioned within the liner notes for The Very Best Of. “I said, ‘No, look at it from a different point of view. You’ve been drinking straight tequila all night and the sun is coming up!’ It turned out to be a really great song.” Henley admitted that the reference to a “shot of courage” got here from actual life: They’d typically have a few drinks earlier than working up the nerve to method girls again then.

17. “Witchy Woman”
From: Eagles (1972)

Henley’s solely songwriting credit score on the Eagles’ first album arrived courtesy of a half-finished tune Leadon had been engaged on since his days with the Flying Burrito Brothers. “[Leadon] came over one day and started playing this strange, minor-key riff that sounded sort of like a Hollywood movie version of Indian music — you know, the kind of stuff they play when the Indians ride up on the ridge while the wagon train passes below,” Henley later informed Cameron Crowe. “It had a haunting quality, and I thought it was interesting, so we put a rough version of it down on a cassette tape.” Frey accomplished issues with one other standout guitar solo.

16. “The Last Resort”
From: Hotel California (1976)

Henley would explicitly tie “The Last Resort” to his rising activism over environmental points, and there’s actually loads of righteous anger instantly relating to our poor stewardship. But, in context, this all the time felt like one thing greater than one other of his political screeds. Instead, an album outlined by empty dissolution ends the one means it may: with a lonesome determine, surrounded by wreckage of his personal making.

15. “New Kid in Town”
From: Hotel California (1976)

“New Kid in Town” returned to the difficulty of getting old, however ended up revealing deeper worries surrounding the Eagles. “We were already chronicling our own demise,” Henley mentioned within the liner notes to The Very Best Of. “We were basically saying, ‘Look, we know we’re red hot now, but we also know that somebody’s going to come along and replace us – both in music and in love.'” Frey and Henley helped full an concept introduced to the band by J.D. Souther. When they had been completed, Eagles had their third chart-topping smash.

14. “Desperado”
From: Desperado (1973)

The title tune for this Old West-themed venture had been rattling round in Henley’s head since at the very least 1968, however Frey was the primary proponent of the bigger rockers-as-cowboy-outlaws idea. The goal, it appeared, was to make a grand assertion in order that the Eagles is likely to be taken extra critically. They learn books about tumbleweed antiheroes like Bill Dalton, plugged in some interludes after which up to date “Desperado” to make all of it match. Initially, nevertheless, the tune had what would have been a very tragic astrological bent. Frey remembered Henley’s unique lyric as, “Leo, my God, why don’t you come to your senses?” Glad the Eagles did.

13. “Life in the Fast Lane”
From: Hotel California (1976)

Walsh was playing around with this riff in a free rehearsal second when the others took discover. Henley requested, “What the hell is that? We’ve got to figure out to make a song out of that.” Then, a while later, Frey was barreling down the Santa Monica freeway with a drug seller he known as “the Count.” “I was riding shotgun in a Corvette on the way to a poker game. The next thing I knew we’re going about 90 miles an hour,” Frey later remembered. “I say, ‘Hey, man, what are you doing?’ And he looked at me and he grinned, and he goes, ‘Life in the fast lane!'” Released as the ultimate single from Hotel California, the outcomes shot to No. 11.

12. “Lyin’ Eyes”
From: One of These Nights (1975)

This crossover hit was written in a rush of inspiration over simply two days. Yet, each factor of this wry narrative a couple of gold digger’s empty life unfolds with a writerly knack for element. Glenn Frey shifts factors of view, by no means losing a phrase, as he fills within the blanks round a real-life encounter he had whereas with Don Henley at their favourite ’70s-era watering gap, Dan Tana’s. They rushed again residence, working to get each phrase good earlier than heading instantly into the studio, the place the Eagles displayed the same meticulousness: The tune’s deeply resonant opening line – “City girls just seem to find out early” – truly represents six totally different tries.

11. “The Sad Cafe”
From: The Long Run (1979)

Despite reloading with Timothy B. Schmit, a malaise had clearly crept in. The Long Run was dotted with halfhearted efforts earlier than the Eagles lastly righted issues with the album-closing, cinematic “The Sad Cafe.” In some ways, this tune units a template for Don Henley’s subsequent solo profession, as he gives a darkly ruminative examination of affection misplaced. But it would not have been such a becoming finale with out Don Felder’s elegiac, totally virtuosic activate guitar.

10. “Already Gone”
From: On the Border (1974)

You may partly blame “Locomotive Breath” for the Eagles’ cut up with Glyn Johns whereas recording this album. “We’re taking a beating opening for Jethro Tull,” Frey mentioned in 1973: Rock on the Crossroads, “and our feeling was, ‘We gotta have some kick-ass songs.'” Eagles began with “Already Gone,” because the band and new producer Bill Szymczyk shifted to the Record Plant in Los Angeles. Newly added guitarist Don Felder then introduced a pointy edge to the session. “The great thing for me about [“Already Gone”] is that I left England behind,” Frey informed Cameron Crowe, “and had a much more positive energy in the studio.”

9. “Pretty Maids All in a Row”
From: Hotel California (1976)

The Eagles accomplished their shift from shaggy roots band to full-on rockers as Walsh took over for Leadon. Nobody else may have give you the riff for “Life in the Fast Lane,” Walsh’s different main contribution to Hotel California. That mentioned, “Pretty Maids All in a Row” could not have been extra totally different. An emotional meditation on remorse, the tune catches a special gear when his new bandmates be a part of the vocal finale – however not earlier than Walsh tears off a mournful slide solo. Rock’s clown prince has hardly ever been extra revealing.

8. “Heartache Tonight”
From: The Long Run (1979)

This took ceaselessly to end, like all the pieces else on The Long Run. Frey’s preliminary inspiration was a simple love of previous Sam Cooke data, performed out as a free jam with J.D. Souther. But then Frey bought caught. He ran it by Bob Seger, who’d initially taken Frey underneath his wing as a teen. Henley was concerned, too. Together, they’d begun piecing collectively a fun-sounding Grammy winner. Something, nevertheless, was nonetheless lacking. That’s when Seger blurted out the title line. “Heartache Tonight” went on to turn into the Eagles’ remaining No. 1 single.

7. “Try and Love Again”
From: Hotel California (1976)

Some days, this tucked-away album minimize looks like the very best tune on the Eagles’ most celebrated studio venture. A hovering anthem about believing towards all odds, “Try and Love Again” had an acceptable theme for the often-forgotten Randy Meisner. Ultimately, nevertheless, he could not dwell up to that promise. This sadly turned Meisner’s remaining co-writing credit score – and his remaining lead vocal – with the group he co-founded.

6. “The Long Run”
From: The Long Run (1979)

Eagles had scaled the mountain high, reaching an era-defining plateau with Hotel California. There was, actually, nowhere to go however down. Still, because the title observe from the band’s remaining classic-era album makes clear, they meant to go down swinging. “Disco had exploded, and punk was on the rise,” Henley informed Rolling Stone in 2016. “We were beginning to see press articles about how we were passe. Those kind of jabs were part of the inspiration for the song The Long Run: Who is gonna make it? We’ll find out in the long run.'” Of course, the group promptly imploded. But their legacy solely grew, finally main the Eagles again for an inconceivable ’90s-era reunion.

5. “Best of My Love”
From: On the Border (1974)

“Best of My Love” is remembered at the moment because the Eagles’ breakthrough single, however there was a little bit of controversy concerned with reaching that purpose. Seems the band’s label shortened the tune for airplay — with out clearing something beforehand. It went from 4:34 on 1974’s On the Border to 3:25 on the AM radio edit, whereas turning into the primary of 5 ’70s-era chart-toppers for the Eagles. That so infuriated everybody that the band got here up with an ingenious plan, hacking a bit out of a forty five single coated in gold paint then presenting it to the bosses on the Asylum Records places of work. Message obtained.

4. “Take It to the Limit”
From: One of These Nights (1975)

As this turned Eagles’ highest charting single but, Meisner discovered himself underneath crushing stress to hit the tune’s heart-rending excessive be aware onstage evening after evening. Panic apparently started to creep in, and he requested that the tune – regardless of its huge recognition – be faraway from the band’s units. When the remainder of the Eagles refused, Meisner stop. The vocal was first taken over by Frey, then, after Frey’s demise, by Vince Gill.

3. “One of These Nights”
From: One of These Nights (1975)

The purpose was to break the ballad template, stirring in modern R&B sounds and a sneaky lyric that pulls no punches. Everything was coming collectively for Frey and Henley, who had been shortly rising because the group’s undisputed co-leaders. Still, newcomer Don Felder performed an enormous function in serving to the Eagles shed their country-rock pretensions. He organized the unforgettable bass and guitar signature for (*84*) and his searing solo then neatly underscores this chart-topping tune’s bitter sense of missed alternatives.

2. “Take It Easy”
From: Eagles (1972)

The opening observe on the Eagles’ first album completely sums up their early country-rock aesthetic, a lot in order that Glenn Frey mentioned its first few jangly guitar strums “felt like an announcement, ‘And now … the Eagles.'” The impetus for “Take It Easy,” nevertheless, got here from elsewhere: Jackson Browne, a then-unknown singer-songwriter who lived subsequent door to Frey, could not end a brand new tune. “Take It Easy” stored stopping chilly on the second verse after “Well, I’m a-standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.” Then Frey had an concept. Today, you may discover a statue commemorating the following line in Winslow, paired with a portray of a lady in a flatbed Ford.

1. “Hotel California”
From: Hotel California (1976)

Turns out this tune’s off-the-cuff brilliance wasn’t so off-the-cuff, in spite of everything. The concluding twin-guitar solo on “Hotel California” has moved into classic-rock lore, representing essentially the most well-known in a sequence of fiery collaborations between Don Felder and just lately put in new member Joe Walsh. But it wasn’t improvised in any respect. Instead, the finished Eagles tune mirrors — virtually be aware for be aware, at Henley’s insistence — the unique instrumental demo that Felder created in his Los Angeles residence. A name to Felder’s housekeeper led to a frantic search by all of his cassettes. She then put the discovered tape right into a boombox and performed it by the telephone so Walsh and Felder may be taught the unique twin solos.

The Complicated History of the Eagles’ ‘Victim of Love’