Born out of Linda Ronstadt’s backing band, they were up and running immediately with the success of their first album – mainly due to the singles, Take It Easy, and Witchy Woman. This was their 5th album and would be the peak of their commercial success. It would also see the first line up changes, as Joe Walsh would come in to replace Bernie Leadon.
There is no doubt that the Eagles are the kings of soft rock, or more correctly, country rock. It was fashionable at one point to bash the Eagles as a figurehead for all that was bad and overblown about the music business. What gets lost on people is that they wrote some fantastic tunes that sold in there squillions, and you don’t do that by being terrible.
Side 1 is loaded with all the hits. The amazing Hotel California has that odd reggae under groove that leads off the album, followed by another smash, New Kid In Town, and if that wasn’t good enough, Life In The Fast Lane, steams in after that. I think I’ve mentioned before how record company’s load albums up on the first Side with all the good stuff – this is a perfect example of that. Side 1 closes out with Wasted Time, which takes the tempo right down into super ballad territory.
Side 2 starts with an instrumental reprise of Wasted Time before Victim Of Love. I think it’s safe to say that these are the tracks that people are not too familiar with – even so, they are still great tracks and the hardest sounding on the album. Pretty Maids All A Row is Joe Walsh’s first writing credit for the band and first lead vocal, and I’ll admit to having a soft spot for all things Joe. I really love the tone to his vocal, and this does not disappoint, it’s a nice slow groove that fits the Eagles brief perfectly. Try And Love Again would be Randy Meisner’s final contribution to the recorded output of the band, as this would be his last album and it’s pure country. The Last Resort is the final track and the big showpiece track on the album -weighing in at 7.25.
Just to put things in perspective here, the album has been certified platinum 26 times and has sold over 32 million copies worldwide.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
