Sound Affair: The Eagles
Author:
Shreya Bhattacharya
Publication: The Statesman (India)
Date: October 8, 2004
Abstract: Brief overview of the band with a quote from Glenn about "living their trip."
Symbol of America It's just another day in paradise As you stumble to your bed You'd give anything to silence The year 1971 marked the beginning of a new era of rock and roll music as America gave birth to Eagles, one of the wildest bands, who continued to be one of the most recognised big time music makers in the entire showbiz world. The Eagles were rooted to country, blues, folk, rock, rhythm and their name was the symbol of America . The music was more spirited and free ranging.
The band originally consisted of drummer Don Henley, guitarist Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner. Before they called themselves a band, the four of them played as a unit on Linda Ronstadt's 1970 "Silk Purse".
The Eagles recorded their first album The Eagles in 1972. They added guitarist Don Felder for the second album Desperado in 1973. Then, in 1974, came On the border and Leadon left after One of these nights to be replaced by guitarist Joe Walsh. In 1977, Timothy B. Schmit replaced Meisner. But despite repeated replacements or break-ups, Eagles was recognised as the biggest selling band of rock musicians.
The music of the Eagles was a mixed bag of country and folk and their rock had a harder and grittier edge. Their fans thought them as a country group which had the typical southern California sound and scene. They delivered their first hit "Take it easy", which was playing on every car radio in America almost before anyone had even heard of the group. This song was the perfect launch vehicle for a group trying to establish its identity. Then came "Take it to the limit", "One of these nights", followed by classics such as "Hotel California", "New kid in town" and "Life in the fast lane".
Before forming the band, Frey was in a folk duo, Longbranch Pennywhistle, Henley was in Felicity and then in Shiloh , Leadon was a part of Flying Burrito Brothers, Meisner was in Poco, Felder was in a outfit called Flow, Schmit was in the New Breed, Glad and Poco, and Walsh was in bands called The James Gang and Barnstorm. Each one of them presented Eagles with a different background which made the end product quite unique.
In 1976, the Eagles won their first Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a duo, group or chorus ("Lyin Eyes"). In 1978, they won a Grammy for Record of the Year for the smash hit "Hotel California", and another one for Best Arrangement for Voices for "New kid in town". They also won a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a duo or group ("Heartache tonight") in 1980. They also got nominated for three Grammys for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a duo or group ("Love will keep us alive"), Best Rock Performance by a duo or group with Vocal ("Hotel California"), and Best Pop Album for Hell freezes over which topped the Billboard Pop Albums Chart for two weeks and became the 9th biggest selling LP of the year with sales topping 2.8 million during 1995, also bagging 3 American Music Awards. The band was also nominated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
The Eagles became America 's signature band. "It’s like wearing your personality on your sleeve", says Glenn Frey about the Eagles' identification with America . "The magic bands are the ones who live their trip onstage. If you're in a band like the Eagles you've got to focus on yourself and amplify that image. You have to exaggerate what you do without selling how you feel about yourself.”
Unfortunately due to pressure, paranoia, bitterness and personal problems, the band disbanded in 1980 which proved to be one of the biggest losses of the music industry. These hard headed, self styled, spirited modern men gave a startling new meaning to rock music and knocked show business upside down. They produced exciting unheard sounds which infected the masses , making Eagles one of the most popular bands in the world and light up the dark desert highway of California .
