Eagles Self-Titled LP Survivor

[LuvTim]

Earlybird. The chirps at the beginning are just jarring to me. Of course, I could lower the volume. Nah.

[Brooke]

Get past the bird and Earlybird is pretty good! I really don't dislike any of these songs, but one has to go so

I vote for Tryin'.

[NightMistBlue]

Man, these Survivor threads are tough on Randy fans - his songs tend to get kicked off the island early

[AlreadyGone95]

I vote for Tryin'. For me, the album ends after PEF.

[Annoying Twit]

Man, these Survivor threads are tough on Randy fans - his songs tend to get kicked off the island early

I was thinking the same thing. I think that "Take The Devil" is one of the best songs on the album. But, song preferences are all subjective.

[Jonny Come Lately]

I will start by saying that I really like this album a lot - I listened to it in full a couple of days ago in preparation and I find it very enjoyable to hear it in that way. I personally think it has several great songs, not at all of which were hits or are even fan favourites.

My least favourite song from the debut album is Nightingale, which I don't dislike but it's not a song I find myself playing much except for when I listen to the full album. I find it decent enough, but it's one of the very few Eagles songs that has never quite clicked for me. However, I suspect it will probably survive this time as right now it seems as though it will be either Earlybird or Tryin' that will be first to go.

Given that it will probably be one of these two, I will cast my vote for Tryin'. I personally think it is too soon for Earlybird to go. I personally find the infamous chirping amusing, but I think that's just my sense of humour! However, more importantly, I think Earlybird is a really good song musically. The harmony vocals (especially after each verse) are terrific - Randy and Bernie's vocals are wonderful here - and I love the combination of Bernie's banjo with Glenn's slide. The lyrics are 'youthful' but there is a clear focus to them and the song is great fun overall. I enjoy Tryin', but I don't think it's as good as a song - I agree with Soda in that the lyrics aren't great (unlike Earlybird, the meaning of the lyrics is vague) and musically it isn't the best rocker on the album. It works very well live, especially with the extended instrumental outro, but I think on record it doesn't stand out for the most part.

[LuvTim]

Man, these Survivor threads are tough on Randy fans - his songs tend to get kicked off the island early

I absolutely adore Randy's bass work on Take The Devil. I was blasting this cut while driving the turnpike at 75 mph on Tuesday.

"And you're so hard to find." (Boom!)
"Waiting so patiently." (boom)

Then, here comes those blasted chirping birds.

[shunlvswx]

This was never my favorite album by the guys and this is album way at the bottom. Only a few songs I like from this album.

With that being said. I'm voting for Earlybird. There's just something about that song I don't like. Maybe its the chirping of the birds at the beginning and I'm not really banjo fan even though I love country music.

[NightMistBlue]

Jonny, did you say the lyrics of Tryin' are vague, or did I misunderstand? To me, it's a straightforward tale of pursuing one's music dreams in the big city - it's very autobiographical for Randy (and all the guys in the band probably).

I like the slightly dissonant banjo and harmonies on Earlybird, and the way the electric guitar kicks in near the end.

And how could anyone not love Take the Devil?! It's Witchy Woman's tormented twin.

[UndertheWire]

Man, these Survivor threads are tough on Randy fans - his songs tend to get kicked off the island early

In this case, he has quite a few songs in the mix (3 lead vocal, 3 writes/co-writes). He's either a singer or writer of 4 out of the 7 non-hits on the album.

Lyrically, I think Tryin' and Take the Devil are pretty strong. Tryin' seems to be autobiographical - a young musician coming to town and trying to make it while leaving his family behind and hoping that they will try to get on without him. I'm not so sure about Take the Devil - possibly about resisting temptation? Considering he wasn't a song-writer when he was in Poco, he'd come a long way.

I love the feel of Take the Devil. It's like Witchy Woman in that it has the native american sound. And there's that wonderful part where Randy's voice just keeps going higher and higher (around 2:23). I love the electric guitar, too - they had such an interesting guitar sound in those early days.

Tryin' is more straightforward musically. Bet it worked well live.

I also like Randy's "rock" vocals over the high vocals he's known for.

I've already voted, but I'd love for both of these to hang around for a few more rounds.