Eagles members vocal quality over time

[YoungEaglesFan]

My only concert experience with the band was at the classic east. Though I thought the band sounded I always wondered how they sounded throughout time. For people who have seen the Eagles multiple times or just anyone how would you say each members voice has held up over time? To me, I'd have to say Tim's voice is the closest to his heyday but that's just my two cents

[MaryCalifornia]

Timothy for sure has lost a bit. I heard him in an interview say when he hears his old recordings, his voice sounds so clear and pure. He def can't sing like that anymore - when it was easy for him. For some reason I always think he sounds better when he's not performing with the Eagles - he's in a rut with them and it HAS to sound the same every show. I think Joe and Don sound good. Glenn did too, at the end. They have good days and not-as-good days. They have to try a lot harder.

[New Kid In Town]

I agree Mary. I think they have all struggled with their voice at times but they were all in their 60's - not 20 somethings anymore. Overall they still sounded great for guys their age. Many their age sound nothing like they did in their 20's or have basically lost their voice. I also think Glenn doing AH really helped his voice. His probably changed the most. Probably due to his smoking and RA, which affects every muscle in your body.

[BillBailey1976]

I think as a whole the band sounded best during the HFO time frame. I have seen them live then and on HOTE, and from that, plus listening to older stuff, that's my opinion.

[Annoying Twit]

I think if you have a voice like Tim's, you can loose a bit and still be stupendous. He sounded great in the live LWKUA the other day. To my ears at least.

[Delilah]

I’ve never seen the band live but I have seen Don H, Don F and Joe at their solo shows. I will see Timothy in December. While their voices are holding up, certainly better than some of their peers, there is no question there has been varying degrees of “decline” compared to past recordings, live and studio.

Don H still sounds good but he tends to waver a bit at the end of his lines. I suspect some of the recent changes in the setlist have to do with relieving Don of having to sing lead so much.

Don F simply does not sound the same as he did in the 70s, particularly in “Visions.” He can still carry a tune and even hit some high notes, but there is a kind of deepness and strain to his voice now that wasn’t there before.

Joe’s voice has undergone the biggest change, IMO. While he has always had a special quality to his voice that made his songs stand out, he no longer has that controlled edge. His voice now is shakier and more forced.

Considering these guys are entering their 70s and are (former?) smokers, I think they are doing pretty well. But certainly their peak singing years were when they were in their 20s and 30s.

[MarthaJo56]

Did Glenn quit smoking at any time?

[FreyFollower]

Did Glenn quit smoking at any time?

I believe that I read on here that he quit in the mid-'70s, but resumed in the '80s when he began acting and directors wanted him to smoke for the roles he played. Later on, as I read elsewhere, he was an occasional smoker.
Anyone feel free to correct me!
Smoking or not, many singers lose their voice by their '50's----I think they all held up well!

[Brooke]

I loved Glenn's and Don's young voices. Glenn's was soft, smooth and sweet and Don's was smoky, rough, and sexy.

I think over time both of their voices changed a lot. They still sounded good, but not as good, to me.

[BillBailey1976]

I really like Glenn's voice on the Long Run era (Not the Long run songs, but stuff recorded around that time, like Eagles Live, and other bootleg stuff). The "Eagles Live" version of Take It Easy is so much better than the album cut. Glenn's voice is not as soft. Has a bit of an edge to it. I love it.

It almost sounds as if Don has a lisp sometimes. That might be the false teeth thing that's been mentioned.