MINE
It's not even a guilty pleasure. When I pushed this CD into the car player this morning and heard the opening notes of Hotel California, the only feeling that came over me was delight. I'm sorry if that marks me as an MOR fuddy-duddy, but this album was such a large part of my teenage years I just adore it.
I think about sitting in the back room at Karen's house where we were all allowed to smoke, arguing noisily about whatever was important to us that day. It takes me back to Durras, where we made up that really rude version of the title track. It takes me back to school and home and hanging out with that group of friends who I'm looking forward to seeing in November at our 30-year high school reunion (and doesn't that make me feel old?)
But hopefully it'll also take me forward. I want this album to be part of all the ages of my life. And I love how The Last Resort is still more than seven minutes long but it still holds my attention right to the end. I've never liked Pretty Maids.but I listened to Life In the Fast Lane twice. Up really, really loud. And I might just play it again on the way home.
VERDICT: TURN IT UP
YOURZ
I wish I had some kind of wonderful story to tell about The Eagles. But I don't. I used to play Peaceful Easy Feeling and Lying Eyes years ago, neither of which are on this album. As a teenager, I remember hearing them a lot, but would never have admitted liking them. If anything, it was the opposite. My friends and I used to put shit on them. The Eagles represented establishment Top 40 corporate rock, the very thing that would soon bring about one of most profound schisms in contemporary music, better known to you and me as Punk.
So, if anything, I really have to be grateful to The Eagles for helping bring this about because, seriously, it makes me sick to think where modern music might have ended up if Punk hadn't shaken the foundations. And honesty, apart from the Hotel California (the song), Life In The Fast Lane and Victim Of Love, this album makes me barf a little.
Joe Walsh, however, was nothing but a punk dressed up as a Mid-Western rocker.
VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN but only out of respect, okay...
For more information: http://www.eaglesband.com/
expect to hear a lot of Eagles in the DJ's rotation at my upcoming 30th reunion (next saturday). didn't mark me the way Neil Young did, but it triggers those memories everytime i hear 'fast lane' or 'hotel california'...
ReplyDeleteEven though Hotel California is a classic album-selling over 16 million copies worldwide-I prefer the harder edged The Long Run. Don't get me wrong, I love this album! The entire first half is excellent! The rest of it tends to be a bit mellow for my taste.
ReplyDeleteDaisy, Mine has her 30th reunion this year too. I expect there will be a lot of music from back in those days. Wonder if I could convince them to play some Clash or The Ramones?
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Drew, as I said, I have a certain amount of respect for The Eagles but to be honest, I prefer America. I think this is because I always thought America were cooler 'cause they had longer hair. Silly, I know...
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When it comes to "country-rock" I prefer Poco and Little River Band over the Eagles. Heck the Eagles poached Poco twice... Randy Meisner started out with Poco before joining the Eagles as did Timothy B. Schmit. I think Poco's Keep On Tryin' blows away anything and everything Schmit recorded with the Eagles. Poco also spawned Loggins & Messina as Jim Messina was originally with Poco before leaving to make music with Kenny Loggins.
ReplyDeleteThe Egos...errr sorry, The Eagles have made me sing to what they have created more than not so i guess i'm one of those 16 millions who appreciates great songcraft, despite being on every classic rock 35 song corporate radio playlist for the past 30 yrs. i'll sing peaceful easy feelin' any day over pretty much anything except ac dc and cartoon theme songs from my childhood.
ReplyDeletePerplexio, I must admit I've never heard any Poco and, all things being equal, probably never will. So much music, so little time...
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Seano, that The Egos (love it!) have made us sing songs we don't necessarily like says a lot for their ability to write effective earworms. I find singing Peaceful Easy Feeling has me longing for more hair and less cares, which is a good thing.
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If you ever do decide to give Poco a try, I recommend their The Last Roundup live CD. It was recorded in 1977 but not released until 2004. It was one of Timothy B. Schmit's last shows before he left to join the Eagles. Original member, Richie Furay, who had left the band a few years before the concert was recorded even does a guest appearance. It's one of the better live albums I've ever heard... by any band.
ReplyDeleteProbably not ever going to happen but thanks for pointing it out.
ReplyDeleteYourZ