Eagles charted with “I Can’t Tell You Why”

 

I Can’t Tell You Why Eagles

Writer(s): Timothy B. Schmit, Glenn Frey, Don Henley (see lyrics here) First Charted: February 3, 1980 Peak: 8 US, 9 CB, 4 GR, 7 HR, 4 RR, 3 AC, 2 CL, 5 CN, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 3.0 radio, 20.4 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Timothy B. Schmit joined the Eagles as a singer and bassist in 1977 after the departure of Randy Meisner. He only appeared on the group’s final album, The Long Run, before their breakup. However, he did well for himself with just the one album appearance. He sang lead on “I Can’t Tell You Why,” the album’s third single and the group’s last top-10 hit. His “finest moment is a soulful, moody slow jam whose tension is cut by his pure high tenor.” BB Schmit had the basics of the song and the title when he brought it to Don Henley and Glenn Frey. They helped him finish it in March 1978. It was the first song completed for The Long Run. SF Henley described the song as “straight Al Green” WK and credited Frey with giving the song its R&B feel. Frey said this was one of the songs from the Eagles which he would put in a time capsule. SF Frey usually played rhythm guitar, but has the featured solo here. Billboard magazine called it “the most transportive guitar solo in Eagles’ repertoire.” BB Meanwhile, Joe Walsh played the keyboards in the studio, although the song’s original video showed Frey on electric piano. The R&B girl group Brownstone took the song to #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #27 on the R&B chart in 1995. In 2013, the Swon Brothers got to #99 with the song after appearing on NBC’s The Voice. Howard Hewett took his cover of the song to #24 on the R&B chart in 1990. Vince Gill recorded the song for the 1993 Eagles’ tribute album Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles and it reached #51 on the country charts. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Eagles BB Billboard (10/17/2017). “The Eagles’ 15 Best Songs: Critic’s Picks” by Gary Graff SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 7/2/2022; last updated 12/6/2022.