Eagles et al: Top 100 Songs

Eagles et al Top 100 Songs

1972 lineup: l to r: Bernie Leadon, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Glenn Frey

1994 lineup: l to r: Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, Don Felder, Glenn Frey

The rock/country group the Eagles formed in Los Angeles in 1971. They only released six studio albums during their original run in the 1970s, but are one of the most successful acts in music history. They had five #1 songs with “Best of My Love,” “One of These Nights,” “New Kid in Town,” “Hotel California,” and “Heartache Tonight.” The compilation Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is one of the best-selling albums in history. Original members Glenn Frey (vocals, guitar), Don Henley (vocals, drums), Bernie Leadon (guitar, vocals), and Randy Meisner (bass, vocals) started out as Linda Ronstadt’s backing band. Meisner had previously worked with Poco (1968-69) and Leadon was with Dillard & Clark (1968-69) and the Flying Burrito Brothers (1969-71). Don Felder (guitar, vocals) joined in 1974 and Joe Walsh (guitar, vocals), who’d previously recorded with the James Gang and as a solo artist, replaced Leadon in 1975. Meisner departed in 1977, replaced by Timothy B. Schmit (bass, vocals), who’d previously been with Poco (1969-77). The brand broke up – seemingly for good – in 1980. Frey and Henley had successful solo careers. Frey, Henley, Felder, Walsh, and Schmit reunited for the Hell Freezes Over tour in 1994 and recorded four new songs. In 2007, absent Felder, they recorded their first new album in 28 years, Long Road Out of Eden. After Frey’s death in January 2016, he was replaced on tour by his son Deacon Frey and country singer Vince Gill. Randy Meisner passed away in 2023. Note: above links go to those acts’ DMDB music maker encyclopedia entries. Other Links: DMDB profile page for Eagles DMDB music makers’ encyclopedia entry for Eagles Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards (Eagles):

Top 100 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Covers of Eagles’ songs have also been included in this list. DMDB Top 1%: 1. Eagles “Hotel California” (1976) 2. Don Henley “The Boys of Summer” (1984) 3. Eagles “Take It Easy” (1972) DMDB Top 2%: 4. Eagles “Desperado” (1973) 5. Eagles “Lyin’ Eyes” (1975) 6. Eagles “One of These Nights” (1975) 7. Eagles “New Kid in Town” (1976) DMDB Top 5%: 8. Eagles “Heartache Tonight” (1979) 9. Eagles “I Can’t Tell You Why” (1979) 10. Eagles “Best of My Love” (1974) 11. Joe Walsh “Rocky Mountain Way” (1973) 12. Don Henley “Dirty Laundry” (1982) 13. Eagles “Life in the Fast Lane” (1976) 14. Eagles “Peaceful, Easy Feeling” (1972) 15. Eagles “Take It to the Limit” (1975) 16. Eagles “Please Come Home for Christmas” (1978) 17. Don Henley “The End of the Innocence” (1989) 18. Eagles “Tequila Sunrise” (1973) 19. Don Henley with Patty Smyth “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough” (1992) 20. Joe Walsh “Life’s Been Good” (1978) 21. Eagles “The Long Run” (1979) 22. Don Henley “The Heart of the Matter” (1989) 23. Don Henley with Stevie Nicks “Leather and Lace” (1981) 24. Eagles “Witchy Woman” (1972) 25. Firefall (with Timothy B. Schmit on background vocals) “Just Remember I Love You” (1977) 26. Eagles “Already Gone” (1974) DMDB Top 10%: 27. Eagles “Seven Bridges Road” (live, 1980) 28. Don Henley “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” (1984) 29. Don Henley “Sunset Grill” (1984) 30. James Gang “Funk #49” (1970) 31. James Gang “Walk Away” (1971) 32. Glenn Frey “The Heat Is On” (1984) 33. Glenn Frey “You Belong to the City” (1985) 34. Eagles “Get Over It” (1994) 35. Glenn Frey “Smuggler’s Blues” (1984) 36. Joe Walsh “All Night Long” (1980) 37. Eagles “Hole in the World” (2003) 38. Don Henley “New York Minute” (1989) 39. Joe Walsh “A Life of Illusion” (1981) 40. Don Henley “Not Enough Love in the World” (1984) DMDB Top 20%: 41. Poco “Rose of Cimarron” (1976) 42. Eagles “Learn to Be Still” (1994) 43. Eagles “Love Will Keep Us Alive” (1994) 44. Linda Ronstadt “Desperado” (1973) 45. Glenn Frey “The One You Love” (1982) 46. Don Felder “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)” (1981) 47. Eagles “How Long” (2007) 48. Eagles “The Last Resort” (1986) 49. Don Henley “The Last Worthless Evening” (1989) 50. Don Henley “I Can’t Stand Still” (1982) 51. Eagles “Victim of Love” (1976) 52. Don Henley “Through Your Hands” (1996) 53. Glenn Frey “True Love” (1988) 54. Glenn Frey “Sexy Girl” (1984) 55. Eagles “James Dean” (1974) 56. Eagles “In the City” (1979) 57. Travis Tritt “Take It Easy” (1993) 58. Clint Black “Desperado” (1993) 59. Poco “Keep on Tryin’” (1975) 60. Don Henley “Come Rain or Come Shine” (1995) 61. Joe Walsh “Space Age Whiz Kids” (1983) 62. Joe Walsh “The Confessor” (1985) 63. Don Henley “Taking You Home” (2000) 64. Poco “You Better Think Twice” (1970) 65. Randy Meisner “Never Been in Love” (1982) 66. Randy Meisner “Hearts on Fire” (1980) 67. Flying Burrito Brothers “Wild Horses’ (1970) 68. Jackson Browne “Take It Easy” (1973) 69. Don Henley “Johnny Can’t Read” (1982) 70. Eagles “Outlaw Man” (1973) 71. Don Henley “How Bad Do You Want It?” (1989) 72. John Anderson “Heartache Tonight” (1993) 73. Glenn Frey “Part of You, Part of Me” (1991) 74. Don Henley “Who Owns This Place?” (1986) 75. Eagles “Those Shoes” (1979) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 76. Glenn Frey “Party Town” (1982) 77. Glenn Frey “I Found Somebody” (1982) 78. Randy Meisner “Deep Inside My Heart” (1980) 79. Joe Walsh “The Radio Song” (1987) 80. Poco “Indian Summer” (1977) 81. Don Henley “A Month of Sundays” (1984) 82. The Gipsy Kings “Hotel California” (1990) 83. Don Henley “Drivin’ with Your Eyes Closed” (1984) 84. Johnny Cash with Don Henley “Desperado” (2002) 85. Joe Walsh “Turn to Stone” (1972) 86. Joe Walsh “Meadows” (1973) 87. Joe Walsh “Ordinary Average Guy” (1991) 88. Glenn Frey “All Those Lies” (1982) 89. Eagles “Wasted Time” (1976) 90. James Gang “Midnight Man” (1971) 91. Eagles “Ol’ ‘55” (1974) 92. Timothy B. Schmit “Boys Night Out” (1987) 93. Eagles “No More Cloudy Days” (2005) 94. Eagles “After the Thrill Is Gone” (1975) 95. Eagles “The Sad Café” (1979) 96. Poco “C’mon” (1971) 97. Joe Walsh “Vote for Me” (1992) 98. Don Henley “The Garden of Allah” (1995) 99. Bruce Springsteen “Take It Easy” (live, 2016) 100. Little River Band with Glenn Frey “Take It Easy/Lyin’ Eyes” (live, 1988) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Eagles DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Don Henley DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Glenn Frey DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Joe Walsh DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Timothy B. Schmit DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Randy Meisner DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Bernie Leadon DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Don Felder Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 7/22/2017; last updated 10/30/2023.

Eagles released first live album

First posted 3/26/2008; updated 9/20/2020.

Eagles Live Eagles

Released: November 7, 1980 Recorded: live October 1976 and July 1980 Peak: 6 US, 24 UK, 25 CN, 3 AU Sales (in millions): 7.0 US, -- UK, 10.6 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Click for codes to singles charts. Hotel California Heartache Tonight I Can’t Tell You Why The Long Run New Kid in Town Life’s Been Good (Joe Walsh solo song) (6/10/78, 12 US) Seven Bridges Road (12/20/80, 21 US, 17 AC, 55 CW) Wasted Time Take It to the Limit Doolin’-Dalton (Reprise II) Desperado Saturday Night All Night Long (Joe Walsh solo song) (5/17/80, 19 US) Life in the Fast Lane Take It Easy Chart figures are only for songs not previously featured on any Eagles’ albums. Total Running Time: 77:10 The Players: Glenn Frey (vocals, guitar, keyboards) Don Henley (vocals, drums) Don Felder (guitar, vocals) Randy Meisner (bass, vocals: 1976) Timothy B. Schmit (bass, vocals: 1980) Joe Walsh (guitar, keyboards, vocals)

Rating: 3.368 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings) Quotable: “The most heavily overdubbed [live album] in history” - Rolling Stone Record Guide (1983) Awards:

About the Album: “Eagles Live is the first live album by the…Eagles, a two-LP set released in 1980. The Eagles broke up on July 31, 1980 after their concert at Long Beach. However, the band still owed Warners a live record from the tour. Eagles Live (released that November) was mixed by Glenn Frey and Don Henley on opposite coasts – the two decided they couldn’t bear to be in the same state, let alone the same studio, and as Bill Szymczyk put it, the record’s perfect three-part harmonies were fixed ‘courtesy of Federal Express.’ The 1983 Rolling Stone Record Guide said it is ‘perhaps the most heavily overdubbed [live album] in history.’ After the credits that list no fewer than five attorneys, the album's liner notes simply say, ‘Thank you and goodnight.’” WK “Eagles Live includes…tracks recorded in the fall of 1976 (thus allowing for the inclusion of departed singer Randy Meisner on Take It to the Limit).” AMG Also from 1976, are New Kid in Town, Wasted Time, Doolin-Dalton (Reprise II), and Desperado. WK However, “the bulk of the album comes from the end of the Eagles’ 1980 tour, just before they broke up, and it reflects their late concert repertoire, largely drawn from Hotel California and The Long Run.” AMG “The occasional early song such as ‘Desperado’ and Take It Easy turn up, but many of the major hits from the middle of the band's career – ‘The Best of My Love,’ ‘One of These Nights,’ ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ – are missing, replaced by such curiosities as two extended selections from Joe Walsh’s solo career, Life’s Been Good and All Night Long.” AMG “At least Walsh introduces some live variations to his material; the rest of the Eagles seem determined to recreate the studio versions of their songs in concert, which may work for them live but almost makes a live recording superfluous. The previously unrecorded rendition of Steve Young’s Seven Bridges Road is welcome, and the album would have benefited from more surprises as well as a livelier approach to a live recording.” AMG

Resources and Related Links: Eagles’ DMDB Encyclopedia entry AMG William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide WK Wikipedia.org

The Eagles’ “Hotel California” hit #1

Hotel California Eagles

Writer(s): Don Felder, Don Henley, Glenn Frey (see lyrics here) Released: February 22, 1977 First Charted: February 18, 1977 Peak: 11 US, 11 CB, 12 GR, 11 HR, 10 AC, 1 CL, 8 UK, 12 CN, 60 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, 0.85 UK, 4.85 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 1.0 radio, 78.6 video, 1348.12 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: In the early ’70s, the Eagles took wing, rising up from being Linda Ronstadt’s backup band to becoming the premiere country rock group. Through four albums, they crafted a sound that de-emphasized the twang just enough to give them widespread appeal. In the process, they landed two #1 songs and three more top ten hits. By their fifth album, personnel changes meant the Eagles had more muscle with the dual guitars of Don Felder and Joe Walsh. This new direction in sound didn’t dampen pop audiences’ enthusiasm – the Hotel California album gave the Eagles two more #1 songs – “New Kid in Town” and the title track. While the first still treated listeners to a slice of country rock, “Hotel California” established the Eagles as a dominant force in the classic rock arena. Critic Toby Creswell called it “their finest moment.” TC The song’s tale of a luxury resort where “you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave” has prompted multiple interpretations. Theories abound as to song’s inspiration although all such rumors have been denied by the band. WK Themes range from heroin addiction to Satan worship, RS500 from being about a cannibal-run hotel, a state mental hospital, or a metaphor for cancer. WK The song started as singer and drummer Don Henley’s reaction to his breakup with girlfriend Loree Rodkin, but “got more universal.” TC Henley said it was about “the decadence and escapism of the ‘70s.” LW The song is considered an allegory about the music industry and the destructive influence it had on the Eagles. Henley explained, “‘We were all middle-class kids from the Midwest…‘Hotel California’ was our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles.’” RS500 Bandmate Glenn Frey asserted that California was just “‘a microcosm for the rest of the world,’” LW a sentiment echoed by Henley’s comments that the song explores “the dark underbelly of America at large.” TC Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Eagles BC Brad Carl (2015). 50 Songs from the 70s and 80s That Still Hold Up. Pages 15-16. TC Toby Creswell (2005). 1001 Songs: The Great Songs of All Time. Thunder’s Mouth Press: New York, NY. Page 274. DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Pages 77-8. LW Alan Lewens (2001). Popular Song – Soundtrack of the Century. Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 138. RS500 Rolling Stone (12/04). “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” WK Wikipedia & Francis, Inc. Related Links: Last updated 7/14/2023.