Your favorites of these songs by Eagles

[TAC]

I didn’t get this from the internet. This has been common knowledge to me since the mid 80’s.

Well, it's not true, so substitute whatever you want for "the internet".

Wait.. the next thing you’re going to tell me is that Paul is NOT dead?


So what you’re telling me is that those lyrics do not serve as metaphors for Christ?

If not, what do they mean?

[Stadler]

I think it's about the decadence and loss of values in Los Angeles specifically and America generally.  Henley has been on record pretty consistently about this song.

[cfmoran13]

Henley and Frey - 2 of the biggest douchebags in music.  But, they've written some of the best rock songs ever.

Don Henley - The Boys Of Summer
The Eagles - The Last Resort (my favorite Eagles tune)
The Eagles - Hotel California (no matter how overplayed it is, I'll never turn it off)
The Eagles - Take It Easy
The Eagles - Witchy Woman
The Eagles - One Of These Nights
The Eagles - Life In The Fast Lane

[hefdaddy42]

I think it's about the decadence and loss of values in Los Angeles specifically and America generally.  Henley has been on record pretty consistently about this song.

Yep.

[Cool Chris]

This thread inspired me to hit their catalog. I knew all the radio hits like the back of my hand, had some familiarity with other tracks, but there were some songs I bet I've never heard before. I have little interest in 70s rock these days, and when it was all I listened to the Eagles were never a favorite, but found myself enjoying these albums more than I expected to in 2023. Not something I'm going to revisit but it made for some pleasant listening these last couple days.

[hefdaddy42]

I get on an Eagles kick once every other year or so.

[Orbert]

My wife is a big Eagles fan.  I like a lot of their songs, many of which have made it to the big playlist in the car.  The other day, "On the Border" came up, one of my favorites, and she asked if we could skip it.  She doesn't like that song.

What??  But that's one of their more rocking tunes!  Oh, that's right; rocking doesn't matter as much to Mrs. Orbert.  She prefers the mellower side of Eagles.

But the song "On the Border"rocks.  That beat.

You in some trouble, boy
♫ We know where you've been! ♪♫

[Stadler]

I'm sorry to be negative, but I hear Boys of Summer, or Hotel California, and think, wow, I have to give these guys another shot!  There MUST be some other gems in there, right? They didn't get that big out of dumb luck, right?

Eh. 

My mom had a two-CD greatest hits set that I swiped, and man.  FOR ME, they just MIGHT have gotten lucky (though I like the Joe Walsh stuff, I like "The Long Run" and I like "Already Gone".   But something like "Take It Easy" is everything I dislike about Glenn Frey (and Jackson Browne, for that matter, who cowrote the song, and that southern, So-Cal soft  rock in general).

[hefdaddy42]

My wife is a big Eagles fan.  I like a lot of their songs, many of which have made it to the big playlist in the car.  The other day, "On the Border" came up, one of my favorites, and she asked if we could skip it.  She doesn't like that song.

What??  But that's one of their more rocking tunes!  Oh, that's right; rocking doesn't matter as much to Mrs. Orbert.  She prefers the mellower side of Eagles.

But the song "On the Border"rocks.  That beat.

You in some trouble, boy
♫ We know where you've been! ♪♫

Absolutley one of my favorite Eagles songs.

something like "Take It Easy" is everything I dislike about Glenn Frey (and Jackson Browne, for that matter, who cowrote the song, and that southern, So-Cal soft  rock in general).

Goddammit Stadler

[HOF]

I'm sorry to be negative, but I hear Boys of Summer, or Hotel California, and think, wow, I have to give these guys another shot!  There MUST be some other gems in there, right? They didn't get that big out of dumb luck, right?

Eh. 

My mom had a two-CD greatest hits set that I swiped, and man.  FOR ME, they just MIGHT have gotten lucky (though I like the Joe Walsh stuff, I like "The Long Run" and I like "Already Gone".   But something like "Take It Easy" is everything I dislike about Glenn Frey (and Jackson Browne, for that matter, who cowrote the song, and that southern, So-Cal soft  rock in general).

For me Hotel California is one of those nail on chalkboard songs I don’t really want to hear again. Desperado, however, I’ve always really liked and wondered if there was more of that in there somewhere. But as I said elsewhere in this thread, I dislike most of what I’ve heard from Eagles and their individual members aside from some Henley songs that I really do like.

[Stadler]

Oh, and kudos to Kev for getting their name right.  It's "Eagles", not "The Eagles", according to Glenn Frey, who was pretty adamant about that for some reason.

[hefdaddy42]

For me Hotel California is one of those nail on chalkboard songs I don’t really want to hear again. Desperado, however, I’ve always really liked and wondered if there was more of that in there somewhere. But as I said elsewhere in this thread, I dislike most of what I’ve heard from Eagles and their individual members aside from some Henley songs that I really do like.

Listen to the whole Desperado album.  It's a concept album about the Old West and gunfighters.

[Cool Chris]

Did not see an officials Eagles thread, and didn't want to start a new one. I have seen a bunch of videos in my YT feed proclaiming that Don Henley has been using pre-recorded vocals at concerts for years. Is this a huge deal? Do we care? Is this part of a bigger issue we need to be aware of?

[Orbert]

I care.  Not a lot, because I'm not a huge Eagles fan, but they have some good songs and always put on a good show.  To be honest, I've always marvelled at how well they can reproduce those great harmonies live.  I guess that's much easier if you're using pre-recorded vocals.  So fuck them.  My wife is a huge Eagles fan, and I'm glad I never got talked into going to see them in concert.

[Orbert]

The bigger picture, as I see it, is the growing acceptance of pre-recorded vocals and instrumental tracks during a live performance.  Some say that the most important thing is that everything sounds good, and it's not always possible to do that with the personnel on stage.  In that case, do different songs, hire extra guns to play those parts, or something.  But making everything sound good is not more important than the purity of the performance.  I don't want to hear anything coming out of the mains that isn't coming from someone on stage, period.  I've been playing live music for over 50 years, and I guess that makes me old school, old fashioned, old fogey, whatever.  Get the fuck out of here with that pre-recorded shit.  It ain't live if you have to press Play to make it happen.

[hefdaddy42]

Did not see an officials Eagles thread, and didn't want to start a new one. I have seen a bunch of videos in my YT feed proclaiming that Don Henley has been using pre-recorded vocals at concerts for years. Is this a huge deal? Do we care? Is this part of a bigger issue we need to be aware of?

Yes, it's a huge deal, if true.

[HOF]

Are we talking about pre-recorded backing vocals, or lead vocals? Because I think lots of bands have used pre-recorded backing vocals to fill out the sound or parts that can't be easily reproduced live.

[WilliamMunny]

I care. A lot. So much so that I probably won't go to see a band (*cough* Motley) if I am aware of this beforehand.

But, and this is a big one, I also am fully aware that I am in the vast minority.

Anecdotally, I am the only 'musician' I know among my friends and family. Let's say that's 50 people total, I can guarantee you that if I were to bring this topic up in the middle of our next reunion/get-together, I will get nothing but shoulder shrugs.

My older sister LOVES Motley Crue. She asked me to go to see them last year, and I flat out said 'no.' When I explained my issues with the band live (pre-recorded tracks, an awful lead singer, a bass player who allegedly doesn't have his amp on), my sister was like, "but, the songs are soooo good!"

And that's when it hit me: we are all getting something different out of music, and for my sister (and millions of others), the show was more important than the performance. She wanted a night out, and by hook or by crook, she was going to get it.

So, I will happily sit here on my little island and listen to my albums all the way through, refuse to sign up for a facebook account, and continue to try to call people (as opposed to texting) because I prefer talking to typing.

Me and the other 2% of the population will have a huge issue with Henley, and everyone else will be at the show (probably recording it with their cell phone! )

[hefdaddy42]

Are we talking about pre-recorded backing vocals, or lead vocals? Because I think lots of bands have used pre-recorded backing vocals to fill out the sound or parts that can't be easily reproduced live.

Some bands do that, but they don't normally have people on stage lip-synching to those pre-recorded background vocals, pretending to sing them.  THAT is what is being talked about here, in a band where the vocals are a major part of the draw.

[HOF]

Some bands do that, but they don't normally have people on stage lip-synching to those pre-recorded background vocals, pretending to sing them.  THAT is what is being talked about here, in a band where the vocals are a major part of the draw.

Cool Chris didn't actually describe what was being done. Just said he's been using backing tracks. Also didn't say if it was with Eagles or just Henley solo or what. Anyone have a link to a specific video with specific accusations?

[TAC]

Anyone have a link to a specific video with specific accusations?

There's this one..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h9nn40ktpA


Here the Wings Of Pegasus guy does a side by side analysis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ6DbH-X-L0

[mike099]

I really like the album ‘On The Border’.  This was a transitional album for Eagles with the addition of Don Felder.  Good mix of ballads and rockin songs.

[jammindude]

I don’t know that I’m quite as black-and-white as Orbert is, but I do tend to side with wanting as much as possible to be from the stage. I mean heck, even Rush piped in some of the sampling and keyboard material because it was just too much for one man to play. But at least they were honest about it. Geddy always referred to “Jack Secret”, so they were always completely honest about it, and I felt like they had the same attitude that most of the fans had.

It’s the dishonesty I have a problem with. I think that if an artist is going to be using a lot of pre-recorded things they should be upfront about it and honest with the fans and the people in attendance.

[Cool Chris]

There's this one..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h9nn40ktpA


Here the Wings Of Pegasus guy does a side by side analysis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ6DbH-X-L0

Wings of Pegasus was where I first saw it. I like that guy but he gets too far in to the weeds with stuff that is way over my head and out of my interest level so I stopped watching him.

[HOF]

So it looks like the accusation is that Henley is lip syncing some or all of his lead vocals. That sort of thing does bother me, and I would probably be annoyed to see a concert where it was happening and it wasn’t like just covering up somebody performing in some other way. But also Don Henley is like 85 and has sounded horse since the 80s, so I guess we shouldn't be too surprised he’s gone this route.

[Stadler]

Independent of the notion of lip-synching or not - I'm personally of the opinion that I want to see the people PLAY, and if they augment with players that aren't on stage for logistics reasons, I can accept that, but I want to hear them sing and play - there's also the part that goes to the person.   Don Henley is, by many accounts, a dick, and he's usually the first to call out other people.  So I wouldn't be going to see Henley anyway, and then to find out he's not even really singing, well...   he's not that good a drummer and instrumentalist, so why would I see him?  At least with Paul Stanley (assuming he was really lip-synching) you can see Gene Simmons and the rest of the extravaganza that is Kiss.

[TAC]

At least with Paul Stanley (assuming he was really lip-synching) you can see Gene Simmons and the rest of the extravaganza that is Kiss.

Assuming?? Are you serious?

[Stadler]

It's too soon.  I'm still in denial.

[TAC]

It's too soon.  I'm still in denial.

Well, maybe the um..avatars will actually be singing.

[hefdaddy42]

Well, maybe the um..avatars will actually be singing.

[SwedishGoose]

Piping in backing vocals is not too concerning to me. Of course I would prefer if everything I hear was played live but....
Piping in lead vocals though.... that is way beyond the line

On another note. I see I have voted but not commented before.
I am a casual fan of Eagles. I  like some and love some. However I absolutely adore some of Don Henley's solo work.
One of my all time favorit songs is by him and to my dismay I see it has only got 12 votes.
Where is the love for New York Minute? Can't be just me who adore it totally, can it?

[Stadler]

Piping in backing vocals is not too concerning to me. Of course I would prefer if everything I hear was played live but....
Piping in lead vocals though.... that is way beyond the line

On another note. I see I have voted but not commented before.
I am a casual fan of Eagles. I  like some and love some. However I absolutely adore some of Don Henley's solo work.
One of my all time favorit songs is by him and to my dismay I see it has only got 12 votes.
Where is the love for New York Minute? Can't be just me who adore it totally, can it?

I don't like Don Henley, personally, but "Boys Of Summer" is one of the greatest songs ever written.

[hefdaddy42]

I don't like Don Henley, personally, but "Boys Of Summer" is one of the greatest songs ever written.

Agreed

[SwedishGoose]

Agreed

Boys of summer is a very, very good song but to me it's New York Minute that takes the cake and runs with it.

[hefdaddy42]

Boys of summer is a very, very good song but to me it's New York Minute that takes the cake and runs with it.

I like that one too, but for me, it doesn't hold up to Boys of Summer.  Tastes and opinions, amirite?

I also like his song The Garden of Allah from his greatest hits package, Actual Miles.