Eagles – Eagles (1972) Just going through these albums I am constantly amazed by just how many incredible bands and Artists there were (not including all the ones I haven’t got albums of) over the fifty or so years I have been collecting music.   Every time I think I have just re-discovered a gem, another one pops up.  The Eagles were originally recruited by Linda Ronstadt as her backing band before venturing out on their own.  In the vanguard of what would later be known as America, they combined country with soul and rock to conjure up their own sound that was always identifiably their own.  This debut featured Glenn Frey, Don Henley (the only two permanent members), Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner.  This self-titled debut was incredible for its maturity and great songs. The band had four singers and four songwriters and are famous not only for their music but for constant arguments and industrial consumption of drugs.   However they continued making brilliant records until finally parting ways in 1980, six superb albums later.  They have reformed sporadically to tour and released a double album in 2007 which seems lacklustre to me.  This debut’s best songs are ‘Take It Easy’, ‘Witchy Woman’ and ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’.  A side-note, the album was produced by Glynn Johns who spent much of his time trying to reconcile competing ideas from band members as to their eventual direction – which Glynn was instrumental in shaping.