Thursday 19th March

Uncut magazine occasionally has an article rating albums by some of the most popular bands.  I usually disagree somewhat with their ratings and so I thought I would have a go myself….

Absolutely Essential – Hotel California – this album came to encapsulate the whole seventies West Coast vibe, not only for the cynical yet brilliantly evocative title track, but every song is great, especially New Kid In Town and Life In The Fast Lane.  The final track The Last Resort, though less well known is almost as good as Hotel California itself.  This was also the album that almost broke the band – how could they possibly top it.

Excellent  – The Complete Greatest Hits.  A double album includes all their hits and for most people this is all you really need.

Very Good – Desperado.  A mini-opera and a record which almost started Americana itself, building on earlier efforts such as The Byrds “Sweetheart of the Rodeo”.  But Desperado has bullets such as Out of Control and Saturday Night as well as their trademark sadder reflections such as Doolin Daltons and of course the eloquent Tequila Sunrise itself.

On The Border is also very good.  This was their third album and established them as superstars with songs like You Never Cry Like A Lover and The Best Of My Love, along with great rockers such as James Dean and Midnight Flyer.

Good – Their debut Eagles was a gentler affair but immaculate for that with songs like Witchy Woman and Train Leaves Here This Morning which established them as serious artists from the off.  Also good is One Of These Nights, which many rate almost as much as Hotel California itself.  I always felt the record was a bit too disco-ish, a bit too commercial maybe.

For the Completists – The Long Run, which was their last real record is good in places, but feels almost like a contractual obligation despite the epic King of Hollywood.

Best Avoided – Long Road Out of Eden – this came out of nowhere a few years ago.  The band had disbanded and reformed for money-making tours a few times and no-one expected new material.  A double album which should have been edited down to a semi-respectable single disc; too many long and boring songs which obscure the few gems.  One almost has to ask Why? What was the point?

Also the numerous live albums which add almost nothing except prolonged clapping, the studio versions are far better.

So, that’s it.  The Eagles had the good sense to implode and stop after six pretty excellent records.  Imagine if the Beatles had carried on, maybe a couple of good albums might have transpired but each of them released at least two or three gems after they split anyway.  Strangely the Eagles didn’t really achieve anything on their own.  Don Henley had “The Boys of Summer” but not much else.  Please feel free to disagree….