Published on Jun 18, 1997
I read with some mterest recently that the first great hits
package from the Eagles recently overtook Michael Jackson’s
Thriller as the best-selling album in America. Almost 30
years since they first formed, their blend of country-rock sounds
as fresh today as it did when these songs were first cut to tape –
a claim many groups wish they could make.
Such is the case with their 1975 album
One Of These Nights, This record is one where you will not
just remember the songs that have been etched into your memory
courtesy of classic rock radio, but also the songs that have
remained hidden through time.
The title track, of course, is one of the best-known works by
the Eagles. With a slide-like feel on the bass guitar provided by
Randy Meisner and a hot solo from the hands of Don Felder, the band
creates a groove that has rarely been equalled. Don Henley’s lead
vocal fits the mood perfectly (never mind the fact I slammed his
solo album
Building The Perfect Beast just last week), even down to the
falsetto.
But Henley was not the only lead singer for this band. Meisner
sounds a bit like Rik Emmett from Triumph on “Too Many Hands,” a
song which should get more airplay than it does, while he also
plays the falsetto to the hilt on “Take It To The Limit.” And, of
course, let’s not forget guitarist/keyboardist Glenn Frey, who adds
enough of a whiskey smoothness to the country twang of “Lyin’
Eyes.” However, when Henley and Frey share the lead vocal duties on
“After The Thrill Is Gone,” the result is much less dramatic.
All five members of the band take turns in front of the
microphone on
One Of These Nights – Felder on “Visions,” and Bernie Leadon
on “I Wish You Peace.” But it would be hard to say which of these
five is the true “voice” of the Eagles. In fact, I don’t think you
could name one as the “leader,” though at this stage in the band’s
existence, Henley and Frey were the front-runners. (With the
addition of ex-James Gang guitarist Joe Walsh, the leadership
picture became even more muddied.)
But the moment on the album which stands out for me is the
instrumental “Journey Of The Sorcerer,” a song from the pen of
Leadon featuring the “Royal Martian Orchestra.” The ambitiousness
of this track is what separates it from the rest of the works by
the Eagles to this point. (Trivia time: Name the British
mini-series which used this song as its opening theme music.
Answer:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.) This song does show a
little sign of age, but still is quite enjoyable.
While this album holds some high points of the band’s career, it
was far from the end of their glory days. It was, however, the end
of the road for Leadon, who left the band shortly after this album
was completed. But while his solo career floundered, he did leave a
legacy in the music of the Eagles which will not be soon
forgotten.
One Of These Nights is an album that may not be in many
people’s collections – most likely people have chosen instead to
opt for the greatest hits albums – but this one is definitely worth
searching out for the hidden, forgotten gems that reside therein.
Maybe with the recent reunion of the band these tracks will be
rediscovered. One can only hope.