[Review] Eagles: One of These Nights (1975)
The group takes it to the limit and then some with their first #1 album.
Kronomyth 4.0: The bones of contention.
Eagles had too much talent, which, I’ll admit, sounds like a good problem to have. They could have built a fine career simply on the singing/songwriting of Don Henley and Glenn Frey—and there’s no denying that Henley and Frey were responsible for the lion’s share of the group’s success. With five egos to feed, however, it was clear that someone had to leave the nest and, before the year was over, Bernie Leadon was gone. His contributions to One of These Nights, while significant, underscore the creative conflict within the band. The instrumental Journey of the Sorcerer features a full orchestra in what could only be described as a miniature progressive country-rock symphony. The closing I Wish You Peace, cowritten with Patti Davis (Ronald Reagan’s daughter and Leadon’s live-in girlfriend), is a sentimental oldie that, again, sounds completely out of place on the album. Don Felder and Randy Meisner are at least better aligned with the band’s new musical direction, which now incorporated elements of country, rock, and disco with razor-sharp studio production. Take It to the Limit, featuring Meisner on lead vocals, even became the band biggest-selling single at the time. But it’s Henley and Frey who deliver the album’s best songs: One of These Nights (which manages to find middle ground between supernatural rock and disco) and Lyin’ Eyes. Those three songs alone assured Eagles of success, and the album would go on to become their best-selling record so far. The rest of the songs are good enough that, over time, you’re likely to develop a soft spot for some of them (e.g., After the Thrill Is Gone, Hollywood Waltz). The album cover is pretty frightening (the band seemed to have more than a passing interest in dark forces), but what’s really scary is that they were about to get even better with the addition of Joe Walsh.
Original elpee version
A1. One of These Nights (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) (4:51)
A2. Too Many Hands (Randy Meisner/Don Felder) (4:42)
A3. Hollywood Waltz (Bernie Leadon/Tom Leadon/Don Henley/Glenn Frey) (4:04)
A4. Journey of the Sorcerer (Bernie Leadon) (6:39)
B1. Lyin’ Eyes (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) (6:21)
B2. Take It to the Limit (Randy Meisner/Don Henley/Glenn Frey) (4:48)
B3. Visions (Don Felder/Don Henley) (4:00)
B4. After the Thrill Is Gone (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) (3:58)
B5. I Wish You Peace (Patti Davis/Bernie Leadon) (3:45)
Original 8-track version
A1. One of These Nights
A2. I Wish You Peace
A3. After the Thrill Is Gone (Part 1)
B1. After the Thrill Is Gone (Part 2)
B2. Take It to the Limit
B3. Visions
C1. Lyin’ Eyes
C2. Too Many Hands
D1. Hollywood Waltz
D2. Journey of the Sorcerer
The Players
Don Felder (vocals, guitar & slide guitar), Glenn Frey (vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonium), Don Henley (vocals, drums, percussion, tablas), Bernie Leadon (vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin & steel), Randy Meisner (vocals & bass guitar) with David Bromberg (fiddles on A4), Albhy Galuten (synthesizer on A3), Jim Ed Norman (piano on B1/B2, string arranger & conductor), The Royal Martian Orchestra (strings on A4), Sid Sharp (concertmaster). Produced by Bill Szymczyk; engineered by Bill Szymczyk & Allan Blazek with Ed Mashal, Don Wood, Michael Braunstein & Michael Verdick.
The Pictures
Art direction & design by Gary Burden for R. Twerk. Photography by Norman Seeff. Front cover artpiece & lettering by Boyd Elder. Front cover photo by Tom Kelley Studios.
The Plastic
Released on elpee, cassette and 8-track on June 10, 1975 in the US (Asylum, 7E/TC5/ET8-1039), Germany (Asylum, AS-53014) and Japan (Asylum, P-5901) with picture innersleeve. Reached #1 on the US charts (RIAA-certified 4x platinum record) and #8 on the UK charts.
- Re-issued on compact disc in the US (Asylum, 7E-1039-2).
