Recommendations of the Editorial team
Ranking: The Eagles’ 10 best songs
10. “Peaceful Easy Feeling”
Jack Tempchin was a young singer-songwriter performing in the San Diego coffeehouse scene. He wrote a little ode to carefree life and new love. Glenn Frey noticed this when the Eagles were just getting together. In a decision that had a huge impact on Tempchin’s financial future, the Eagles included the song on their debut album. It was the third single from their 1972 debut album and peaked at number 22 on the Hot 100.
Today many people know the song as the tune that plays in the dude’s taxi The Big Lebowski is played. When he complains that he “hates the damn Eagles,” the taxi driver immediately throws him out. They’re relaxed. But the Eagles remain a highly controversial band.
9. “Wasted Time”
Don Henley turned on the band shortly before work began Hotel California a bitter breakup with interior designer (and future jewelry designer) Loree Rodkin. He poured all his grief and regret into “Wasted Time.”
“I could have done so many things, baby,” he sings. “If only I could stop wondering what I left behind. And worrying about this wasted time.” The sad ballad (complete with strings) ends the first side of the album. A symphonic recapitulation opens the second side. It was never a single. But the fans loved it. And it was a highlight of the 1994 reunion album Hell Freezes Over the band.
8. “I Can’t Tell You Why”
Bassist Timothy B. Schmit joined the Eagles shortly before beginning their long and arduous work on the album The Long Run from 1979 onwards. He presented a very rough version of “I Can’t Tell You Why” to Don Henley and Glenn Frey, who reworked it into a song that dominated radio in the spring of 1980.
Schmit didn’t have much time to celebrate. The group disbanded just a few months later. But he had a great song to sing on future tours with Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band. Since the Eagles reunited 21 years ago, it has been his spotlight song at every performance.
7. “Lyin’ Eyes”
The Eagles were already a pretty popular band before they left in the summer of 1975 One of these nights published. But this album brought them a completely different level of success. It was their first LP to reach number 1 Billboardalbum charts. And the singles could be heard on the radio everywhere.
“Lyin’ Eyes” was written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey one night as they observed a young couple talking. And imagined that they were in the middle of a secret affair. The song reached No. 2 on the Hot 100. It seemed like the band couldn’t get any more popular. But no one knew what they had planned for 1976.
6. “One of These Nights”
The Eagles’ first two albums were produced by Glyn Johns. But he viewed the band primarily as a country-rock group. The group felt he was limiting their growth. She threw him out in the middle of the sessions On the Border in favor of James Gang producer Bill Szymczyk.
When she was in 1975 One of These Nights recording, Szymczyk was in full control. The result was a rockier album, which was supported not least by the participation of Don Felder on guitar. The title track is a great example of Henley’s singing and Felder’s guitar playing. It shot to No. 1 on the Hot 100. And established the group as one of the biggest rock bands of the 1970s.