Eagles is the debut album by the rock band of the same name, released in 1972. The album was recorded at London's Olympic Studios with producer Glyn Johns. The album was an immediate success for the young band reaching #22 on the charts and going platinum. The album also released three Top 40 singles with "Take it Easy", "Witchy Woman" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling". The three singles reached #12, #9 and #22 respectively. The album played a major role in popularizing the southern California country rock sound. In 2003, the album was ranked number 374 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The single "Take It Easy" is part of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". This album was slated for Quadraphonic release and even given a Quadraphonic catalog number but it was never released in the format.
[edit] Critical response
Robert Christgau felt that the band wrote good songs, but he was unsure about the authenticity of their country roots so what they produced was "suave and synthetic--brilliant, but false."[1] Bud Scoppa of Rolling Stone on the other hand felt that they had "distinguished" country-rock backgrounds, and that after Jackson Browne's debut album, it was the best debut of 1972.[2]
[edit] Legacy
Allmusic's William Ruhlmann sums up the album as balanced, and notes that the three hit singles were penned by Frey and Henley who would later go on to dominate the band.[3] (Many people overlooked Jack Tempchin as the author of Peaceful Easy Feeling). Rolling Stone listed it as number 374 on their "500 Greatest Albums" with the comment that the album "created a new template for laid-back L.A. country-rock style".[4] It was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[5]
[edit] Track listing
| Writer(s) |
Lead vocals |
| 1. |
"Train Leaves Here This Morning" |
Gene Clark, Leadon |
Leadon |
4:13 |
| 2. |
"Take the Devil" |
Meisner |
Meisner |
4:04 |
| 3. |
"Earlybird" |
Leadon, Meisner |
Leadon |
3:03 |
| 4. |
"Peaceful Easy Feeling" |
Jack Tempchin |
Frey |
4:20 |
| 5. |
"Tryin'" |
Meisner |
Meisner |
2:54 |
[edit] Personnel
- Glenn Frey – rhythm guitar, slide guitar, harmonica, keyboards, lead vocals
- Don Henley – drums, guitar, lead vocals
- Bernie Leadon – lead guitar, mandolin, banjo, lead vocals
- Randy Meisner – bass guitar, guitar, lead vocals
[edit] Singles
- "Take It Easy/Get You in the Mood" - Asylum 11005; released May 1, 1972
- "Witchy Woman/Early Bird" - Asylum 11008; released August 1, 1972
- "Peaceful Easy Feeling/Tryin'" - Asylum 11013; released December 1, 1972
[edit] Charts
- Album
| Year |
Chart |
Position |
| 1972 |
Billboard Pop Albums |
22 |
- Singles
| Year |
Single |
Chart |
Position |
| 1972 |
"Take It Easy" |
Billboard Pop Singles |
12 |
| 1972 |
"Witchy Woman" |
Billboard Pop Singles |
9 |
| 1973 |
"Peaceful Easy Feeling" |
Billboard Pop Singles |
22 |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
