Eagles (album)
Encyclopedia
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.
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." 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.
" with the comment that the album "created a new template for laid-back L.A. country-rock style". It was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
.
Singles
Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
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
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
. 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.
Critical response
Robert ChristgauRobert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
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." Bud Scoppa of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
on the other hand felt that they had "distinguished" country-rock backgrounds, and that after Jackson Browne's debut album
Jackson Browne (album)
Jackson Browne is the self-titled debut album of singer Jackson Browne released in 1972. It peaked on the Billboard 200 chart at number 53. Two singles were released with "Doctor My Eyes" peaking at number 8 on the Pop Singles chart and "Rock Me on the Water" reaching number 48.-History:Browne had...
, it was the best debut of 1972.
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. Rolling Stone listed it as number 374 on their "500 Greatest AlbumsThe 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
" with the comment that the album "created a new template for laid-back L.A. country-rock style". It was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a musical reference book edited by Robert Dimery, first published in 2005. The most recent edition consists of a list of albums released between 1955 and 2010, part of a series from Quintessence Editions Ltd...
.
Track listing
Personnel
- Glenn FreyGlenn FreyGlenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, slide guitarSlide guitarSlide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, lead vocals - Don HenleyDon HenleyDonald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, lead vocals - Bernie LeadonBernie LeadonBernard Mathew "Bernie" Leadon, III is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Prior to the Eagles, he was a member of two pioneering and highly influential country rock bands, Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, lead vocals - Randy MeisnerRandy MeisnerRandy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitar, lead vocals
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
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 |