![\"Don](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Don-Henley-The-Eagles-2019-Musician-Far-Out-Magazine-1140x855.jpg\")
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(Credits: Far Out \/ Derek Russell)<\/p>\n
Mon 22 December 2025 20:44, UK <\/p>\n
For a band with as many hits as the Eagles<\/a>, there comes a point where there needs to be some quality control. <\/p>\n Even though songs like \u2018Hotel California\u2019 and \u2018Desperado\u2019 might be able to pack stadiums until the end of time, Don Henley and Glenn Frey were never satisfied with having any filler material, constantly trying to make every track matter whenever they entered the studio. While the group may have had a firm grip on what they wanted to sound like, Henley thought one of their songs never quite came together.<\/p>\n Before the Eagles started making their first album, their backs were already against the wall. After doing a showcase for Asylum mogul and future industry titan David Geffen, the country rockers were sent to Aspen to rehearse, not thinking they were in good enough shape to record an entire album of material.<\/p>\n Even when the group got to work with Glyn Johns, the legendary producer wasn\u2019t impressed, only signing on when he heard the band\u2019s soaring harmonies in the rehearsal room. Once the group took time to record their debut, though, the reception was rapturous, with critics and fans loving the sounds of tracks like \u2018Take It Easy\u2019 and \u2018Peaceful Easy Feeling\u2019.<\/p>\n After making their first stabs at radio hits, the Eagles\u2019 idea for a loose concept record centred around outlaws quickly sank like a stone. While Desperado may not have struck a nerve with the public, the follow-up On the Border would recover very nicely, having cornerstone tracks like \u2018Already Gone\u2019 and \u2018Best of My Love\u2019, the latter of which would become one of their first number one hits.<\/p>\n Even though the band focused on reeling things back, Henley was still interested in pushing the envelope lyrically. Instead of the typical love song fodder that popped up in every other rock number, the title track was written during the waning days of the Watergate scandal, as President Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace. \u201cWe were addressing Nixon,\u201d explained Henley of the track, \u201cbecause at that time it was pretty clear that he was on his way out, so that was our little kiss-off to Tricky Dick.\u201d<\/p>\n While they had strong feelings about the recent political discourse, Henley thought that the track\u2019s final version worked much better on paper. Looking to take the sounds of R&B and blend them with their usual country sound, Henley was disappointed with the final result, thinking that most of the track sounded half-hearted.<\/p>\n Recalling the time that they worked on the track, Henley thought that \u2018On the Border\u2019 still felt something was holding it back, saying<\/a>, \u201cThere was a clash of styles and influences in that song, and I\u2019m not sure it ever became what it could have been, musically\u201d. For all of the scattered sounds coming from the one track, the accompanying album would prove to be a turning point in the group\u2019s career.<\/p>\n It should be noted that Henley might well be the Eag;es\u2019 biggest critic. The singer and drummer is notorious for being perhaps a little harsh on the band\u2019s songs, but he might well be right on this one. The song does feel like a cacophony of ideas vying for attention. <\/p>\n![\"Don](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Don-Henley-Musician-The-Eagles-Drummer-Vocalist-Far-Out-Magazine-F-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>The Eagles\u2019 biggest critic? (Credits: Far Out \/ TIDAL)<\/p>\n