They had been America’s most promising new act back in ’72
thanks to hit singles “Witchy Woman” and “Take It Easy”, but by their third
album, “On The Border” (1974) the future didn’t look so bright.
Their second album, “Desperado”, had been close to a
commercial disaster, and “On The Border” struggled to recapture lost territory
stalling at #17 on the Billboard chart. However, the last track on that album,
the slow smoocher “Best Of My Love”, came to rescue when released as a single.
It hit the shops in November ’74, but took its time eating into people’s brains
like a virus and finally hitting #1 on March 1, 1975.
In Vietnam a war was being lost, the collapse of Saigon
imminent, and when Eagles’ fourth album, “One Of These Nights”, arrived in June
1975, the Vietnam war was history.
“One Of These Nights” is a collection of dark songs that
somehow captures the mood of that particular time in American history. It might
not be a conscious comment on the war and what it did to the nation, but it sure
sounds like one. This sample from “Hollywood Waltz” might illustrate my point:
Springtime and the lady is grieving
The lovers just stand there with nothing to say
They got what they wanted,
They’re packing and leaving
To look for another to love the same way
Everybody lost the war, it tore the nation to pieces, and the
Eagles offer the bitter taste of defeat dressed up as sad songs about lost love,
pain and betrayal. But they also leave hope for reconciliation in a gloomy
darkness populated by demons and angels. The last track is after all called “I
Wish You Peace”.
Building on the success of “Best Of My Love”, “One Of These
Nights” sure came at the right time. It is perhaps their finest album. Some of
the chemistry disappeared when Bernie Leadon left in December 1975, replaced by
Joe Walsh. The Eagles ceased to be a five man collective after that, pushing
Randy Meisner out in the side wings for “Hotel California” after which he too
left.
“One Of These Nights”, was a huge seller, their first #1
album – and three of the songs went Top 5 when released as singles (the title
track even hitting #1). There’s not a weak spot on the album.
In the gorgeous “Take It To The Limit” Meisner’s voice sure
lives up to the song’s title; Leadon delivers gold with the semi-epic
instrumental “Journey Of The Sorcerer” (used as the theme song of “The
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy” by the BBC) and the sugar sweet sigh “I Wish
You Peace” (written with among others Ronald Reagan’s daughter).
The title track is all goose pimples, a mighty, mighty song,
wonderfully arranged and recorded. “After The Thrill Is Gone” and “Hollywood
Waltz” are big ones too.
The tear jerker “Lyin ‘Eyes” never strays from its hypnotic
tick-tock shuffle as the story of secret love and betrayal unfolds, immaculately
sung and played, but a bit too close in mood and topic to the great “Ruby, Don’t
Take Your Love To Town”, only the Vietnam vet in a wheelchair is replaced by an
old, rich and cold hearted man, a twist that makes it easier for the listener to
sympathize with the girl, even if she betrays him.
Me, I think Eagles went all wimpy as they could have
developed the Ruby-motif further, and 1975 was the perfect time to do it. “Lyin’
Eyes” is thus a missed opportunity. Why should I feel sorry for a girl that
obviously married the guy for his money and is now stuck in her own greed. Good
performance, though.
Anyway, the album turned the Eagles into superstars. It is
easy to understand why.
Released: June 1975
Side One:
“One of These Nights” (Don Henley, Glenn Frey) 4:51
“Too Many Hands” (Randy Meisner, Don Felder) 4:43
“Hollywood Waltz” (Bernie Leadon, Tom Leadon, Henley, Frey)
4:04
“Journey of the Sorcerer” (B. Leadon) 6:40
Side Two:
“Lyin’ Eyes” (Henley, Frey) 6:22
“Take It to the Limit” (Meisner, Henley, Frey) 4:49
“Visions” (Felder, Henley) 3:58
“After the Thrill Is Gone” (Henley, Frey) 3:56
“I Wish You Peace” (Patti Davis, B. Leadon) 3:45
The original vinyl record pressings of “One of These Nights”
(Elektra/Asylum catalog no. 7E-1039) had the following text engraved in the
run-out grooves of each album side:
Side one: “Don’t worry —”
Side two: “— Nothing will be O.K.!”
Personnel:
Glenn Frey - lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonium
Don Henley - lead vocals, drums, percussion, tablas
Randy Meisner - lead vocals, bass guitar, guitar
Bernie Leadon - lead vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin, steel
guitar, pedal steel
Don Felder - lead vocals, guitar, slide guitar, organ
Additional Personnel:
David Bromberg - fiddles on “Journey of the Sorcerer”
The Royal Martian Orchestra - strings on “Journey of the
Sorcerer”
Clara Potter-Sweet - Intergalactic Encyclopedia Researcher on
“Journey of the Sorcerer”
Albhy Galuten - synthesizer on “Hollywood Waltz”
Jim Ed Norman - piano on “Lyin’ Eyes” and “Take It to the
Limit”, orchestrations
Concert Master: Sid Sharp
Conductor: Jim Ed Norman
String Arrangements: Jim Ed Norman and Eagles
Production:
Producer: Bill Szymczyk
Engineer: Allan Blazek, Michael Braunstein, Ed Mashal, Bill
Szymczyk, Michael Verdick, Don Wood
Art Direction: Gary Burden
Design: Gary Burden
Photography: Norman Seeff and Tom Kelley (cover)
