When a musical ensemble ascends to the echelon occupied by the Eagles, it’s almost inconceivable that any song in their repertoire could be underrated by their fervent fanbase. In the illustrious collaboration between Glenn Frey and Don Henley, the duo crafted an array of iconic American rock anthems, spanning from the poignant balladry of ‘Desperado’ to the timeless classic ‘Hotel California’. Despite the plethora of musical gems in their oeuvre, Henley harbors the belief that a handful of their creations remain underappreciated by their fanbase.
In the nascent years of their songwriting partnership, as the band was still finding its creative footing, Frey and Henley exhibited their musical prowess with live renditions of tracks like ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ and ‘Take It Easy’. However, it was not until their subsequent album that they solidified their collaborative synergy, giving birth to their inaugural joint composition, ‘Tequila Sunrise’.
Even with Henley’s reputation for meticulousness in the studio, he candidly acknowledged that some of their initial creations lacked memorability. During the production of their eponymous debut, Henley described ‘Earlybird’ as somewhat corny, attributing this sentiment to experimental effects introduced towards the track’s conclusion.
Driven by a determination to establish himself as a serious musician, Henley undertook the ambitious task of crafting ‘Desperado’ as a bold conceptual statement. Despite clashes with producer Glyn Johns, the band found renewed momentum during the creation of the album ‘On the Border’, a period coinciding with their work on songs for ‘One of These Nights’.
Amid creative disparities with guitarist Bernie Leadon, the band churned out some of their most significant hits, including the soulful sounds of the title track and Randy Meisner’s chart-topping ‘Take It To the Limit’. Towards the culmination of the album, Henley felt the inclination to explore their bluesy inclinations, penning a quasi-sequel to the BB King blues classic titled ‘After The Thrill is Gone’. In this introspective piece, Henley contemplates the stagnation of emotion in a relationship, deeming it a personal highlight despite its departure from the dramatic flair of their more renowned songs.
Henley, reflecting on ‘After The Thrill Is Gone’ in The Very Best of the Eagles, characterized it as a somewhat overlooked gem overshadowed by their classics. He recounted, “Glenn and I are working together. He completed the verses with a little help from me. I completed the bridge. As exciting as the Eagles were at times, the luster was starting to wear off. We were combining our personal and professional lives through song.”
As their creative partnership underwent strain, the band embarked on their most ambitious sonic venture, ‘Hotel California’. Despite this album featuring some of their best material, it paradoxically became a sacrificial offering in their discography, prompting months of contemplation for a follow-up.
With the release of ‘The Long Run’, the group found themselves amidst creative disintegration, culminating in a backstage brawl at a benefit concert that ultimately fractured the ensemble. ‘After the Thrill is Gone’, penned years before their untimely demise, eerily foreshadows the impending dissolution. The song serves as a poignant reflection on the toll exacted by a collaboration of such magnitude.