Part 2: "The Reunion Years Up to Today"

Introduction

Welcome back to the "Two for Tuesday Podcast," where we're continuing our deep dive into the captivating history of the legendary rock band, the Eagles. I’m your host Michael Pezent of 2nd Round Music. In our previous episode, we explored the band's early years, from their formation in 1971 to their dramatic breakup in 1980 and the 14-year hiatus that followed.

Now, in this second installment, we'll delve into the reunion and comeback of the Eagles, tracing their remarkable journey from the ashes of their past to the heights of their renewed success. It's a story of reconciliation, creative rejuvenation, and the enduring power of one of the greatest bands in rock history. This week's songs will be the classic, “Take It Easy” and my favorite Eagles song, “Seven Bridges Road”.

The Reunion

The events leading to the Eagles' surprise reunion in 1994 were nothing short of remarkable. After years of personal and professional estrangement, Glenn Frey and Don Henley, the band's primary songwriters and leaders, finally reconciled, paving the way for the long-awaited reunion.Well, there’s more to the story than that. In 1993 a compilation album was released by the name of Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles. It was greatest hits, so to speak, of Eagles songs that were covered by some that era’s best country music artist, like Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood and Brooks & Dunn. This album was the brainchild of Don Henley and former band manager Irving Azoff. It’s intention was to be a fundraiser for a foundation by the name of the Walden Woods Project. You may remember that Henley sang a duet with Trisha Yearwood back in the early ‘90’s and he went to the CMA award show to perform the song with Trisha. During his time there, the story goes, many of the artists told Henley how much the band and their music inspired them. So the album concept was born. Now the most popular song from the album was Travis Tritt’s rendition of “Take It Easy”. I was the highest charting song from the album at #21. Travis insisted the band be in the video and said he wouldn’t do a video without them. So Glenn Frey, Don Henely, Don Felder, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmidt all reunited for the first time since the 1980 breakup. Two months later Frey and Henley would meet with the band's management over lunch and agreed to a reunion. Glenn was quoted as saying, "For the record, we never broke up, we just took a 14-year vacation". He also said "After years passed, you really sort of remember that you were friends first ... I just remembered how much we genuinely had liked each other and how much fun we'd had."

The "Hell Freezes Over" tour that followed became one of the highest-grossing concert tours of the decade, as fans flocked to see the reunited Eagles perform their timeless hits and fan favorites. The renewed creative energy within the band was palpable, and they soon released a new album, also titled Hell Freezes Over, which included both new material and live recordings from the tour. So the album name came from Henley's recurring statement that the group would get back together "when hell freezes over". The album debuted at #1 on the billboard charts and included four new songs with "Get Over It" and "Love Will Keep Us Alive" both becoming Top 40 hits. With the latter becoming a #1 hit. The Hell Freezes Over album was certified 9x Platinum. 

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A New Era

In the years following the reunion, the Eagles continued to evolve and adapt, both musically and personally. In December 1999, the band played two shows, one in Las Vegas and one in Los Angeles where the music from those shows would be used to create a 4-disc box set titled Selected Works” 1972-1999. These two concerts would be the last time Don Felder would play with the Eagles. He was then fired from the band in Feb 2001 and responded by filing a lawsuit against the band, Frey and Henley individually among others. Both Frey and Henley felt they had the right to fire Felder and counter sued. This would all be later settled out of court. Now the departure of Felder was offset by the addition of guitarist Steuart Smith, who would go on to be a touring member up until just recently when he retired due to contracting Parkinson’s disease. He seamlessly integrated into the band's lineup and has continued to help shape their sound. Smith would be replaced by Chris Holt.

The Eagles' commercial and critical success only continued to grow, with albums like "Long Road Out of Eden" further cementing their status as one of the best-selling and most influential bands of all time. Throughout this period, the individual members also pursued their own solo projects, maintaining a delicate balance between their personal aspirations and the enduring legacy of the Eagles.

The Legacy Continues

The Eagles' impact on the world of rock music is undeniable. Their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as their countless accolades and awards, are a testament to their enduring influence and the timeless quality of their music.

Today, the Eagles continue to captivate audiences and inspire new generations of musicians. Their extensive discography and legendary live performances have solidified their place as one of the most iconic and beloved bands in rock history, and their story is far from over. Although in the last 10-15 years, the band has had some interesting happenings and tragedies. In 2013, the band went on tour to support a documentary titled History of the Eagles. Don Henley was quoted as saying, “This could be our last.” This tour did bring back an original member, Bernie Leadon. Though, Randy Meisner and Don Felder didn’t appear. Randy was asked on several occasions but he couldn’t participate due to health reasons. He had stopped playing publically in 2008 and passed away in July, 2023 at the age of 77. As far as Don Felder was concerned, well he never asked to return. Those bridges had been burned long ago. The band suffered a tremendous tragedy in January of 2016 when founding member Glenn Frey died at the age of 67 from multiple complications while recovering from intestinal surgery. At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in February, the Eagles, joined by former original member Bernie Leadon, touring guitarist Steuart Smith, and co-writer Jackson Browne, performed "Take It Easy" in honor of Frey. In subsequent interviews, Henley stated that he did not think the band would perform again. Well, ol’ Don was wrong again. The band added new members Deacon Frey, Glenn’s son and country music icon Vince Gill. These guys still have playing dates in Las Vegas on the schedule now starting Sept 5th thru Nov 8th.

"Take It Easy"

"Take It Easy," released in 1972, was the Eagles' first single and remains a defining song of their catalog. The song was co-written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey. Jackson originally started writing the song in 1971, inspired by his experiences in Los Angeles and the feeling of searching for a sense of belonging in a bustling city. The line "Take it easy, take it easy / Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy" reflects a laid-back philosophy that resonates with many listeners, encouraging them to slow down and appreciate life. But Jackson got a serious case of writer's block and couldn’t finish the song. Now this is where Glenn Frey comes into the picture.

So the story is that Jackson met Glenn at an open-mic club and not only became friends but would later become roommates. So Glenn hears Jackson working on this song. Now Glenn was quoted once saying, “I had never really witnessed that sort of focus – someone being that fastidious – and it gave me a different idea about how to write songs; that maybe it wasn’t all just going to be a flood of inspiration. That’s when I first heard [this song].” Glenn basically begged Jackson to complete the song. Now this is where some of the controversy comes in. Some say that Glenn took the song and completed it from the 2nd verse to the end. To which Jackson said later that Glenn’s contribution was “...in spectacular fashion. And, what’s more, arranged it in a way that was far superior to what I had written.” But I’ve also read Glenn humbly stating that his only contribution was the line. “‘It’s a girl, my lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowin’ down to take a look at me.’ His quote goes on to say, “That was my contribution to [the song], really, just finishing the second verse.” Now interestingly enough the 2nd controversy is that Jackson never actually was in Winslow, AZ. That he actually broke down in Flagstaff, AZ. So what’s controversial about that? Well the inspiration for the 2nd verse, “Standing on a corner in Winslow, AZ/Such a fine sight to see” was from a trip Jackson was making back to California when his car broke down. Most say that it was in Winslow where he spent all day waiting to get his car fixed. Some say he spent the night in jail for loitering. The City of Winslow even has a park called “Standing On the Corner Park” which is right off of Old U.S. Hwy 66. Better known as Route 66. That’s a song we’ll talk about at a later date. Now no one knows exactly if this is the “corner” that Jackson is referencing or not. I think it’s just an intriguing location. But again some say Jackson wasn’t even in Winslow at all. According to a Facebook group, Jackson broke down in Flagstaff in front of a little German restaurant and was hitchhiking to Winslow. Well if you look at a map and you know that Jackson was traveling back to California, he’s not going to hitchhike back east 55 miles to Winslow! But before I call ‘BS’ on this story, I will say that maybe Winslow sounds better than Flagstaff in a song. Whatever the stories, this collaboration between Brown and Frey produced a classic song.  It is listed as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. 

Now the Eagles recorded "Take It Easy" at the Olympic Studios in London, England for their self-titled debut album, and it became a commercial success, reaching number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now Glenn sings the lead vocals and bassist Randy Meisner sings the harmony vocals in the 2nd verse. Don Henley harmonizing in the chorus, on the line "Though we will never be here again. So open up, I'm climbin' in." Bernie Leadon provides the lead guitar and distinctive banjo parts, as well as harmony vocals. The producer Glyn Johns was once quoted as saying, "On 'Take It Easy' I got Bernie to play double-time banjo; they all thought it was a bonkers idea but it worked. It was already a great song, but that one little thing made it different." The song's catchy chorus and harmonious blend of vocals exemplify the Eagles' signature sound, combining rock elements with a country flair.

The backdrop of the song is steeped in the California lifestyle of the early 1970s, characterized by an easygoing attitude and a sense of freedom. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man driving through the desert, contemplating life and love. 

Now on the other side of this quick break, we’ll talk about one of my all-time favorite songs, the Eagle cover of song “Seven Bridges Road”

Thank You Break

“Seven Bridges Road”

Now "Seven Bridges Road," is a song that was written by Steve Young and covered by the Eagles in 1980 for the album Eagles Live, and it showcases a different side of the band's artistry. Originally released on Young's 1969 album Rock Salt and Nails. His version of the song starts with just a figure picked guitar and Steve folk sounding voice. But then between the verses you get a heavy dose of stringed instruments. It’s actually well done. Now Steve was a pioneer of the country rock, Americana, and alternative country sounds, and he was also a vital force behind the outlaw movement. He was born in Newnan, Georgia, he grew up in Texas and Gadsden, Alabama.

Now this song supposedly is an ode to Woodley Road which is County Road 39, Montgomery County, Al. Now that’s a rural two-lane road which runs south off East Fairview Avenue — the southern boundary of the Cloverdale neighborhood of Montgomery, Al — at Cloverdale Road, and this road has seven bridges: three pairs of bridges, and the seventh is approximately one mile south by itself. Young, stated that he and his friends "used to go out to Woodley Road carousing around": "I wound up writing this song that I never dreamed anybody would even relate to, or understand, or get. And I still don't understand why it was so successful, actually." I don't know [exactly] what [the] song means. “... I [just] wrote... a song about a girl and a road in south Alabama."

Now the story goes, that a guy by the name of Jimmy Evans, who was then Young's roommate and later Attorney General of Alabama, told that they use to frequent Woodley Rd, and he told of a specific visit which kinda triggered Young's writing the song, stating, "[One] night [when] there was a full moon... we were in my Oldsmobile, and when I stopped Steve got out on the right side fender. We sat there a while, and he started writing down words." Young would also say that he later found out that the locals would actually call Woodley Rd, Seven Bridges Rd.

Now this songs have been covered numerous times but the best known versions are from a British artist by the name of Iain Matthews and the Eagles, Now the Matthews version, which was covered in 1973 on his album Valley Hi, is where the acapella version came from. It’s a really good version because they add an instrumental break with a beautiful pedal steel guitar solo that is really, really nice. Yeah, if you don’t already know, I’m a huge pedal steel guitar fan!  

Now according to Matthews, he and the members of the Eagles knew each other from time spent at a place in West Hollywood called theToubadour. Matthews would say that  "we were forever going back to somebody's house and playing music. Don Henley had a copy of 'Valley Hi' that he liked, so I've no doubt about that being where their version of the song came from." 

Now the Eagles' version features rich vocal harmonies that highlight their signature sound and according to Don Felder, when they first started playing stadiums the guys would use this song as their pre-show warm-up. Later on each concert would then open with the group's five members singing "Seven Bridges Road" a capella into a single microphone. Felder stated that it "blew [the audience] away. It was always a vocally unifying moment, all five voices coming together in harmony."

The Eagles recorded "Seven Bridges Road" during a live performance on July 28, 1980 at the Santa Monica Civic Center. 

The song did chart, making to #21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and would be the last Top 40 hit of the early era. 

Now supposedly at the time the Eagles charted with "Seven Bridges Road" the song's original composer Steve Young commented, "I didn't like the Eagles' version at first. I thought it was too bluegrassy, too gospel. But the more I hear it, the better it sounds."

Conclusion

So there you have it! In this second episode, we've explored the remarkable reunion and comeback of the Eagles, tracing their journey from the ashes of their past to the heights of their renewed success. From the "Hell Freezes Over" tour to the release of new music and the band's continued impact on the industry, the story of the Eagles is one of resilience, creativity, and the power of reconciliation.

As we bid farewell to this two-part exploration, I encourage you to delve deeper into the rich history and discography of the Eagles. Their music and their legacy continue to captivate and inspire, and I'm confident that their story will continue to unfold for generations to come. 

Thank you for joining me today on the Two for Tuesday Podcast with your music loving buddy and host Michael Pezent of 2nd Round Music. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this iconic band. Just type your comments below if you’re listening on YouTube or drop me an email. You can also click the link in the description to hear me perform these songs. Don’t forget to subscribe or follow, click the ‘like’ button and share this with all your music loving friends. So just remember we love you and we need you and tune in next time as we continue to explore the stories behind the music we love. God bless you!