Eagles

Long Run

The Long Review

Review Score:

(8/10)
I approached this review after looking at several of the other reviews. As a self-proclaimed music historian, I try to keep as objective as possible, especially in reviews, so as not to influence customers with my own personal tastes.

Yes, The Eagles have been known as "country rock", although I personally hesitate to give them that label, saving it for bands like Lynryd Skynryd. Yes, The Eagles have up until this point, been a more acoustically flavored band, but like many, many other bands, they know how to strip down and go acoustic, and they know how to rock and roll.

In this album, certainly everyone gets a chance at lead vocals, which is more than some bands can say, since others never give anyone other than "established" members a shot at the lead, for whatever that means.

Mr. Schmit does a fine job on bass, and an equally fine job on vocals, with a surprisingly tender tenor. For those who think that "Heartache Tonight" is the only single on the album, think again. Most classic rock radio stations frequently play "In The City" (a really great track), as well as others. As a matter of fact, The Long Run is considered one of The Eagles finest albums after Hotel California.

As far as impact goes, look no further than "Common Thread: The Songs of The Eagles", which is Mr. Henley's pet project to preserve the wetlands where Henry David Thoreau wrote. Many of the songs are the more "obscure" songs, such as The Sad Cafe, also from this album.

To talk about the ego of Don Henley is ridiculous. In every gatehering of people, there is some ego involved, and to say no is a lie. When you're on the road away from familes and friends as much as these guys are, yes, tensions tend to run high, but to blame one person for it is ludicrous. Money is also a factor. When you're not earning what these guys are, it's easy to criticize (I've done it), but these guys make a living out of making music and selling records, and that's just the way it is. When Hell Freezes Over was released, all of the band members talked about being friends again, but the bottom line was that their tour earned them all a pretty penny, and don't think they would have come back if there was not some financial gain in it. I have my own company I run, and finances have come in the way of friendship for me, and I don't even make a fraction of what these guys make.

Bottom line: Yes, this album may be different from previous albums, but different doesn't always mean bad. Sure, the original band members didn't participate in it, but sometimes, things happen that way. As it turns out, more fans remember this lineup than the "classic" lineup. The same situation goes for Fleetwood Mac. It's not who is in the band, but what you do with what you have. Quite honestly, the only band I've ever seen that has had any real clamoring for its original lineup is KISS, and they truly did create something new and different together.

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