"I'm Going Back In Time and It's A Sweet Dream..."

Review Score:

(10/10)
This 70s timepiece was classic rock's tortoise slowly, surely passing Michael Jackson's moonwalking hare, "Thriller." A decade's music fans falling for the digital disc format made this among their first CDs home with the new player, ensuring its standing as music's all-time top seller. The sting and strum starting Jackson Browne's "Take It Easy" jumped through speakers in a way impossible during the song's first decade on radio, LP, or cassette.

The Eagles were ideally timed for rock royalty from these 10 tracks, which borrowed from more influential, less commerically successful contemporaries and forebears: Roy Orbsion (which opened the band's last tour), Everly Brothers, Byrds, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kris Kristofferson, and Poco (which contributed members Randy Meisner and, later, Timothy B. Schmitt). Writing of desperados, witchy women, beautiful faces and loud, empty places, the Eagles' dusty, rusty vision of Ronald Reagan's 1970s California was as cynical and antiheroic as Brian Wilson's 60s sunny, optimistic version with the Beach Boys. Randy Meisner's grandiose "Take It To The Limit" was his quixotic quest to return to that California utopian dream.

But despite its musical timelessness and constant classic-rock radio play, the Eagles' lyrical world view has aged as badly as the era's tackiest fashions and lingo. The group villified its California girls as few other stars did in the era: the Queen of Diamonds who'll beat you if she's able was the adultress in "Lyin' Eyes," eating lunch by herself in "Already Gone." (The more female-friendly 90s handed that kiss-off song to country's tough-talking Tanya Tucker on the "Common Thread" Eagles' tribute).

Even the genteel night under desert stars in Jack Tempchin's "Peaceful Easy Feelin'" holds little hope for lasting love at sunrise. "I found out a long time ago what a woman can do to your soul," Glenn Frey sings in that country-rock croon. "I know you won't let me down, because I'm already standing on the ground." Despite broader-minded Don Henley solo work in the 80s and 90s, the Eagles kept this view even in 1994's "Get Over It" and "Girl From Yesterday." Only 1975's shimmering #1 "Best of My Love" nears an honest love song.

The Eagles needed Joe Walsh's goofy, self-effacing personality as much as it did his hard rock slide guitar when this was released in 1976. Walsh provided two more lasting California rock documents and top-drawer concert staying power 20 years after their original breakup. His Eagles work endeared hard rock Eagles fans as this obviously essential set did its country contingent. Buy this and James Taylor's first hits CD (another first with new players) for both sides of the 70s male personality, musical and otherwise.

More Reviews: