“When I listen to my records, they take me back to certain points in my life.” (Laurence ‘Shrevie’ Schreiber from the movie Diner.)
As anyone who knows me can attest, I love the Eagles. Always have, always will. They’re on my Mt. Rushmore of American rock bands along with Cheap Trick and R.E.M. (I still need to determine a fourth band to put in that picture)
I first got into the Eagles in 1972 hearing their songs blasting out of my sister Maryanne’s stereo. Mary was four years older than I. Her bedroom was next to mine and the 45 rpm singles and albums she bought and played were the best musical education I could ever ask for.
The Eagles’ songs represent so many special memories for me. One of them being the summer of 1975 when Mary drove me up for a day of fun at Bangs Lake in Wauconda in her ’73 Duster. We rocked out to a cassette of the Eagles’ “On the Border” album. “Already Gone”, “James Dean”, “Best of My Love” and the title track never sounded better.
Years later, I saw three solo Don Henley concerts and he would favor the crowd with three or four Eagles hits. Same for Glenn Frey when I saw a solo show he played in 1992. Thanks to my work in radio, I got to spend some time with Frey twice that year and he was a total delight. In 1995 I caught the Eagles at the United Center on their “Hell Freezes Over” tour. It was a top notch concert and seeing the enjoyment from my pal Dana who I took to that show made it extra special. She too was a big Eagles fan.
The Eagles on their “Hell Freezes Over” tour in 1995.
My all-time favorite Eagles song has always been “One of These Nights.” Many years after determining that, I learned that was Frey’s favorite Eagles track as well. The opening line hooks me in. “One of these nights, one of these crazy old nights, we’re gonna find out pretty mama, what turns on your lights.” Also, the lyric of “Someone to be kind to in between the dark and the light” gets me to recall some special nights and mornings I’ve spent with the fairer sex. The melody is hypnotic and those words are a magic spell of lust and potential seduction.
My second favorite Eagles track is their cover of the Steve Young tune “Seven Bridges Road.” Of course, the band’s harmonies on that song are incredible. But “Seven Bridges” also takes me back to talent shows I took part in at the school where I teach. Fellow teacher Charlie Harris and I did duets two years in a row. He played the guitar and we covered “Already Gone” one year and R.E.M.’s “The One I Love” the next year. But before we did each of those songs, we opened acapella with the first verse of “Seven Bridges Road.” Charlie and I did that singing in perfect tone and in sync.
Charlie Harris passed away a couple years ago, but I’ll never forget the fun we had as fellow teachers and performing those tunes.
Before his passing ten years ago, Glenn Frey put the Eagles legacy best. He said people did things to Eagles music. They drove across country on fandangos, met or broke up with boyfriends, girlfriends and experienced life to a soundtrack of Eagles songs. That’s what I too can say about the Eagles and for that, I’m forever grateful.
NEXT BLOG– When I know, you’ll know.