An Appreciation of the Music Of Eagles

The year I remember now clearly it was 1989. I had just dropped into a music store without any clear aim of what I was seeking when I heard a song being played. What that song did to my mind was to simply waft it away into appreciating the lilting tune played on the Fender Stratocaster.

After the song ended, I casually asked the store salesman about it. He retorted as to how it was that I simply didn't recognize Hotel California by the famous American Country Rock band Eagles.

I replied that I have not been too aware of American music, but I became then clearly interested to listen to more of the music by Eagles. The salesman then played I Can't Tell You Why. I was simply bowled over by Timothy B Schmidt's rendition of the song with Don Felder on the lead guitar. I decided I definitely liked the score and bought the cassette Their Greatest Hits by Eagles.

That visit to the music store later prompted me to listen to all the music offerings by the Eagles. Of course the above two songs are at the top of my rankings, but the others that I like very much are Desperado, Witchy Woman, One Of These Nights, and In The Long Run. I then researched a little bit on the band and came out with the following.

Eagles was formed in the year 1971. Today, the band which originally specialized in Country Rock music, have only two of the original band members left in it, Glenn Frey and Don Henley. The other two current members, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmidt, joined the group later in the '70s after some of the other founding members left.

Joe Walsh is a lead guitarist with a range that spans the full spectrum of rock dynamics. He has ensured that softer rock melody and not the force of visual presence should be the popular face of Eagles. Timothy B Schmidt, with his eminently recognizable flowing locks of hair, is of course the very lovable bass guitarist in the group.

Another member, Don Felder, a lead guitarist, joined the group in 1974. A difference of sorts developed between Don Felder on one hand and Don Henley and Glenn Frey on the other in 1980 after which Eagles disbanded. It was resurrected after a surprisingly long gap of 14 years in 1994.

Don Henley is the leading member of Eagles. The most surprising part is that he belts out his pleasing songs while sitting a little at the back as the percussionist and the audience loves him in that role. Some of the best songs of Eagles are by this now 60 year old man from Linden, Texas. Glenn Frey, the other leading member of the group, writes songs along with Don Henley, sings them, and also plays the guitar and keyboards.

The best thing I like about the music offerings from Eagles is their sheer professionalism. I also like the stress on correct timing and the exact rendition of note playing that it has in all their multi-talented members. Although all its members are now about 60 years old, Eagles continues to sizzle, with their new offerings still continuing to define new standards in rock music.