January 03, 2022

1979 - August: The Eagles ”The Long Run”

40 minutes

The pressure on the Eagles to create an album to follow up their 1976 masterpiece "Hotel California" was intense, and it took 18 months and five different studios to produce The Long Run. This was their sixth studio album, and their last album before thier 14-year hiatus. It would mark the introduction of Timothy B. Schmit to the band, who took over bass and high vocal duties from the departing founder, Randy Meisner.

The Long Run was originally intended to be a double album, but the band just didn't have enough songs in their creative arsenal for that. In fact, the band was completely burned out after a long tour prior to entering the studio. Don Henley, Glen Frey, and Don Felder were joined by Joe Walsh (who was added to the group on the "Hotel California" album) and Timothy B. Schmit. Frey and Henley would contribute most of the songs, but Schmit and Walsh would contribute songs they had originated, and frequent collaborator J.D. Souther would add to the tracks. Bob Segar would contribute as well.

The album would be a hit, going 7x platinum, and would sport multiple number 1 singles, including the Grammy award winning "Heartache Tonight." Nevertheless, they would receive disappointing critical reviews. Perhaps this is not surprising given the comparisons to "Hotel California."

Friend of the show John Lynch joins us in Wayne's absence for this last-of-the millennium album from the Eagles.

The Long Run

The title track is a Memphis blues-inspired tune. The lyrics are a response to critics who considered the Eagles to be washed up, and unable to compete with the disco and punk sounds prevalent in the late 70's. Henley and Frey answer, "who is gonna make it? We'll find out in the long run."

I Can't Tell You Why

This is a song composed primarily by Timothy B. Schmit prior to joining the band, and was loosely based on his own experiences. The rock ballad would be their third single released from the album. Uncommonly for Eagles songs, Glen Frey plays lead on this song, and Don Felder is on the organ.

In the City

Joe Walsh originally recorded this song for the soundtrack to the film "The Warriors," and it was re-recorded by the Eagles for this album. Though not released as a single, it got significant airplay on AOR stations at the time. It has become a staple for band tours.

The Sad Café

While not released as a single, this track would make it onto the Eagles Greatest Hits, volume II. It was inspired by The Troubadour nightclub in Hollywood where the Eagles had previously played. The song relays the tale of so many musicians who came through that nightclub, most of whom did not make it big. David Sandborn provides the saxophone work on this song.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Theme from the television series “The Facts of Life”

"The Facts of Life" started its run in this month, and was originally a spinoff from the series "Diff'rent Strokes."

STAFF PICKS:

Hot Summer Night by Night

Bruce's staff pick is from a short-lived band out of Los Angeles, and is a cover of a song originally performed by Walter Egan in 1978. The lead vocalist for this song is Stevie Vann, who emigrated from Zambia with her then-husband Robert "Mutt" Lange. The group also had a male lead in Chris Thompson, who would be recognizable as the lead vocalist for Manfred Mann's version of "Blinded By the Light."

Rock Lobster by The B-52's

Put on your nose guard! Put on your life guard! Rob brings us the B-52's signature song, and the one that truly launched their career. It came off their second studio album, "Wild Planet." Fred Schneider said the song was inspired by a club called "2001" in Atlanta, which showed slides of puppies, babies, and lobsters on a grill.

All of My Love by Led Zeppelin

John Lynch's staff pick was released in August as a single, and is a softer rock ballad from the late stages of the band. The song was written in honor of Plant's son Karac, who died while Plant was on tour with the band in 1977. John Paul Jones plays keyboards on this piece.

I Can't Stand It No More by Peter Frampton

Brian wraps up the staff picks with the first single from Frampton's album "Where I Should Be." Peter Frampton had just starred in the remake of the movie "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band," which was panned by critics and failed commercially. He also had a bad auto accident in the Bahamas requiring months of therapy. The song made it to number 14 on the pop charts.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Parisian Thoroughfare by Supersax

You can't go wrong with a sax! Jazz group Supersax closes out our podcast this week.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings