Which band line up is your favorite era?

[Maleah]

Well my personal favorite is the current lineup. I suppose I'm kind of biased since I can say I've seen them now. lol But they were so in tune with each other and flawless that I just loved them!

If we're going with a classic lineup I would have to say my favorite is the -

1976-1977
Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Don Felder, Joe Walsh

[Freypower]

They won't make Steuart an official member. If they did, how would Scott Crago feel, who contributes as much as Steuart does?

[sodascouts]

And then Soda throws in the whole thing about Steuart, which I hadn't even considered. Of course now I am asking myself, since Steuart is so good at filling the shoes of Don--why haven't they made him an official member, and do you think they might do just that in the future?

I think it's a complicated issue with Smith. I think if this were "back in the day" when the Eagles line-up changed almost with every album, he would be an Eagle at this point. Look at all his contributions:

(from his page on EOC)

Eagles co-writing credits
Business As Usual (with Henley)
Center of the Universe (with Frey and Henley)
Do Something (with Henley and Schmit)
No More Walks in the Wood (with Henley and non-Eagle John Holllander)
Waiting in the Weeds(with Henley)

Eagles musical credits
Guitar, vocals on Farewell 1
Guitar, keyboards, mandolin on Long Road Out of Eden

Eagles production credits
Co-producer of Long Road Out of Eden


However, making Smith an Eagle would have some complications. A lot of Felder fans would react negatively to a new guy officially taking his place. Traditionalists would not be happy that their "old-school" band has added a new guy to a line-up that otherwise reflects what they remember from 30 years ago (sans Felder). Finally, after the angst with Felder, they probably have the attitude of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." If Smith is willing to do all this stuff without becoming a full-blown member, why make him one? The only reason to do so would be to up his profile and garner him more recognition, but if he's not complaining....

I do think Smith's songwriting contributions make him more of a candidate for an Eagle than Crago, who has no Eagles songwriting credits. Also, Smith fits more musically - the Eagles already have a drummer.

[Prettymaid]

Uhg, if this is turning into a 'should Steuart become a member' question my answer is no. Just leave things as they are, or better yet, have guest appearances by all the former Eagles!

[MikeA]

I think there are maybe three distinctive levels to the Eagles TODAY.

You got the Boss of the Gang in Frey and Henley.

You got the gunslingers in Walsh and Schmit.

Then you have those who go in on the robberies in Smith, Scott and the horn section along with the others.

Seriously, Walsh, Schmit, Frey and Henley are the Eagles. I don't know why. But that is the way they all seem to look at it.

As for Meisner and Leadon and Felder....you can't replace them. They all added something entirely different. You can bring in Schmit and he I think brings his own value to the group but not simply as a replacement. It's the same with Leadon. You can't replace him. Neither Walsh nor Felder brought to the band that which Leadon brought. But the change with all of the "evolutions" was enivetalbe. Each departure and each arrival changed the sound of the band.

Stu is a phenominal guitarist. God I wish I could play like he does! But he is not Felder of Leadon. If Henley and Frey so wish (and it does seem like they are heading in that direction) they could make a unique place for him with new material and evidence of that is strong in LROE.

I'm rambling. Need sleep I guess.

[DonFan]

Uhg, if this is turning into a 'should Steuart become a member' question my answer is no. Just leave things as they are, or better yet, have guest appearances by all the former Eagles!

Oh yeah-let's invite Felder back for a guest appearance.

[MikeA]

Oh yeah-let's invite Felder back for a guest appearance.

My first chuckle of the day. Thanks DF!

[Scarlet Sun]

The original lineup all the friggin' way. I like Felder, Walsh, and Schmit very much as indiviudal musicians and I think they did some very nice things with the band. But the original lineup laid the foundation, perfected the country-rock sound I am so fond of, and represent the band in its purest and most soulful form, as far as i'm concerned. Suffice it to say that I wouldn't be an Eagles fan if it weren't for the original quartet.

[Brooke]

I'm getting way behind here. I hate it when I have to work at work and don't have time to play!

My first thought on this was the early one.

1971-1974
Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner

Since I was a fan of theirs from the beginning and I love the early music so much and I love Randy's songs, too.

But then, how could they have been any better than they are now?

2001-present
Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit

After just seeing them live again, this is such a wonderful lineup, too! I guess it just has to be the current one!

It's really hard to say, because each lineup had it's own songs and it's very hard for me to say I don't like any of them! (Unless I can't forget about Felder's whining, which really made me dislike him as a person!)

Honestly, it's impossible for me to say!

[Prettymaid]

Suffice it to say that I wouldn't be an Eagles fan if it weren't for the original quartet.

Thank you, Scarlet Sun, that's what I'm trying to say!