Joe's Harmonies in the Eagles

[sodascouts]

In another thread, I was talking about Stevie Nicks in some backstage footage from 1977 showing off a pendant she got from Don (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07pUz61ksa0). I mentioned that the backstage footage reminded me of the opening segment of the 1977 Hotel California video where they are backstage singing Seven Bridges Road and then prepping to go onstage (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1971g_eagles-hotel-california_music).

We got to talking about Joe's harmonies, so I moved the comments over here.

[TimothyBFan]

Aww--how sweet! Do you think she still has that pendant? I wonder.


And thanks for my morning spine chill! That SBR segment always gives me goosebumps! Beautiful.

A question about that and maybe this is the wrong place to approach it but it reminded me while I was listening to it. We just had a discussion in one of the new review threads regarding Joe not really singing some of the harmony (was it SBR? I don't remember.). Anyways, I'm assuming he IS singing in this clip and meshing fine. What changed and when do you suppose? Has there really been that big of a change in his voice over the years? Just wondering what others theories or opinions are on this.

[sodascouts]

It was No More Walks in the Wood where we noticed he wasn't really singing - maybe it's harder and he still sings on SBR?

But I see your point about the blending. Maybe his voice really has changed that much. Their voices have all changed, really, especially Glenn's. I think Tim's is the closest to its old sound, but the rest.... not as much. Still pleasing to the ear, of course, but not the same.

[Scarlet Sun]

Aren't Joe's lead vocals in a much higher range than his harmonies?

[sodascouts]

I think so. As I mentioned in another thread, you can hear his lower harmonies pretty well at the end of this version of Best of My Love from 1976 (http://www.donhenleyonline.com/multimedia/live/BOMLHouston76.wmv).

After the Austin show, my brother-in-law commented that he couldn't really hear the low end on SBR like he could hear it in his expensive sound system when he played Hell Freezes Over. I privately thought That version was probably overdubbed and mixed to perfection but I said, "Well, maybe the guys just have a different arrangement now that it's in a different key."

[Scarlet Sun]

Or maybe Felder doubled it on HFO

[sodascouts]

I think that's probably true for the HFO mix, but it doesn't seem Felder contributed much vocally when they performed it back in the day. In that clip he is barely shown and the same is true for other vids from that time; he's not spotlit - obviously, he is at a mic singing, but is it like with Joe now where it's just for looks? There had to be a reason they didn't light him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knbqBAuEphw

BTW, how cute is Glenn with his harmonica and Eagles T-shirt? I also love what he says afterwards at about 3:25: "We enjoy comin' up here to the microphone and just singin' like that. Gets us off." Don: "Makes me dizzy." LOL

[MikeA]

I have heard Joe say it and have seen it written in books something on the order of "If you want to get a place in a band, learn to sing that 5th like David Crosby. If you can do that, you'll be assured a position in a band as long as you desire."

I suspect that Joe's part in most of the "harmony tunes" he sings, is the part that you don't hear until it is missing...much like the parts that the Cros sang with CSN&Y and CSN.

[jdubfan]

I have to admit that even if Joe was "just there for looks", I wouldn't mind. I've heard folks say this before, but I really think Joe sings most of the time. When I was in the 2nd row directly in front of Joe at Columbus last year, I could hear him through the air as opposed to being amplified. Plus the evidence of spit (sorry) flying thru the air. It's usually the bass equivalent. It's not very flashy and hard to sing loud, that's up to the mixer, but it fills out the chord and gives the Eagles that rich, full sound we all love. He also does some breathing technique for timing -Breathe In-Blow out-inhale-sing kinda thing. I was in band, not choir, so I don't know that stuff, we just inhaled and blew, lol. In the video extra from FW1, they show the making of hole in the world with them working on the chorus a capella you can clearly hear his part, and then pick it out when they perform it. They also do that backstage part of James Dean you can pick him out.
He's always said he never wanted to sing lead, he's a guitar player. People have made fun of his voice since '68, but he's still at it. Wonder where "they" are?
If it's three part (1st, 3rd, 5th notes), or he's got a solo, slide groove or something going on other than playing rhythm, he backs out. Tim, Don and Glenn handle that. When they're doing 4 part (add the 7th) or 5 part (add the octave-Timothy's part), Joe's usually is singing the 1st note, or sometimes the 3rd. When it's his song and he's got the lead, that all goes out the window. It is my belief he sings most of the time, but when you've got, what 9 singers on stage counting all the guys? there's room for backing out when necessary, especially with the amount of solos he's got. I thought Steu seems to sing more than Felder did, may be that's filling in for him and Joe some, dunno. If they're doing 4ths and 6th intervals for the 5 part, I could plainly hear him because it's a little higher note. Each song, with all the different keys they use, has it's own requirements that need fulfilled, and I'm sure Don and Glenn have that all laid out by now. Whatever it is, it sure sounds great!

[sodascouts]

I remember one interview where Don talked about No More Walks in the Wood as "Trademark Eagles 5-part Harmony" - which would include both Steuart and Joe, presumably (unless they're overdubbing someone's voice more than once or Don misspoke). Maybe Joe does just back off a bit live occasionally but still sings harmonies the majority of the time.

[Scarlet Sun]

I think that's probably true for the HFO mix, but it doesn't seem Felder contributed much vocally when they performed it back in the day. In that clip he is barely shown and the same is true for other vids from that time; he's not spotlit - obviously, he is at a mic singing, but is it like with Joe now where it's just for looks? There had to be a reason they didn't light him.
Is he reallly not lit that well? I have a feeling he is singing the lowest bass part on the Live version.


I have heard Joe say it and have seen it written in books something on the order of "If you want to get a place in a band, learn to sing that 5th like David Crosby. If you can do that, you'll be assured a position in a band as long as you desire."

I suspect that Joe's part in most of the "harmony tunes" he sings, is the part that you don't hear until it is missing...much like the parts that the Cros sang with CSN&Y and CSN.
Sometimes Crosby would sing the harmony below the lead, and i'm pretty sure it's the low parts that Joe sings with the Eagles, as he took Bernie's place. Crosby would usually sing the first harmony above the lead, which is Don's job in the Eagles. You can't hear Crosby because his smooth tone is always overwhelmed by Nash's cutting timbre and highest harmony.

[Prettymaid]

Thanks for the comments guys. I never pictured Joe doing the lower parts - maybe that's why my ear isn't hearing him. I'm going to listen harder and see what I think.

[Troubadour]

I also love what he says afterwards at about 3:25: "We enjoy comin' up here to the microphone and just singin' like that. Gets us off." Don: "Makes me dizzy." LOL

Love that! :heart:

[Ive always been a dreamer]

Me too, Troub!

With regard to Joe singing on NMWITW, it is certainly possible that this was a one-time thing. I noticed it because I have heard Don, Glenn, and Tim all struggle with their voices occasionally in the past, but never Joe. As I said in the Louisville thread, I noticed Joe was struggling with his voice at the beginning of GOTC, but he seemed to recover by the end of the song. Then, he definitely wasn't singing for NMWITW on that night. His voice sounded great on the other songs though, so I'd bet there is nothing to be concerned about. It's bound to happen to the best of 'em every now and then.

Heck, after all the cheering and singing I did at the show, I was hoarse for three days, so I can only imagine what a strain on their vocal chords it must be for all of the guys at times when they are touring. :thumbsup:

[jdubfan]

Heck, after all the cheering and singing I did at the show, I was hoarse for three days, so I can only imagine what a strain on their vocal chords it must be for all of the guys at times when they are touring. :thumbsup:

Oh, yeah...Me too! :)

[sodascouts]

Is he reallly not lit that well? I have a feeling he is singing the lowest bass part on the Live version.

I can barely see him, but it's very possible he's in the overdubbed Live mix, just as he is for Hell Freezes Over.

Perhaps we're so used to Joe's distinctive lead vocals that it's hard to hear him when he switches to harmony mode because he might make a deliberate effort to tone that down. That's completely my speculation there, I must say!

[jdubfan]

Perhaps we're so used to Joe's distinctive lead vocals that it's hard to hear him when he switches to harmony mode because he might make a deliberate effort to tone that down. That's completely my speculation there, I must say!

That's kinda the point of harmony, blending together so nobody sticks out and the lead's the focus. I know he sings 'cause I heard him, that's all I need. I like that 7BR warm up when Joe hits the mark on the chord change and looks at Glenn to see if he noticed, and Glenn gives him an attaboy look. Joe smiles like a kid done good, too cute - He survived the circle of hell.

[Cosmic Cowboy]

Thought this was interesting. I downloaded Ian Matthews (former Fairport Convention) 1973 solo album Valley Hi, and there was Seven Bridges Road, exactly like the Eagles version. I guess the Eagles heard it and borrowed the arrangement.

[Scarlet Sun]

Thought this was interesting. I downloaded Ian Matthews (former Fairport Convention) 1973 solo album Valley Hi, and there was Seven Bridges Road, exactly like the Eagles version. I guess the Eagles heard it and borrowed the arrangement.
Mike Nesmith arranged that version. In the past, he's talked about how the Eagles "borrowed" it. Neverthless, he's said some good things about the Eagles.

[Brooke]

I really loved Ian Matthews' version. Nearly as much as the Eagles.

[Scarlet Sun]

I really loved Ian Matthews' version. Nearly as much as the Eagles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOe4f0qIRoc

[Brooke]

Thanks SS! That's beautiful. I have the old vinyl and haven't heard his version for many years! (Since our turntable quit!) Love the steel guitar (right?) in it! And I had no idea that Michael Nesmith had anything to do with it back then! Now I have to go dig that out and read the liner notes!

See there? I learn something new everyday at The Border! lol

Ok, back to topic! Sorry!