Favorite Eagles album closing track

[Delilah]

Since the 2010s are coming to a close, I thought it might be kind of fun to poll the forum about everyone’s favorite closing track. Keep in mind it’s not just about how much a song is liked as a stand-alone, but how well it fits at the end of the album.

[WalshFan88]

Take It Easy (Live). It's a great closer live, and it is a great closer to the live album.

With the more electric sound of TIE, coupled with the Southern California line I love, I think it's the perfect closer to any Eagles concert, especially during this period where it had a little edge to the sound.

[Delilah]

I agree TIE is a great song to end a live show— it’s upbeat and lively.

[WalshFan88]

I always wished they'd end with that instead of Desperado which they've done in recent years. To me, they should be flip flopped. I guess to some Desperado is like closing on a finished note, but to me you should close out with something that leaves you wanting more. HC and Desperado shouldn't be the very last song IMO. I'd even wish at times they had opened the HOTE tour with HC like they did when on the HC tour.

But I think bands should always go out with a bang on a high energy fun sing along song, even if it isn't their biggest hit (which for some, maybe even most, bands it usually is). I wouldn't want AC/DC to close with Rock N' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution or Aerosmith to close out with I Don't Want To Miss A Thing. I want to see them go out with something that fires everyone up like You Shook Me All Night Long or Sweet Emotion. Build it up as you go and leave them wanting more. Don't play all of your high energy stuff early in the set and then fizzle out in the second half. Flip it the other way around. Or at least open with it, close with it, and do the softer stuff in the middle if you don't want to do as I suggested. But don't start out hot and just get weaker as you go along. That gets boring real fast. I have a short attention span, get bored easily, and I like bright flashy stuff. I tend to like entertainment to be captivating and something I can't take my eyes off of. Sometimes a concert can be almost as much visual as aural. It's the vibe, basically.

Even onstage I will reserve my energy as far as fancy guitar solos, structuring setlists, or even just stage presence/energy until the end and will slowly work my way up in the level of energy and excitement as the show goes on. Don't start out big and then lose steam. Great way to lose an audience. You only have so much "rah-rah" energy in you for a show, save it for the second half if not last quarter, to make a football analogy. I think it should be that way. Otherwise you just lose your crowd. Now if you're the Eagles, you don't have to worry about that (if for no other reason, just ticket costs alone but also the songs, of course!) but most smaller bands aren't as lucky. You learn to build anticipation. You can give your all and leave everything on the stage, still leave them feeling like they were satisfied with the concert, yet they will yearn for more shows like it in the future. It's just a smart strategy for any band. If you're in a cover band, save the "Free Bird" type stuff for the last song. Everything else will just pale if you go full on early/mid set.

[New Kid In Town]

Austin it is interesting you say that. Two of the three times I saw the Eagles they ended the show with TIE. I think TIE is a great song to end with - up beat and you leave the show in a good mood. When I saw them for HFO, I think they ended with Desperado. I think they ended a lot of 70's shows with TIE. Once they came back in 94, I think it was more Desperado.

[WalshFan88]

Austin it is interesting you say that. Two of the three times I saw the Eagles they ended the show with TIE. I think TIE is a great song to end with - up beat and you leave the show in a good mood. When I saw them for HFO, I think they ended with Desperado. I think they ended a lot of 70's shows with TIE. Once they came back in 94, I think it was more Desperado.

Yeah I've never agreed with it, I think that TIE should be the closer to any Eagles show. It's the perfect closer.

[Ive always been a dreamer]

This is a really good question, Delilah ... but is really hard to answer. Most of the closers are excellent songs and one could make a strong argument for them. Even though I never had too much of a problem with closing live shows with Desperado, I also agree that Take It Easy is a really strong closer and I love it as a closer on Eagles Live.

However, I think I'll focus on the studio albums. I'm going with the Doolin-Dalton/Desperado Reprise since it is such an effective way to close a concept album.

[sodascouts]

I'm going to agree with Dreamer. "Doolin-Dalton / Desperado Reprise" is powerful on its own terms, but as the closer in its full context.... it ramps it up even further. Absolutely amazing.

[Brooke]

Great question, Delilah!

As far as the albums go, I agree with Dreamer and vote for Doolin-Dalton/Desperado Reprise as being the best album closer as it sticks with the concept.

As far as a live show, I've always thought they should leave us feeling good with Take It Easy closing. I want to be happy when I leave, not down.

[sodascouts]

You know, I just realized - is this the first time someone has started a poll since the "new" board? I think it might be! It looks cool.

As far as the live ending... it's hard to say whether "up" or "down" for the encore is the way to go. Both approaches have their merits. The slow ending usually has a poignant, goodbye element to it which is appropriate, and gives you a sense of closure. It also gets you ready for bed, lol. On the other hand, ending with an upper leaves everyone energized and excited, and that's fun.

Hmmm.... I see I've basically committed to nothing.

I'm going to go with preferring that they end on an upper just because ending on a downer eventually got old.

[Delilah]

Thanks for the compliments, guys.

The band made some very good choices in closing songs, imo. For example, “Tryin” has lyrics that that address what the band was experiencing in making the debut album. They were musicians who left their hometowns in different parts of the country and were “tryin” to make a mark in music. It’s kind of prescient, actually.



I'm just arrivin' in the city
And there's music on my mind
Lookin' for my destination
And my home is far behind
'Cause it's a long road ahead
And you can make it in the end
I'm gonna make it with my friends
And I'm tryin'


And even though IWYP is not a favorite of mine, it does seem like a lovely and proper way to end an album.

There are strong points to be made for all the closing tracks. But I have to agree with those who chose “Doolin Dalton/Desperado Reprise” - it’s so strong and powerful and wraps up the outlaw concept so well.

(Not sure why the formatting changed the way it did and why it won’t revert back; oh well)

[WalshFan88]

I don't think I've ever been able to go to bed right after a rock concert. :lol:

Granted, we usually go back to a hotel since we live so far from the major venues. But I'm usually wired for sound, even with the slightly milder acts like Eagles or Tom Petty.

This last time seeing AC/DC (one of Brian Johnson's last shows with the band) I didn't even go to sleep! I stayed up until it was time to hit the road to head home and crashed in the car. We usually stock our hotel room with all types of finger food snacks, a couple cases of soda, and I myself stay up most of the night, lol. With AC/DC I never wear earplugs, despite being in the first couple rows. To me it's just lame, but my parents always wear them. They're smart. I'm still in the "if it's too loud you're too old!" camp. :hilarious: So I generally can't hear anything and I will regain my hearing the following night at around that time.

I wouldn't have it any other way. If I'm going to bask in Angus Young's sonic glow - I'm all in baby! :D

So far me, even if they end in Desperado - I'm still usually too excited to fall asleep. :p

[Delilah]

Yay, glad to see some more votes coming in, but a little surprised no one has chosen The Last Resort.

I wonder what songs other than TIE and Desperado the Eagles used to close their concerts. :shrug:

[New Kid In Town]

Hi Delilah - Happy New Year ! I can not think of other songs they used to close a concert. I have to say, TLR is not one of my favorite songs. I find it way too long and kind of preachy. However, that's just MHO. I know a lot of people love it and consider it one of their best.
I have to say, I do think Doolin-Dalton/Desperado Reprise is the best album closer as it sticks with the Old West concept. I also love the split vocals between Don and Glenn. I missed that from OOTN onward. I know they split the vocals on TKOH on TLR but that's about it.

Austin - Your ears must ring for days after you leave a AC/DC Concert - lol ! Wishing you a Happy New Year and good health for the new year.

[scottside]

Yay, glad to see some more votes coming in, but a little surprised no one has chosen The Last Resort.

I wonder what songs other than TIE and Desperado the Eagles used to close their concerts. :shrug:


In the 70s, I saw the Eagles close their shows with JD's "How Long," the Burrito Brothers' "Lazy Day," and then also "Tequila Sunrise" and "Tryin'" From the release of the HOTEL CALIFORNIA album onward, I believe it was always "Take It Easy" or "Desperado." I loved "Take It Easy" as a closer, but I would've also loved "Already Gone" had they chosen that.

As for album closers, I like pretty much all of them, but the "Doolin' Dalton/Desperado" closer is just brilliant.

[My My]

I don't remember the closing song when I saw them in 1975 and I can't find a reveiw. When I saw them in November 1976, the closing song was "Tequila Sunrise" according to the review. The opener was TIE of course. "Hotel California" was introduced as a song from their upcoming album and "Desperado" was played somewhere midset. I think TIE was the closer in my next 2 concerts in 1978 and 1980. In most of the reviews of various Eagles concerts after Hotel California was released (at least 1977-1980) "Desperado" was mentioned as one of the ballads played during slow, ballad portion of the show, not as a closer. I'm sure there were exceptions to this but Desperado as a closer seems to be later in the Eagles history. I did find a review from their Greensboro July 1977 that stated that their last tune of the night was "Witchy Woman" with the jazzy intro.

I voted for Doolin Dalton/Desperado as the best album closer. I agree with scottside, brilliant indeed!

[Ive always been a dreamer]

I have to agree with Delilah about being surprised that there have been no votes for The Last Resort. The song is a magnificent way to close the Hotel California album and definitely deserves some props here, IMHO. It wouldn't probably be an effective closer in live shows, but I love the way the drama builds as the song progresses and the closing line "You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye" pretty much encapsulates everything that the Hotel California album is about.

I would also like to give an honorable mention to 'It's Your World Now'. When I first listened to the LROOE album, I thought it was a prophetic way to end the album given that most everyone assumed it would be the band's last studio album. And now that Glenn has left us, it seems even more so.

[groupie2686]

I don't remember the closing song when I saw them in 1975 and I can't find a reveiw. When I saw them in November 1976, the closing song was "Tequila Sunrise" according to the review. The opener was TIE of course. "Hotel California" was introduced as a song from their upcoming album and "Desperado" was played somewhere midset. I think TIE was the closer in my next 2 concerts in 1978 and 1980. In most of the reviews of various Eagles concerts after Hotel California was released (at least 1977-1980) "Desperado" was mentioned as one of the ballads played during slow, ballad portion of the show, not as a closer. I'm sure there were exceptions to this but Desperado as a closer seems to be later in the Eagles history. I did find a review from their Greensboro July 1977 that stated that their last tune of the night was "Witchy Woman" with the jazzy intro.

I voted for Doolin Dalton/Desperado as the best album closer. I agree with scottside, brilliant indeed!

Wow, closing with Tequila Sunrise or Witchy Woman...it would have been nice if they switched it up every now and then in later years. Ending a show with a "downer" seems to be a common thing, I'm thinking of Fleetwood Mac closing the show with Songbird.

I agree about It's Your World Now...like the swan song for the band and for Glenn...

[NightMistBlue]

"The Last Resort" gets my vote for best album closer. Even as a 12-year old, this song just wiped me out - it's so powerful and unsparing. I had never been to California at that time, but I saw the ongoing destruction of natural Florida. "You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye."

OT: one of Henley's finest vocal performances too, IMO.

[WalshFan88]

The Last Resort is an interesting one.

To me, I don't listen to it often by itself, but when I'm not just streaming songs, rather when I play a record, I always listen to Hotel California front to back. It's the only Eagles record where I never feel like skipping a single song. I've come to prefer it over Wasted Time. Is it a favorite, no, but I think in the big scheme of things you could certainly call it an underrated Eagles song. Kind of like Those Shoes, IMO.

I don't ever get deep into lyrical interpretation, but IMO there is a definite dichotomy in the lyrics and I think it's kind of tongue in cheek in some places, too. The old chestnut about is it "Jesus People" or Jesus! People" (which I do think it is accepted now that it's the latter) is kind of like when Lynyrd Skynyrd on the the song Sweet Home Alabama did the "Boo boo boo" ad lib after the line about the Governor of Alabama. People wondered and still wonder was he denouncing the governor and his supporters, or was it hidden meaning that Ronnie Van Zant liked George Wallace. Artimus Pyle, who was actually a proud democrat hippie from the midwest, said that he knew Ronnie and that Ronnie was not racist and that he was very much against segregation and he did not like the governor. All of the Skynyrd guys were from the South and grew up in the time of prevalent racism. Artimus was an outsider to the rest of the band members (the surviving members still don't like him!), but Ronnie liked him and he was in the band when the plane crashed.

To me, I can kinda understand why they didn't play it live so much, but I do think it's a good song and I can see why some would pick it as their favorite closer.

[NightMistBlue]

OT: I remember an interview with Artimus, many years ago, where he talked about having survivor’s guilt. He helped some of his fellow band members out of the wreckage and possibly saved their lives. He said they would tell him for years afterward, “We love you Artimus, you’re our brother.” So I wonder what happened that they don’t like him now? EDIT: after reading his Wikipedia page, apparently the falling out has to do with Pyle’s participation in a low-budget film about the plane crash, which violated an agreement the survivors had.

[WalshFan88]

OT: I remember an interview with Artimus, many years ago, where he talked about having survivor’s guilt. He helped some of his fellow band members out of the wreckage and possibly saved their lives. He said they would tell him for years afterward, “We love you Artimus, you’re our brother.” So I wonder what happened that they don’t like him now? EDIT: after reading his Wikipedia page, apparently the falling out has to do with Pyle’s participation in a low-budget film about the plane crash, which violated an agreement the survivors had.

Watch this. It features Gary, Billy, and the split with Artimus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFIkQjDtwOw

It had to do with the fact he was an outsider (completely different beliefs), and also that he called Billy Powell a liar when retelling his story of Cassie Gaines' death at the crash site on the Behind The Music special.

I'll follow up on it in the music section and create a LS thread.

[Delilah]

In the 70s, I saw the Eagles close their shows with JD's "How Long," the Burrito Brothers' "Lazy Day," and then also "Tequila Sunrise" and "Tryin'" From the release of the HOTEL CALIFORNIA album onward, I believe it was always "Take It Easy" or "Desperado." I loved "Take It Easy" as a closer, but I would've also loved "Already Gone" had they chosen that.

As for album closers, I like pretty much all of them, but the "Doolin' Dalton/Desperado" closer is just brilliant.

Thanks scottside, it’s so cool you remember these (or maybe took notes, which I wish I would have done when I was young). There was a bootleg concert from Boston (?) that I thought ended with “Tryin” but it’s been so long since I heard it, I wasn’t sure. And unfortunately I didn’t download the audio.

[NightMistBlue]

Scottside is an extremely lucky man. He saw the Eagles perform “Try and Love Again” and also saw the Capitol Theatre show.

And thank you Austin for the Skynyd info!

[NightMistBlue]

Wow, that documentary was fascinating. Makes the Eagles infighting seem like nothing. And Jake Tapper! Had no idea he was a VH1 news person. Now he’s in the big leagues.

[WalshFan88]

Wow, that documentary was fascinating. Makes the Eagles infighting seem like nothing. And Jake Tapper! Had no idea he was a VH1 news person. Now he’s in the big leagues.

To clarify, this was his pre-CNN days. This is when the pianist Billy Powell was also still alive. Probably early 2000s footage. :)

[NightMistBlue]

According to a 2017 article I read, the band members have disavowed the 2002 Jake Tapper documentary. Gary said it made them seem like they were all mad at each other.

Sorry to digress, ya’ll. Back to the Eagles.

[Delilah]

"The Last Resort" gets my vote for best album closer. Even as a 12-year old, this song just wiped me out - it's so powerful and unsparing. I had never been to California at that time, but I saw the ongoing destruction of natural Florida. "You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye."

OT: one of Henley's finest vocal performances too, IMO.

Thats cool, NMB (and I agree about Henley) but did you cast a vote in the poll? The Last Resort is still showing 0 votes. :headscratch:

[sodascouts]

We do polls so rarely around here, a few folks may have missed it. I know I almost did!

[NightMistBlue]

Thats cool, NMB (and I agree about Henley) but did you cast a vote in the poll? The Last Resort is still showing 0 votes. :headscratch:

I kept meaning to!! OK, it's done now. Thank you, Miss Delilah :)