I am still getting throug
Heven to Hell- kinda boring
To The Limit-Not bad but I'm a slow reader, but it's good so far.
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I am still getting throug
Heven to Hell- kinda boring
To The Limit-Not bad but I'm a slow reader, but it's good so far.
There's a page on the band's time in Colorado in a book called "Colorado Rocks!". You can read it by going to amazon, choosing the "Look inside" feature and searching on "Eagles".
There's a nice quote from Don and Bernie talks about Glyn Johns.
There are also pages on Joe Walsh, Poco, Stone Canyon Band, Flying Burrito Bros.
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/dp/0871089300/ref=rdr_ext_tmb[/ame]
Cool! Thanks for the tip!
Had a look in a discount bookshop I passed in Liverpool killing time before the concert on Thursday, and found Ben Fong-Torres's book down from £20 to £5 ($34 to $8.50). Needless to say it was purchased :D
Not as in-depth as Eliot but still cracking value with some brilliant pictures. One or two bits and bobs I didn't know but if you were an Eagles newbie or just generally interested it would be a great read.
Agreed! I bought it used off Amazon a while back for a song, and the pictures alone were worth it :)Quote:
Originally Posted by thelastresort
Quote:
Originally Posted by tjh532
Oh goodie, had to buy an academic book today on Amazon and decided I needed something to cheer me up so I bought the Ben Fong Torres' book as it was reduced to four pounds - glad I did now if it has yummy photos :thumbsup:
Divine - you will love it :) As Last Resort said, if you saw the HOTE doc, there isn't a lot of new information there (a few tidbits) and it has a few mistakes. But it is well written, and I enjoyed it.
Thanks TJH, I need an Eagles fix. I've been stuck in front of the laptop for the last two weeks only occasionally raising my head to tune into The Border.
Some Henley Homeopathy always works :hilarious:
In Marc Eliot's book, he talks about the HFO tour and recording and in particular about how it didn't include any songs written by Randy or Bernie. (There was also an interview with Randy from the 90s where he voiced this complaint and I believe Don Felder repeats it in his book). For Randy, this mattered because it meant he didn't receive any songwriting royalties from HFO. I wonder if the band took note of this and if it might be one of the reasons why Glenn started to sing TITTL (apart from the obvious that it's a good song).
TITTL found its way onto the set-list for the Millenium Shows and continued on the 2001 tour (the first since HFO) and has appeared frquently ever since. It was also recorded live for "Selected Works" and "Farewell 1". All of this means income for Randy - something that those who insist it should be retired "out of respect for Randy " are missing.
UTW, we had a detailed discussion about this topic a while back, no idea which thread it is in, and I can't remember if you were a party to the discussion. If I recall correctly, with some semi-expert advice, we determined that there are at least four types of royalties that can be paid out to a writer of a song - when the song is played on the radio, when the song is licensed for a commercial or other marketing ad purposes, when sheet music is sold, and for live performances.
The only royalty that Randy missed out on was the "performance" royalty, and nobody on the board had any idea how much that would be. I had ventured that it is probably similar to radio play - i.e. pennies on the dollar. If the Eagles played TITTL 100 times on the tour, he would probably be entitled to about $10. My guess was Randy was disappointed to have his big song left out of the set list, and it's easier to express that in financial terms. Not saying he didn't lose out financially, he says he did and I believe him, but in the world of Eagles money, I can't imagine his losses were substantial. UNLESS he had a clause in his exit agreement that overrode the usual royalty payment terms, wherein if they played it in concert he got paid - that would be interesting, but I can't believe Glenn and Don would agree to something like that.
I was part of that discussion and I was thinking of the songwriter royalties for both the live performance and for sales of media containing recordings of those live performances. For an Eagles tour, the performance royalties may not be insignificant as they are based on a percentage of the box office. However, I haven't managed to find that percentage.
What I can't figure out is how they get their royalties from tribute bands, there are so many - who is keeping track? Do those bands have to clear the songs first? They must have to - how do they report the gate receipts to Eagles management?
And yes, HFO album/DVD have been successful - that's where the big $$$ is - that's what he is still missing out on.
My mind is spinning from trying to understand these loyalty arrangements. Each songwriter is a member of a Performing Rights Organisation and in this case I think it's ASCAP. ASCAP collect fees or licenses from venues and distribute to their members. They work out the distributions based on surveys and samples. For live venues this includes collecting set-lists from the 300 top-grossing tours and selected major venues. link
Anyway, my point was that after HFO, Randy's song has become a regular part of the repetoire including two recordings.
Has anyone read Joe Vitale's book? I know it wouldn't dish any dirt but does he have any good stories?
This is from an interview with Classicbands:
Quote:
There's no dirt in this book. None. Only because there's always something great to say about everybody. These people are my friends. If anybody would have a family problem or a drug problem or any kind of problem; none of us are immune to any of that, but it's very personnel stuff. These are my friends. I just wouldn't do that. I couldn't go to bed at night knowing I told some stupid, private story about someone who was my friend who trusted me and trusted these words to me when they were talking to me. I was with The Eagles for awhile. I get calls all the time. They're writing a book about The Eagles. "What can you tell me?" I say "nothing!" I can tell you nothing 'cause I know what you guys want. I can say this, these guys are great guys, great musicians, great artists. Go see 'em! (laughs)
UTW - I read the book and really enjoyed it - and it's true that there is no dirt. While I guess Joe could be criticized for glossing over things, it was still a fun read that I thought was very entertaining. We have a thread for the book, but since it primarily involved stories about Joe W., it is in his forum ...
https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/...ead.php?t=1359
I realize I actually forgot to post anything in the thread after I finished reading the book. I'll have to go back and do that sometime.
This isn't an Eagles book per se, but there is a fair amount of Eagles and Azoff content: the Tom King biography of David Geffen called "The Operator." It's a fascinating (and frequently appalling) read for both rock music fans and anyone interested in power, money and success. There's a scene of a young Glenn Frey and Jackson Browne skinny dipping in Geffen's pool too. :)
The book is not new - it came out in 2001, but I was reminded of it when reading through the HOTE thread where a number of people were opining about Geffen. I was actually surprised that Geffen agreed to be interviewed for the documentary, as he is notoriously vindictive towards those who've conflicted with him in business. Perhaps he just cherished the opportunity to publicly call Henley an "ingrate."
Glenn and Don were interviewed for "Inventing David Geffen", so maybe that was part of the deal. Thanks for the book recommendation - I've just ordered a copy.
I'm not sure this is a recommendation, but anyone who has ever tried to understand the legal or financial aspects might be interested "All You Need to Know About The Music Business" by Donald S Passmore. After following the "fast track" route through the book, mostly what I've learned is that it's a very complicated business with sharks everywhere. When you read about a tour earning a huge gross, remember that there are many, many people taking a cut before it gets to the band.
Right back atcha, UnderTheWire - I'm now hunting for a copy of the Inventing David Geffen program.
Do you guys really recommend Marc Eliot's "To the Limit"? The reviews on Amazon on mostly negative. They make it sound like the book only praises Henley, while everyone else is trashed and their contributions to the band's music and success is belittled.
Also, I don't want the groupies 'n orgies tales to tarnish my opinion of sweet Randy :)
You may be able to view the Geffen Doc on the PBS site (it's region-locked so I can't test it).
http://video.pbs.org/video/2305433189/
Marc Eliot's book is the most comprehensive one on the band. It's pretty well-researched with lots of new (at the time) interviews with people close to the band rather than relying on old press interviews. Henley provided extensive feedback on an early draft and even met with Eliot but ultimately was unhappy with the book. Even so, there's a lot of quotes and insight from Henley's side which does make the book a little too much about Henley. Also, my impression is that Eliot is very much an East Coast music journalist who doesn't quite get the Eagles. There's not a lot on groupies and orgies.
OK good, I'll take the plunge then. :)
Take the plunge if you must, but the reviews are correct.Quote:
Originally Posted by NightMistBlue
Aye, it's a decent enough read but not great. It's also interesting to read Henley and Eliot's clashes at the end of the book, there's some very choice words used!
There might be reviews on here somewhere as well, I know there was a thread that pointed out the errors in the book. There was too much backstory on a few things that slowed it down and encouraged me to read another book for a while. It is sided towards Henley, a lot, and if that was the only book a person read, you'd think that Glenn was Henley's sideman. Lastly, from my point of view, it wasn't written well. Regardless of facts and inaccuracies, his style of writing didn't do a lot for me. I know he's written other books about other bands, but he blew his chance of writing a great book on this one, so I have zero interest in reading others. Having an inside track to Henley on this should have made it an incredible book instead of the 'blah' that it turned out to be.
I found the book interesting and worth reading, but as with anything, you can't take everything in it as gospel truth.
I'm going to check out the book on Geffen and the music industry book. Thanks for the recs, guys!
I'm almost finished with the Marc Eliot book. Very interesting. There is a lot of candid content from Mr. Henley (whether told directly to the author or culled from other sources I don't know), who I would have thought would rather chew glass than talk about his romantic relationships.
The two pages devoted to Randy's leaving the band were sad and kind of alarming, i.e. the harsh things that Azoff and DH had to say about Randy's character. History of the Eagles gave the impression that Glenn was largely responsible for pushing Randy out, but "To the Limit" leaves the impression that Henley had even more of a problem with Randy, whereas Glenn had been mostly patient with him. Anyway, Glenn refused to accept Randy's apology for the "Knoxville incident" and that was that.
Yeah, I've said this elsewhere, but it seems that Glenn and Randy actually had a pretty good relationship for a while. Glyn Johns talks about how Glenn and Randy would always hang out together during the sessions for the first album, sneaking joints. Glenn asked Randy to sing "Most of Us Are Sad", which is pretty significant considering that Glenn was basically saying "I wrote this song, but I think you will sound better singing it." I know of no other time where Glenn has handed over a song he wrote by himself to someone else to sing. At that point, Don was writing with Bernie.
I think when Glenn and Don became BFFs during Desperado, Randy started to feel excluded, and viewed Don as coming in between him. Still he felt closer to Glenn than Don. He asked Glenn to play lead guitar on "Too Many Hands" and "Try and Love Again" - that wasn't forced upon him. Glenn typically stepped back when it came to lead guitar parts, but Randy requested he do it. In fact, "Try and Love Again" is the ONLY song on Hotel California where Glenn plays lead guitar, and it was at Randy's behest.
Even watching the History of the Eagles documentary in some of that old concert footage... Glenn is the one who comes over to Randy and gives him props after TITTL. You can see him actively encouraging Randy, moreso than the other guys.
So, when you go a little deeper than the generalizations made in the documentary, you see that the Randy/Glenn relationship is a lot more complex than the simplified soundbite version we're presented with... sadly, though, that's the version a lot of people have latched onto. Thus, Glenn gets vilified and Henley gets a free pass, despite how Henley pours contempt all over Randy in interviews - he's the one that accuses Randy of being up all night drinking and whoring; Glenn says nothing about that. I say this not to make Don H look bad, but to point out the irony that so many people make Glenn the bad guy when it comes to Randy. To be fair, Randy's fight with Glenn at the end was the breaking point, but before then, it seems that Glenn was his ally.
I wonder what Randy would say?
Ya know, I was just wondering today if we have seen any pictures of Randy with either Glenn or Don post-1977, other than at the RRHOF ceremony. We have a couple of him with Timothy from over the decades, and they even performed together (Richard Marx). Any contact with Don or Glenn that we know of, ever???
No photos that I know of although the two of them appeared on his One More Song album.Quote:
Originally Posted by MaryCalifornia
I feel I should point out that there is a shot in HOTE where Glenn is wearing his Eagles jacket, and appears to look at Randy in a way which suggests extreme annoyance and/or frustration. In the HOTE video of Lyin' Eyes Glenn looks over at Randy and says something like 'come on' as if he feels Randy isn't keeping up with the song, or whatever (unless I have misinterpreted it & it's him encouraging Randy as Soda says).
And yet everything Soda says about the relationship is true, plus Glenn's enthusiasm about giving Randy TITTL. The incidents described above may just be him exercising his leadership and not necessarily a personal thing.
In the 1988 video interview that I linked before (the one on YouTube with the Gene Clark interview), Randy said that he kept in touch with "Henley and Don Felder" but hadn't seen or spoken to the other guys in awhile.
Don Felder claims in his book that Henley snubbed Randy's wife at the Hall of Fame soiree when she asked to take a photo of him with her husband. Henley supposedly "turned on his heel and walked away."
Oh, these complicated men...
Quoting Soda: He asked Glenn to play lead guitar on "Too Many Hands" and "Try and Love Again" - that wasn't forced upon him. Glenn typically stepped back when it came to lead guitar parts, but Randy requested he do it. In fact, "Try and Love Again" is the ONLY song on Hotel California where Glenn plays lead guitar, and it was at Randy's behest.
Didn't know that - thank you. Randy was reaching out to his old friend. Of course we don't know what state of mind or health dear Randy is in now. I just send him love and light.
Well, I think this says a lot about their relationship. That they agreed to be on his album and then actually performed...they must have been on decent terms. Sounds like no hard feelings. Like if Felder had asked them to be on his album haha!Quote:
Originally Posted by Freypower
I saw an interview Randy did. He said he called Irving to ask about the Hell Freezes over tour I quote what Randy said Irv said. Yep they're touring I'll tell Don you said Hi. Click... SAD!
They don't call him (IA) Satan for nothing :)
Curiously, it was Randy's accountant who urged him to make that phone call. http://www.westword.com/1995-01-11/m...ast-the-limit/
I just find that interesting.
Back to the subject of Eagles books, of which there are surprisingly few. They're only one of the biggest bands in rock history and sold more albums than anyone in the 20th century. I would have thought that Hotel California would at least rate one of those 33 1/3 books that examine the making of the album and analyze each song. Shoot, Kanye West got one, why not our boys: [ame]http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_7/188-2654786-0117402?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=33+1+3+book+series&sprefix=33+1%2F3+%2Cst ripbooks%2C346[/ame]
Just a guess, but I'd bet the band isn't too upset about being overlooked in the 33 1/3 book series. :grin:
I've bought a couple of these books in the past. After getting a Joe Walsh one, I'd question their accuracy as much as the biographical stuff.
http://www.guitarworld.com/learn-eig...agles-acoustic
Ooh nice, Funk! I'm tempted to buy that Eagles: Acoustic guitar book. I have the other (electric) Eagles book & CD from the "Play Along" series, but I must say the song selection is a little disappointing.
Hmmm... and it's only a penny (used copy). I'll give it a try. My Eagles library is growing!Quote:
Originally Posted by sodascouts
What about this Laura Jackson tome, "Flying High"? The cover blurb referring to the band's "insatiable appetite for drugs and groupies" does not bode well.
Flying High is my favourite because it treats Glenn with the respect he deserves. The others don't, especially Eliot. Shapiro is a hodge podge of old interviews with no new information & I don't recommend it.Quote:
Originally Posted by NightMistBlue
I don't remember much detail on the "insatiable appetite for drugs and groupies".
I've read the first 200 pages or so of the Geffen book and it provides good background of the business side of the music business at that time. I'm not sure how much I trust the detail because a couple of the Eagles stories have minor errors compared with the source they reference (Marc Eliot's book and another called Mansion on the Hill).
Oh no! I'll have to read the Tom King book (on Geffen) again, at least the Eagles parts. I listened to the audiobook in 2009, long before my conversion to Eaglesmania. How dismaying about the inaccuracies; the book was praised for its strong research. The author passed away - he was only in his 40s I think - a couple of years after The Operator was published.
I want to check out "Heaven is Under Our Feet: A Book for Walden Woods too. A woman I work with has a copy autographed sweetly by Mr. Henley - a friend got it for her at a local book signing. It says, "Rosemarie, I've heard you're very beautiful. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to see you." What a charmer, that Don.
Wow, what a nice autograph! Sweet Don!