Discussion of Eagles Documentary "History of the Eagles"

[Outlawman13]

I didn't like that part either!! All of the Eagles voices are incredible!! Glenn needed to sing mre.

[Prettymaid]

But PM I've suddenly seen your comment that you hadn't heard of more than one lead singer. There was this little band during the 60s... I believe that both you & I thought they were OK... remember?!

Oh yeah...them!

I didn't own any Eagles albums. I just heard their songs on the radio and liked them. When I married my ex-husband in 1979, he owned Their Greatest Hits 71 - 75, and I started listening to it a lot, so that's the time frame I'm talking about. But, I'm sure there were even other bands that had more than one lead singer. In my experience at that time, though, it was unique to me.

[TimothyBFan]

But PM I've suddenly seen your comment that you hadn't heard of more than one lead singer. There was this little band during the 60s... I believe that both you & I thought they were OK... remember?!

Here's what I wrote up for Glenn's bio on GFO; I got the info from several interviews:

Glenn was dissatisfied, and began looking to the West for a variety of reasons. Glenn has joked that "the Life magazine articles about free love and free dope in California" made it look pretty appealing, and it didn't hurt that a change of address would enable him to put off the draft notice he received in Michigan.

So Glenn had received a draft notice? I don't know if I remember that or not.

[Windeagle]

Glenn changes the lyrics when performing TIE live, for example on the Live album he sings "Southern California" instead of "Winslow, Arizona".

Yep. And that's why I can't sing Take It Easy WITHOUT saying "Southern California." I've listened to Eagles Live so many times it's rewired my memory to the point where the recorded versions sound strange.

[Prettymaid]

I've heard other bands change up the lyrics to include the city they're playing in, but this isn't what that was. This was 'just find a place to play your hand', instead of 'just find a place to make your stand'. I could understand the switch if they were playing Vegas , but this is from the D.C. footage.

[Prettymaid]

Just finished watching part two again and made some notes.

Do you think they really heard Pretty Maids on the space shuttle? Why else did they use that particular song during that segment? Maybe they played the entire HFO album. Just weird that they chose to use that song.

Do you think Joe wrote the LITFL lick on an acoustic or electric guitar? It shows him playing it on an acoustic...he says he used it to exercise his fingers...makes me think that the first time Glenn heard it was on an acoustic guitar.

That paper that has the middle finger raised and says, "My response to everyone concerning an Eagles reunion", and signed by Glenn, is that real? If so, when did he use it, and who thought to take a picture of it?

How many agree with Geffen's statement, "By nature he's a malcontent", speaking about Don Henley?

I know it was during a serious segment, but Glenn's impression of Joe's voice cracked me up!

Irving says that if Joe's rehab didn't work, they'd better have Don F elder. If you read into that, it almost sounds like they were considering not wanting F elder to be a part of the reunion, but didn't want to be without a guitar player.

[Prettymaid]

How cute is Timothy's ponytail during the rehearsal segment!

What is Don's reference to Tommy Smothers about when he forgets the words to Learn To Be Still during taping? I know who Tommy Smothers is and I know the Smothers Brother's act, but did he just mean that he had flubbed up like Tommy did and stop the song like Tommy would? That reference really shows Don's age!

During the reunion segment Glenn says that he made the rule, no drugs or alcohol in rehearsals or performances. Hmmm...didn't I just hear him say in part one that he didn't like that particular rule of Glyn John's? It's funny how that rule came around full circle for them.

I know we've talked on here about how they weren't together when they made the LROOE album, but they must have rehearsed the songs together beforehand, right? It shows them in the studio either rehearsing or recording Hole In the World, and it made me wonder how much they were together during LROOE.

[Prettymaid]

Glenn's pretty clear on how they wrote Busy Being Fabulous. Don brought the title and added the , 'Don't wait up for me tonight, and that was all she wrote', which implies that Glenn wrote the first two lines of the song. Of course, he doesn't address the rest of the verses!

Love love love how Soda's How Long YouTube video gets props from Glenn for being the catalyst that brought that song to their attention and ultimately made them record it. Cindy Frey was right - it does sound like a hit Eagles song.

Don Henley refers to himself a couple of times as having been insecure. Honestly, I would never in a million years think that Don Henley had an insecure bone in his body! But I found the statement when he's speaking about what rock and roll music did for him honest and heartwarming.

[WalshFan88]

Do you think Joe wrote the LITFL lick on an acoustic or electric guitar? It shows him playing it on an accoustic...he says he used it to exercise his fingers...makes me think that the first time Glenn heard it was on an accoustic guitar.

Perhaps! Never thought about it before although the song is NOT an acoustic song. It's best with a Strat loud and proud! But it does make you wonder since he used an acoustic in the doc. Or maybe he didn't have an amp where they were filming. Good point.

That paper that has the middle finger raised and says, "My response to everyone concerning an Eagles reunion", and signed by Glenn, is that real? If so, when did he use it, and who thought to take a picture of it?

I thought that was a little harsh. Just like his comment during the doc. "There's more to life than being in the Eagles". While that's true, it's like he's downplaying it somewhat. I believe that note was in response to Steve Wozniak wanting them to reunite for the US Festival in '83.

How many agree with Geffen's statement, "By nature he's a malcontent", speaking about Don Henley?

Somewhat I agree... But malcontent or not, he's a brilliant songwriter and excellent singer. I think he definitely is a bit on the touchy side with his temper and probably does get upset at things but to say he's never happy I don't know if I'd agree with.

Irving says that if Joe's rehab didn't work, they'd better have Don F elder. If you read into that, it almost sounds like they were considering not wanting F elder to be a part of the reunion, but didn't want to be without a guitar player.

I can't even imagine HFO without Felder... There was more to band drama in the 70s than just DF and the Cranston thing and other things. So to leave him out for that reason would have been very petty to me at least. But I agree, the way Irving said it did make me think that at the time... But yeah, I can't imagine an Eagles reunion without him. A Felder-less Eagles is a lacking Eagles to me. Now with what happened after the reunion is another topic that's been discussed with my views on it. But to not at least give him that chance to play again in the 90s would have not set well with me.

....

[sodascouts]

Do you think they really heard Pretty Maids on the space shuttle? Why else did they use that particular song during that segment? Maybe they played the entire HFO album. Just weird that they chose to use that song.

I just assumed they played the whole Hotel California album.

That paper that has the middle finger raised and says, "My response to everyone concerning an Eagles reunion", and signed by Glenn, is that real? If so, when did he use it, and who thought to take a picture of it?

I assumed that Glenn sent that as a joke to someone they interviewed (probably Irving), who'd kept it and handed it over to the filmmakers to use.

How many agree with Geffen's statement, "By nature he's a malcontent", speaking about Don Henley?

If by "malcontent" you mean someone who always has to have something to complain about, then yes, from what I observe, he appears to be a malcontent. Has he ever given an interview where he hasn't complained about something at some point?

Irving says that if Joe's rehab didn't work, they'd better have Don Felder. If you read into that, it almost sounds like they were considering not wanting Felder to be a part of the reunion, but didn't want to be without a guitar player.

Well, Felder wasn't involved in the initial talks, apparently, but Irving does say they wanted both guitarists for HFO "ideally."