Assembled after the band had unofficially damaged up, Eagles Reside closed out their turbulent preliminary period in maybe the one approach it may: with extra turbulence.
The 2-disc set arrived on Nov. 7, 1980, simply months after a disastrous appearance at Lengthy Seashore, Calif., that will mark the Eagles’ ultimate present till the aptly titled Hell Freezes Over reunion in 1994. Issues had gotten no higher within the interim. The Eagles nonetheless owed Elektra one other album, and they also set about work on a stay set – however with out really working collectively in any respect.
Glenn Frey stayed behind in Los Angeles, whereas Don Henley oversaw post-production classes in Miami. They needed to fly tapes forwards and backwards as a way to full Eagles Reside.
Frey, to place it merely, was performed. “I knew the Eagles have been over about midway by [1979’s] The Long Run album,” he told Robert Hilburn in 1982. “I instructed myself I might by no means undergo this once more. I may offer you 30 the reason why, however let me be concise about it: I began the band, I obtained bored with it and I give up.”
Hearken to the Eagles Carry out ‘Seven Bridges Highway’
The Eagles’ label reportedly agreed to pay a whopping $2 million if they’d assemble a pair of latest songs that could possibly be tacked onto Eagles Reside. The provide was flatly rejected. As a substitute, the Eagles’ first-ever stay album would come with only one beforehand unreleased tune, a beautiful a cappella cowl of Steve Younger’s “Seven Bridges Highway” that nearly cracked the High 20.
Each one scattered for solo tasks, seemingly with out even a look over their collective shoulders. “I am very happy with what we did,” Henley instructed Hilburn in ’82. “We put the whole lot we had into it on the expense of our well being, friendships and the whole lot else. However Glenn was proper. It was time for it to finish. I’ve no regrets. I want everybody else within the group effectively. There are some painful recollections, however I am starting now to have the ability to look again and chortle a little bit.”
It had not been one of the best of instances. They’d wanted 18 months and 5 completely different studios to finish The Lengthy Run. Tensions continued to mount till Glenn Frey and Don Felder virtually got here to blows throughout a July 1980 present at Lengthy Seashore. Ultimately, Eagles Reside – which included a raucous tackle “Life within the Quick Lane” from that very same live performance cease – did not start to stay as much as its title.
The Eagles have been, fairly clearly, useless. However this album has additionally been referred to as the most overdubbed live performance recording ever. They patched in songs from separate 1980 performances on the Discussion board in Los Angeles and on the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, finishing Eagles Reside with extra music from 1976. That was not solely a unique time but additionally a unique lineup, since Timothy B. Schmit had not but joined.
It appeared as if the Eagles simply wished to get this over with. “We made it,” a dejected Frey would later muse about his band, “and it ate us.” The liner notes instructed the story. 5 completely different attorneys have been thanked. And on the finish, the Eagles may solely say: “Thanks, and good night time.”
