I have no idea why folks are ripping it either. Being a long-term musician of popular music (that's what pop is, and what it WAS for that time), is a (w)itch for anybody of their stature. The Eagles was one of those 1970s groups that crossed over. Are they country, are they pop? Rock? Blues? All the influences are there. Mattes not, their music is well liked, well known to a good base. All the success, money, sex and drugs were there too. So was ego. And a management influence chipping away and dividing a group into individuals and feuds. With that came all the problems with such for young people as they were.
Groups ARE hard. Everybody wants to be the boss and those that become bossy tend to screw over somebody else. Some bossy people go solo because their head gets big or think it was their singing (etc) that got them to the top. It could have. Then again, maybe not. You grow, you learn. Gutless? I think not. It's not that I think each are angels. I do feel there are some egos. I do feel some got screwed, while others let themselves be screwed. Sadly, that's a group. The more personnel, the more chances each will [air off and sour others. Add hit songs/songwriting/lead singing accredited to one or two people in a group, then it becomes ego. The Eagles bore their souls as much as they could with this. Bravo for them.
Personally speaking, that doesn't mean a few of them don't deserve slaps for their overblown egos, and their manager's take on -- this is not a hippie commune and everybody is not equal --- as it was OBVIOUS that manager took two of them aside and MADE them the "leaders". What a little *!@&*#!!!. Sure, bravo for those with major solo careers, but they were solo careers. This was The Eagles, a group. They should have stood up with each other as that. But still, not gutless. Just human. (And PS -- by the end of this documentary, you see Glen seemingly stick up his nose to talk down about stuff, that really turned me off. IMO, What a snot!)
Soundtrack of my Life: The Eagles 1974-1980
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moviefool09
11 years ago
Agreed 100%. As with nearly every band breakup, ego's got out of control. There is always a need to control, and it's difficult to co-exist in harmony with 4 or 5 different personalities. I think the doc did show that Glen WAS a real snot. I like his music, but since when is he god's gift?
As someone said somewhere in the film regarding the coming together of a band, "amazing that it happens at all". We should appreciate the legacy of the Eagles, because they did capture the real essence of laidback California cool and also, the sleazy underbelly of the place, mainly Los Angeles.
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lambiepie-2
11 years ago
Thank you. I agree with you too. They had Los Angeles down pat. Their early country-rock to describe Los Angeles in their early days was genius, as their contemporaries had did so with garage band rock or pop-beach sound. Country in LA..? Unique for it's time. I've gotta be honest, there is so much more than what the documentary shows, but it shows a great deal..but one of the most exciting ties of my life is when I first came to California and stayed at the Hotel California pictured on the inside of the Album. Little did I know that a mere 10 years later I really understood the "...her mind is Tiffany twisted, she's got the Mercedes-Benz she's got a lot of pretty, pretty boys that she calls friends..."
It was inevitable. Thanks Eagles. And thank you again for your post.
Soundtrack of my Life: The Eagles 1974-1980
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moviefool09
11 years ago
Very cool post. I'd really love to go to the inspirational hotel for the album. I am currently reading a book about the early days of Facebook from an original employee called, "The Boy Kings". There are many references to Hotel California in there, particularly as symbolism to the excess and arrogance of Mark Zuckerberg and co :)
I suppose you could call the Eagles the first true "crossover" band, with regards to country and rock. I don't like to think of hard and fast terms, but they did open up a lot of possibilities for everyone in music.
Don't know about you but my fave Eagles songs are the least played ones. "Life in the Fast Lane" and the others have been played to death. Great songs, but I hold a particular fondness for "King of Hollywood", "Pretty Maids All in a Row" and (I know it's popular but...) "I Can't Tell You Why." Great melodies...and great solo's too!
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lambiepie-2
11 years ago
Those are great Eagles songs. Thanks.
I love 'Seven Bridges Road'. That's the Eagles to me.
Hotel California is the CD I can listen to from Track 1 to the end. The 70s were interesting. There was more imagination for children and young teens back then. We read a lot, there was a lot of PR, less 'up in these guys business'. Its interesting learning about this after the fact, but I'd rather remember them as they were. Even though I imagined they all liked each other and worked together.
Soundtrack of my Life: The Eagles 1974-1980
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moviefool09
11 years ago
'Seven Bridges Road' is basically the ultimate...no question.
'Hotel California' is, of course, legendary...but for me personally, "The Long Run" means the most to me. The lyrics just seem a little more personal and the songs strike me as prettier, yet with a razor sharp edge. Great CD to listen to, turned up loud :)
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