On the Border: Difference between revisions
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{{ Album infobox | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums --> |
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{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} |
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| Name = On the Border |
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{{Infobox album |
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| Type = [[Album (music)|Album]] |
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| name = On the Border |
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| type = studio |
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| artist = [[Eagles (band)|the Eagles]] |
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| Background = orange |
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| cover = The_Eagles_-_On_the_Border.jpg |
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| Released = [[March 22]], [[1974]] |
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| alt = |
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| Recorded = The Record Plant, [[Los Angeles, CA]] and<br>Olympic Studios, [[London]] in [[1973]] |
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| released = March 22, 1974 |
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| Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] |
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| recorded = |
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| venue = |
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| studio = *[[Olympic Studios|Olympic]], London, UK |
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*[[Criteria Studios|Criteria]], Miami, Florida<ref name="DaleyD">{{cite web |last=Daley |first=Dan |title=Producer: Bill Szymczyk |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/bill-szymczyk |website=Sound On Sound |date=November 2004 |access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> |
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| Reviews = <nowiki></nowiki> |
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*[[Record Plant Studios|Record Plant]], Los Angeles, California |
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* [[All Music Guide]] [[Image:3 out of 5.png]] [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:7277gjlrj6i9 link] |
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| genre = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[country rock]]|[[hard rock]]<ref name="Border">{{cite web |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |title=Eagles – On the Border |publisher=AllMusic |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-border-mw0000193647 |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref>}} |
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*''[[Rolling Stone]]'' (not rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theeagles/albums/album/129598/review/5944457/on_the_border link]| |
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| length = 40:29 |
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* [[Robert Christgau]] (B+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=the+eagles link] |
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| label = [[Asylum Records|Asylum]] |
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| Last album = ''[[Desperado (album)|Desperado]]'' <br /> (1973) |
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| producer = [[Bill Szymczyk]], [[Glyn Johns]] |
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| This album = '''''On the Border''''' <br /> (1974) |
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| prev_title = [[Desperado (Eagles album)|Desperado]] |
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| Next album = ''[[One of These Nights]]'' <br /> (1975) |
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| prev_year = 1973 |
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| next_title = [[One of These Nights]] |
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| next_year = 1975 |
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| misc = {{singles |
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| name = On the Border |
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| type = Studio album |
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| single1 = [[Already Gone (Eagles song)|Already Gone]] |
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| single1date = April 19, 1974 |
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| single2 = [[James Dean (song)|James Dean]] |
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| single2date = August 14, 1974 |
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| single3 = [[Best of My Love (Eagles song)|Best of My Love]] |
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| single3date = November 5, 1974 |
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}} |
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}} |
}} |
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'''''On the Border''''' is the third studio album by American [[Rock music|rock]] band the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], released on March 22, 1974. Apart from two songs produced by [[Glyn Johns]], it was produced by [[Bill Szymczyk]] because the group wanted a more rock‑oriented sound instead of the country-rock feel of the first two albums.<ref name="sos">{{cite web |last=Buskin |first=Richard |title=The Eagles 'Hotel California' Classic Tracks |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep10/articles/classic-tracks-0910.htm |work=Sound on Sound |date=September 2010}}</ref> It is the first Eagles album to feature guitarist [[Don Felder]]. ''On the Border'' reached number 17 on the ''Billboard'' album chart and has sold two million copies. |
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{{ distinguish|On the Border (restaurant) }} |
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Three singles were released from the album: "[[Already Gone (Eagles song)|Already Gone]]", "[[James Dean (song)|James Dean]]" and "[[Best of My Love (Eagles song)|Best of My Love]]". The singles peaked at numbers 32, 77 and 1 respectively. "Best of My Love" became the band's first of five chart toppers. The album also includes "My Man", [[Bernie Leadon]]'s tribute to his deceased friend [[Gram Parsons]]. Leadon and Parsons had played together in the pioneer country-rock band [[Flying Burrito Brothers]], before Leadon joined the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]]. |
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'''''On the Border''''' is the third studio album by the American rock band [[Eagles]], released in [[1974]]. (see [[1974 in music]]). [[Don Felder]] joined the band during the recording of this album. |
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This is the earliest album by the Eagles to have been released in Quadraphonic surround sound. It was released on Quadraphonic 8-track tape and CD-4 LP. A hidden message, carved into the run-out groove of some vinyl LP copies, reads: "He who hesitates is lunch". |
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==Background== |
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The album was initially produced by [[Glyn Johns]] and recorded at [[Olympic Studios]] in London, but during the making of the album, disagreement arose between the Eagles and Johns. As the band tried to lean towards a more [[hard rock]] sound, they felt that Johns was overemphasizing their country-influenced rock sound.<ref name="Allmusic01">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/eagles-mn0000144847/biography|title=Eagles|author=William Ruhlmann|publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> Johns, however, felt that the Eagles were not capable of what the band wanted, and told the band: "You are not a rock-and-roll band, [[The Who]] is a rock-and-roll band, and you're not that."<ref name=history>{{cite AV media |title=History of the Eagles |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194326/ |date=2013 |time=56:30–58:22}}</ref> The band—[[Glenn Frey]] in particular, but not [[Don Henley]]—were also unhappy with the no-drug policy of Johns during the recording;<ref>{{cite AV media |title=History of the Eagles |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194326/ |date=2013 |time=38:00–39:20}}</ref> furthermore they did not feel at home recording in London.<ref name="guardian"/> The band was concerned about the lack of success of the previous album ''[[Desperado (Eagles album)|Desperado]]'', and were more assertive in wanting more input into the album, which Johns was unwilling to allow.<ref name=history /> The Eagles spent six weeks recording in London, with both the band and the producer becoming frustrated with each other, leading to frequent arguments between Johns and Frey.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rensin |first=David |title=Eagles: 'We were too busy trying to find a good restaurant' – a classic interview from the vaults |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/24/eagles-1974-interview-rocks-backpages-crawdaddy-magazine |work=The Guardian |date=September 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name=history /> The band then took a break, decided to find a new producer and discarded all the recordings except for two usable tracks, "[[Best of My Love (Eagles song)|Best of My Love]]" and "You Never Cry Like a Lover".<ref name="sos" /> |
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The band relocated back to [[California]] and hired [[Bill Szymczyk]], who had produced ''[[The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get]]'' by [[Joe Walsh]]—who was also managed by their manager [[Irving Azoff]] and who would go on to join the Eagles in late 1975—that interested the band.<ref name="sos" /><ref>{{cite AV media |title=History of the Eagles |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194326/ |date=2013 |time=59:08–60:10}}</ref> The band recorded the rest of the album at [[Criteria Studios]] in Miami<ref name=DaleyD/> and the [[Record Plant Studios]] in Los Angeles. They were allowed more input in how the album was made and enjoyed more freedom with Szymczyk in the making of the album.<ref name="guardian"/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qky9CQAAQBAJ&pg=PT16 |title=The Eagles FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Classic Rock's Superstars|author= Andrew Vaughan |date= February 1, 2015|publisher= Backbeat Books |isbn=978-1-61713-623-8 }}</ref> Szymczyk suggested they bring in a harder-edged guitarist to add slide guitar to the song "Good Day in Hell". [[Bernie Leadon]] suggested his old friend [[Don Felder]], whom they had met and jammed with on a few occasions. The band was so impressed that they invited Felder to become the fifth Eagle.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Don|last1=Felder|author-link1=Don Felder|first2=Wendy|last2=Holden|author-link2=Wendy Holden (born 1961)|year=2008|title=Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001)|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons|Wiley & Sons]]|isbn=978-0-4704-5042-0|title-link=Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001)}}, 110-13.</ref> The only other track on this album on which he appeared was "[[Already Gone (Eagles song)|Already Gone]]".<ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-border-mw0000193647|title=On the Border|author=William Ruhlmann|work=AllMusic}}</ref> They credited him as a late arrival on the album's liner notes. |
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On the difference in sound between Johns' and Szymczyk's productions, Henley said: "There's a lot less echo with Bill, for one thing. There's more of a raw and funky presence. Glyn had a stamp he put on his records which is a deep echo that is really smooth like ice cream". He thought that the production on the two songs that Johns produced was good and necessary.<ref name="guardian"/> Frey, however, found that L.A. country-rock records were "all too smooth and glassy", and wanted a "tougher sound".<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Cameron |last= Crowe |url= http://www.theuncool.com/journalism/rs196-the-eagles/ |title= The Eagles: Chips off the old Buffalo |date= September 25, 1975 |magazine= [[Rolling Stone]] |publisher= The Uncool |access-date= March 8, 2016}}</ref> Their friend and collaborator [[JD Souther]] ascribed the change of producer to "Eagles' desire to get more of a live, thin sound on the albums".<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/24/eagles-1974-interview-rocks-backpages-crawdaddy-magazine |title=Eagles: 'We were too busy trying to find a good restaurant' – a classic interview from the vault |author=David Rensin|date= September 24, 2015 |work= The Guardian}}</ref> |
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The first two singles released were more rock-oriented; Frey was reluctant to release the Johns-produced "Best of My Love" as a single, and held off its release for some months. However, when it was finally released, the label had truncated the song–without the band's knowledge or approval–so that it would be more radio-friendly.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o_EjE6-iyQoC |title=To The Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles |first=Marc |last=Eliot |page=112 |publisher=Da Capo Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-306-81398-6 }}</ref> "Best of My Love" would become their biggest hit thus far, and their first No. 1 on the charts. |
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==Songs== |
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"[[Already Gone (Eagles song)|Already Gone]]", "[[James Dean (song)|James Dean]]", and "[[Best of My Love (Eagles song)|Best of My Love]]" were released as singles from the album, and information on these songs can be found in their respective articles. The following are other noteworthy tracks{{according to whom|date=August 2020}} from the album: |
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==="My Man"=== |
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Bernie Leadon's "My Man" is a tribute to [[Gram Parsons]], who had died of a drug overdose in September 1973. Leadon and Parsons had been members of the pioneering country-rock band [[The Flying Burrito Brothers]]. In the lyrics, Leadon makes reference to Parsons' song "[[Hickory Wind]]" ("like a flower he bloomed till that old hickory wind called him home") which appeared on the [[Byrds]]' groundbreaking country-rock album ''[[Sweetheart of the Rodeo]]'' in 1968, the only Byrds album Parsons appeared on. |
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<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JWlSUYbiUXUC&pg=PT51 |title=Rock 'n' Roll Myths: The True Stories Behind the Most Infamous Legends|author=Gary Graff |author2=Daniel Durchholz |publisher=Voyageur Press|date=June 15, 2012 |isbn=978-0-7603-4230-5 }}</ref> |
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==="On the Border"=== |
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A [[hard rock]] song, the track was inspired by the [[Watergate scandal]] and fears of the government overstepping its bounds and infringing on people's privacy. Barely audible at the end of the song, Glenn Frey can be heard whispering "Say Goodnight, Dick", a line made famous by [[Dan Rowan]] of [[Rowan and Martin]] but in this case referring to [[Richard Nixon]]'s resignation.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=The Very Best of the Eagles |others=Eagles |year=2003 |type=CD |publisher=Warner Music Group |id=R2 73971}}</ref> Nixon would indeed resign five months after the release of the album. Henley, however, judged the song they wrote to be a "clumsy, incoherent attempt" as they were still learning how to write. According to Henley, the song was supposed to be "an R&B-type song" but missed the mark.<ref name="complete"/> |
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In the liner notes, "T.N.T.S." was credited for the vocals on the track; this refers to [[Tanqueray]] 'n' tonic, a drink favored by the producer Szymczyk. According to Henley, the drink ""helped out" on the hand-clap overdub and the [[The Temptations|Temptations]]-like background vocals on the title track" by adding an element of spontaneity to the song.<ref name="complete"/> |
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==="Ol' 55"=== |
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David Geffen played to Glenn Frey a demo of three songs by Tom Waits; Frey loved this song and took it to Henley suggesting that they split the vocals on the song. Frey said: "It's such a car thing. Your first car is like your first apartment. You had a mobile studio apartment! "Ol' 55" was so Southern California, and yet there was some Detroit in it as well. It was that car thing, and I loved the idea of driving home at sunrise, thinking about what had happened the night before."<ref name="crowe">{{cite web |url=http://www.theuncool.com/journalism/the-very-best-of-the-eagles/ |title= Conversations With Don Henley and Glenn Frey|author= Cameron Crowe |date=August 2003 |work= The Uncool}}</ref> |
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==="Good Day in Hell"=== |
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According to Henley, the song was written by Frey as a tribute to [[Danny Whitten]] and [[Gram Parsons]]. He also described the song as another of their "running commentaries on the perils of the music business and the lifestyle that often comes with it".<ref name="complete">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/eagles-complete-discography-don-henley-looks-back-20160610/on-the-border-1974-20160609 |title=Eagles' Complete Discography: Don Henley Looks Back |first=David |last=Browne|date=June 10, 2016 |magazine=Rolling Stone }}</ref> |
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==Critical reception== |
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{{Album ratings |
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|rev1 = [[AllMusic]] |
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|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|author=William Ruhlmann |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-border-mw0000193647 |title=On the Border - Eagles | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=AllMusic |date=1974-03-22 |access-date=2014-05-23}}</ref> |
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|rev2 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]'' |
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|rev2Score = B+<ref name="CG">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=0-89919-026-X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: E|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=E&bk=70|access-date=February 24, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com|title-link=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies}}</ref> |
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|rev4 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' |
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|rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="newrsmag">{{cite book |first1=Nathan |last1=Brackett |first2=Christian David |last2=Hoard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA267 |title=Eagles |publisher=Simon and Schuster |date=2004 |access-date=September 10, 2013|isbn=978-0-7432-0169-8 }}</ref> |
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| rev3 = [[Tom Hull (critic)|Tom Hull]] |
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| rev3Score = B<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hull|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Hull (critic)|date=April 1975|url=http://www.tomhull.com/ocston/arch/rekord1.php|title=The Rekord Report: First Card|magazine=Overdose|access-date=June 26, 2020|via=tomhull.com}}</ref> |
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}} |
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In an early review, Janet Maslin of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' found the album "competent and commercial", but was disappointed that it did not live up to the potential for bigger things shown in ''[[Desperado (Eagles album)|Desperado]]''. She also thought that with three guitarists in the band, there were "just too many intrusive guitar parts here, too many solos that smack of gratuitous heaviness. Many of the arrangements seem to lose touch with the material somewhere in mid-song." Overall, she judged the album "a tight and likable collection, with nine potential singles working in its favor and only one dud ("Midnight Flyer") to weigh it down," and that it's "good enough to make up in high spirits what it lacks in purposefulness."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/on-the-border-19740523 |title=On The Border|author= Janet Maslin |date= May 23, 1974|magazine= Rolling Stone}}</ref> |
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William Ruhlmann of [[AllMusic]] noted in his retrospective review the R&B direction in its title track that would be pursued more fully in later albums, and considered the album "which looked back to their earlier work and anticipated their later work" to be "a transitional effort that combined even more styles than most of their records did."<ref name="allmusic"/> |
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==Commercial performance== |
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The album became the band's most successful album of the three released thus far. It debuted at number 50 on the US [[Billboard 200]] chart in its first week of its release,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1974-04-20 |title=Billboard 200 |date=April 20, 1974 |magazine=Billboard }}</ref> peaking at number 17 in its sixth week on the chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1974-06-01 |title=Billboard 200 |date=June 1, 1975 |magazine=Billboard }}</ref> The album was certified Gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) two and a half months after its release June 5, 1974, and it was then certified [[RIAA Certification|double platinum]] for shipments of 2 million copies on March 20, 2001.{{Certification Cite Ref |region=United States|type=album|artist=Eagles|title=On the Border }} |
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==Track listing== |
==Track listing== |
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{{Track listing |
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#"Already Gone" (Jack Tempchin, R. Strandlund) - 4:13 |
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| headline = Side one |
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#*Lead vocal by Glenn Frey |
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| extra_column = Lead vocals |
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#"You Never Cry Like a Lover" ([[J.D. Souther]], [[Don Henley]]) - 4:02 |
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| title1 = [[Already Gone (Eagles song)|Already Gone]] |
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#*Lead vocal by Don Henley |
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| writer1 = {{flatlist| |
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#"Midnight Flyer" (P. Craft) - 3:58 |
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* [[Jack Tempchin]] |
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#*Lead vocal by Randy Meisner |
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* Robb Strandlund}} |
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#"My Man" ([[Bernie Leadon]]) - 3:30 |
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| length1 = 4:15 |
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#*Lead vocal by Bernie Leadon |
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| extra1 = [[Glenn Frey]] |
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#"On the Border" (Henley, Leadon, Frey) - 4:28 |
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| title2 = You Never Cry Like a Lover |
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#*Lead vocals by Don Henley and T.N.T.S. |
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| writer2 = {{flatlist| |
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#"James Dean" ([[Jackson Browne]], Frey, Souther, Henley) - 3:36 |
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* [[Don Henley]] |
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#*Lead vocal by Glenn Frey |
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* [[JD Souther]]}} |
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#"Ol' 55" ([[Tom Waits]]) - 4:22 |
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| length2 = 4:00 |
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#*Lead vocals by Glenn Frey and Don Henley |
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| extra2 = Henley |
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#"Is It True?" ([[Randy Meisner]]) - 3:14 |
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| title3 = Midnight Flyer |
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#*Lead vocal by Randy Meisner |
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| writer3 = [[Paul Craft]] |
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#"Good Day in Hell" (Henley, Frey) - 4:27 |
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| length3 = 3:55 |
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#*Lead vocals by Glenn Frey and Don Henley |
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| extra3 = [[Randy Meisner]] |
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#"[[Best Of My Love]]" (Henley, Frey, Souther) - 4:35 |
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| title4 = My Man |
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#*Lead vocal by [[Don Henley]] |
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| writer4 = [[Bernie Leadon]] |
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| length4 = 3:29 |
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| extra4 = Leadon |
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| title5 = On the Border |
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| writer5 = {{flatlist| |
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* Henley |
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* Leadon |
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* [[Glenn Frey]]}} |
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| length5 = 4:23 |
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| extra5 = Henley with Frey, Meisner, and Leadon |
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}} |
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{{Track listing |
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== Personnel == |
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| headline = Side two |
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'''Eagles''' |
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| extra_column = Lead vocals |
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*[[Glenn Frey]] - vocals, [[guitar]]s, [[piano]] |
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| title1 = [[James Dean (song)|James Dean]] |
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*[[Don Henley]] - vocals, [[drums]] |
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| writer1 = {{flatlist| |
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*[[Bernie Leadon]] - vocals, guitars, [[banjo]], [[steel guitar]] |
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* Henley |
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*[[Randy Meisner]] - vocals, [[bass guitar|bass]] |
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* Frey |
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*[[Don Felder]] - [[electric guitar]] |
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* Souther |
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* [[Jackson Browne]]}} |
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| length1 = 3:38 |
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| extra1 = Frey |
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| title2 = [[Ol' '55]] |
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| writer2 = [[Tom Waits]] |
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| length2 = 4:21 |
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| extra2 = Frey and Henley |
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| title3 = Is It True? |
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| writer3 = Meisner |
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| length3 = 3:14 |
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| extra3 = Meisner |
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| title4 = Good Day in Hell |
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| writer4 = {{flatlist| |
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* Henley |
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* Frey}} |
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| length4 = 4:25 |
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| extra4 = Frey and Henley |
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| title5 = [[Best of My Love (Eagles song)|Best of My Love]] |
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| writer5 = {{flatlist| |
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* Henley |
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* Frey |
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* Souther}} |
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| length5 = 4:34 |
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| extra5 = Henley |
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}} |
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==Personnel== |
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'''Additional personnel''' |
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*[[Al Perkins]] - [[pedal steel guitar]] on "Ol' 55" |
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Credits adapted from the liner notes.<ref name="liner">{{Cite AV media notes |title=On the Border |others=[[Eagles (band)|Eagles]] |year=1974 |type=booklet |url=https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/eagles/border/linernotes.htm |publisher=[[Asylum Records]] |location=California |access-date=2023-06-08 }}</ref> |
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== Singles == |
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*"Already Gone"/"Is It True" - Asylum 11036; released April 19, 1974 |
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===Eagles=== |
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*"James Dean"/"Good Day in Hell" - released August 14, 1974 |
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*[[Glenn Frey]] – [[vocals]], [[acoustic guitar|acoustic]] and [[rhythm guitar|electric rhythm guitar]]s, lead guitar, piano, [[slide guitar]] on "Midnight Flyer" and "Is It True" |
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*"Best of My Love"/"Ol' 55" - Asylum 45218; released November 5, 1974 |
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*[[Don Henley]] – vocals, drums |
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*[[Bernie Leadon]] – vocals, electric and acoustic lead and rhythm guitars, [[banjo]], [[pedal steel guitar]] |
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*[[Randy Meisner]] – vocals, bass guitar |
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*[[Don Felder]] – lead guitar on "Already Gone" and slide guitar on "Good Day in Hell" (credited as "late arrival") |
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'''Additional musician''' |
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*[[Al Perkins]] – pedal steel guitar (on "Ol' 55") |
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===Technical=== |
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* [[Bill Szymczyk]] – producer, engineer<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/Eagles-On-The-Border/release/4401855 |title=Eagles – On The Border |work=Discogs}}</ref> |
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* [[Glyn Johns]] – producer and engineer on "You Never Cry Like a Lover" and "Best of My Love" |
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* Rod Thaer, Gary Ladinsky, Allan Blazek – engineers |
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* Lee Hulko – mastering |
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* Beatian Yazz – painting |
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* [[Henry Diltz]] – photography |
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* [[Rick Griffin]] – lettering |
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* Gary Burden – art direction, design |
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==Charts== |
==Charts== |
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{{col-begin}} |
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'''Album''' |
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{{col-2}} |
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{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="60%" |
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!align="left"|Year |
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===Weekly charts=== |
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!align="left"|Chart |
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{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
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!align="left"|Position |
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|- |
|- |
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! scope="col"| Chart (1974-1975) |
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|1974 |
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! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |
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|Pop Albums |
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|17 |
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|- |
|- |
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! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref> |
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|} |
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| align="center"| 27 |
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'''Singles''' |
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{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="60%" |
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!align="left"|Year |
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!align="left"|Single |
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!align="left"|Chart |
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!align="left"|Position |
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|- |
|- |
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{{album chart|Canada|12|chartid=4847|artist=Eagles|album=On the Border|rowheader=true|access-date=May 31, 2024}} |
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|1974 |
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|"Already Gone" |
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|Pop Singles |
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|32 |
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|- |
|- |
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{{album chart|Netherlands|3|artist=Eagles|album=On the Border|rowheader=true|access-date=May 31, 2024}} |
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|1974 |
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|"James Dean" |
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|Pop Singles |
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|77 |
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|- |
|- |
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{{album chart|UK2|28|date=19740428|rowheader=true|access-date=May 31, 2024}} |
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|1975 |
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|"Best Of My Love" |
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|Pop Singles |
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|1 |
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|- |
|- |
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{{album chart|Billboard200|17|artist=Eagles|rowheader=true|access-date=May 31, 2024}} |
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|1975 |
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|} |
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|"Best of My Love" |
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{{col-2}} |
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|Adult Contemporary |
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|1 |
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===Year-end charts=== |
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{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
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|- |
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! scope="col"| Chart (1974) |
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! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |
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|- |
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! scope="row"|Dutch Albums ([[Album Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1974&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1974|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=April 17, 2021}}</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|24 |
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|- |
|- |
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! scope="row"|US ''[[Billboard 200]]''<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1974/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1974|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 17, 2021}}</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|48 |
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|} |
|} |
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{{col-end}} |
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==Certifications== |
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[[Category:Eagles albums]] [[Category:1974 albums]] [[Category:Elektra Records albums]] |
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{{Certification Table Top}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|award=Gold|certref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1976/1976-10-02-Billboard-Page-0063.pdf#search=%22fragile%20canada%20platinum%22|access-date=20 December 2020|title=Warner /Elektra /Atlantic Sets Canada's AII- Time,12 -Month Sales Record - 44 Gold and Platinum Albums:Gold-Album|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=October 2, 1976|page=63}}</ref>|relyear=1977}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Eagles|title=On the Border|award=Silver|relyear=1974|certyear=1978|id=4845-663-2}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Eagles|title=On the Border|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1974|certyear=2001}} |
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{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}} |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{Eagles}} |
{{Eagles}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:Eagles (band) albums]] |
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[[Category:1974 albums]] |
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[[Category:Elektra Records albums]] |
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[[Category:Asylum Records albums]] |
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[[Category:Albums produced by Bill Szymczyk]] |
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[[Category:Albums produced by Glyn Johns]] |
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[[Category:Albums with cover art by Rick Griffin]] |
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[[Category:Albums recorded at Olympic Sound Studios]] |
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[[Category:Albums recorded at Record Plant (Los Angeles)]] |
Latest revision as of 20:03, 20 September 2024
On the Border | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 22, 1974 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 40:29 | |||
Label | Asylum | |||
Producer | Bill Szymczyk, Glyn Johns | |||
The Eagles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from On the Border | ||||
|
On the Border is the third studio album by American rock band the Eagles, released on March 22, 1974. Apart from two songs produced by Glyn Johns, it was produced by Bill Szymczyk because the group wanted a more rock‑oriented sound instead of the country-rock feel of the first two albums.[3] It is the first Eagles album to feature guitarist Don Felder. On the Border reached number 17 on the Billboard album chart and has sold two million copies.
Three singles were released from the album: "Already Gone", "James Dean" and "Best of My Love". The singles peaked at numbers 32, 77 and 1 respectively. "Best of My Love" became the band's first of five chart toppers. The album also includes "My Man", Bernie Leadon's tribute to his deceased friend Gram Parsons. Leadon and Parsons had played together in the pioneer country-rock band Flying Burrito Brothers, before Leadon joined the Eagles.
This is the earliest album by the Eagles to have been released in Quadraphonic surround sound. It was released on Quadraphonic 8-track tape and CD-4 LP. A hidden message, carved into the run-out groove of some vinyl LP copies, reads: "He who hesitates is lunch".
Background
The album was initially produced by Glyn Johns and recorded at Olympic Studios in London, but during the making of the album, disagreement arose between the Eagles and Johns. As the band tried to lean towards a more hard rock sound, they felt that Johns was overemphasizing their country-influenced rock sound.[4] Johns, however, felt that the Eagles were not capable of what the band wanted, and told the band: "You are not a rock-and-roll band, The Who is a rock-and-roll band, and you're not that."[5] The band—Glenn Frey in particular, but not Don Henley—were also unhappy with the no-drug policy of Johns during the recording;[6] furthermore they did not feel at home recording in London.[7] The band was concerned about the lack of success of the previous album Desperado, and were more assertive in wanting more input into the album, which Johns was unwilling to allow.[5] The Eagles spent six weeks recording in London, with both the band and the producer becoming frustrated with each other, leading to frequent arguments between Johns and Frey.[8][5] The band then took a break, decided to find a new producer and discarded all the recordings except for two usable tracks, "Best of My Love" and "You Never Cry Like a Lover".[3]
The band relocated back to California and hired Bill Szymczyk, who had produced The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get by Joe Walsh—who was also managed by their manager Irving Azoff and who would go on to join the Eagles in late 1975—that interested the band.[3][9] The band recorded the rest of the album at Criteria Studios in Miami[1] and the Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles. They were allowed more input in how the album was made and enjoyed more freedom with Szymczyk in the making of the album.[7][10] Szymczyk suggested they bring in a harder-edged guitarist to add slide guitar to the song "Good Day in Hell". Bernie Leadon suggested his old friend Don Felder, whom they had met and jammed with on a few occasions. The band was so impressed that they invited Felder to become the fifth Eagle.[11] The only other track on this album on which he appeared was "Already Gone".[12] They credited him as a late arrival on the album's liner notes.
On the difference in sound between Johns' and Szymczyk's productions, Henley said: "There's a lot less echo with Bill, for one thing. There's more of a raw and funky presence. Glyn had a stamp he put on his records which is a deep echo that is really smooth like ice cream". He thought that the production on the two songs that Johns produced was good and necessary.[7] Frey, however, found that L.A. country-rock records were "all too smooth and glassy", and wanted a "tougher sound".[13] Their friend and collaborator JD Souther ascribed the change of producer to "Eagles' desire to get more of a live, thin sound on the albums".[7]
The first two singles released were more rock-oriented; Frey was reluctant to release the Johns-produced "Best of My Love" as a single, and held off its release for some months. However, when it was finally released, the label had truncated the song–without the band's knowledge or approval–so that it would be more radio-friendly.[14] "Best of My Love" would become their biggest hit thus far, and their first No. 1 on the charts.
Songs
"Already Gone", "James Dean", and "Best of My Love" were released as singles from the album, and information on these songs can be found in their respective articles. The following are other noteworthy tracks[according to whom?] from the album:
"My Man"
Bernie Leadon's "My Man" is a tribute to Gram Parsons, who had died of a drug overdose in September 1973. Leadon and Parsons had been members of the pioneering country-rock band The Flying Burrito Brothers. In the lyrics, Leadon makes reference to Parsons' song "Hickory Wind" ("like a flower he bloomed till that old hickory wind called him home") which appeared on the Byrds' groundbreaking country-rock album Sweetheart of the Rodeo in 1968, the only Byrds album Parsons appeared on. [15]
"On the Border"
A hard rock song, the track was inspired by the Watergate scandal and fears of the government overstepping its bounds and infringing on people's privacy. Barely audible at the end of the song, Glenn Frey can be heard whispering "Say Goodnight, Dick", a line made famous by Dan Rowan of Rowan and Martin but in this case referring to Richard Nixon's resignation.[16] Nixon would indeed resign five months after the release of the album. Henley, however, judged the song they wrote to be a "clumsy, incoherent attempt" as they were still learning how to write. According to Henley, the song was supposed to be "an R&B-type song" but missed the mark.[17]
In the liner notes, "T.N.T.S." was credited for the vocals on the track; this refers to Tanqueray 'n' tonic, a drink favored by the producer Szymczyk. According to Henley, the drink ""helped out" on the hand-clap overdub and the Temptations-like background vocals on the title track" by adding an element of spontaneity to the song.[17]
"Ol' 55"
David Geffen played to Glenn Frey a demo of three songs by Tom Waits; Frey loved this song and took it to Henley suggesting that they split the vocals on the song. Frey said: "It's such a car thing. Your first car is like your first apartment. You had a mobile studio apartment! "Ol' 55" was so Southern California, and yet there was some Detroit in it as well. It was that car thing, and I loved the idea of driving home at sunrise, thinking about what had happened the night before."[18]
"Good Day in Hell"
According to Henley, the song was written by Frey as a tribute to Danny Whitten and Gram Parsons. He also described the song as another of their "running commentaries on the perils of the music business and the lifestyle that often comes with it".[17]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [19] |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+[20] |
Tom Hull | B[22] |
Rolling Stone | [21] |
In an early review, Janet Maslin of Rolling Stone found the album "competent and commercial", but was disappointed that it did not live up to the potential for bigger things shown in Desperado. She also thought that with three guitarists in the band, there were "just too many intrusive guitar parts here, too many solos that smack of gratuitous heaviness. Many of the arrangements seem to lose touch with the material somewhere in mid-song." Overall, she judged the album "a tight and likable collection, with nine potential singles working in its favor and only one dud ("Midnight Flyer") to weigh it down," and that it's "good enough to make up in high spirits what it lacks in purposefulness."[23] William Ruhlmann of AllMusic noted in his retrospective review the R&B direction in its title track that would be pursued more fully in later albums, and considered the album "which looked back to their earlier work and anticipated their later work" to be "a transitional effort that combined even more styles than most of their records did."[19]
Commercial performance
The album became the band's most successful album of the three released thus far. It debuted at number 50 on the US Billboard 200 chart in its first week of its release,[24] peaking at number 17 in its sixth week on the chart.[25] The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) two and a half months after its release June 5, 1974, and it was then certified double platinum for shipments of 2 million copies on March 20, 2001.[26]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Already Gone" |
| Glenn Frey | 4:15 |
2. | "You Never Cry Like a Lover" | Henley | 4:00 | |
3. | "Midnight Flyer" | Paul Craft | Randy Meisner | 3:55 |
4. | "My Man" | Bernie Leadon | Leadon | 3:29 |
5. | "On the Border" |
| Henley with Frey, Meisner, and Leadon | 4:23 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "James Dean" |
| Frey | 3:38 |
2. | "Ol' '55" | Tom Waits | Frey and Henley | 4:21 |
3. | "Is It True?" | Meisner | Meisner | 3:14 |
4. | "Good Day in Hell" |
| Frey and Henley | 4:25 |
5. | "Best of My Love" |
| Henley | 4:34 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes.[27]
Eagles
- Glenn Frey – vocals, acoustic and electric rhythm guitars, lead guitar, piano, slide guitar on "Midnight Flyer" and "Is It True"
- Don Henley – vocals, drums
- Bernie Leadon – vocals, electric and acoustic lead and rhythm guitars, banjo, pedal steel guitar
- Randy Meisner – vocals, bass guitar
- Don Felder – lead guitar on "Already Gone" and slide guitar on "Good Day in Hell" (credited as "late arrival")
Additional musician
- Al Perkins – pedal steel guitar (on "Ol' 55")
Technical
- Bill Szymczyk – producer, engineer[28]
- Glyn Johns – producer and engineer on "You Never Cry Like a Lover" and "Best of My Love"
- Rod Thaer, Gary Ladinsky, Allan Blazek – engineers
- Lee Hulko – mastering
- Beatian Yazz – painting
- Henry Diltz – photography
- Rick Griffin – lettering
- Gary Burden – art direction, design
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[36] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[26] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ a b Daley, Dan (November 2004). "Producer: Bill Szymczyk". Sound On Sound. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Eagles – On the Border". AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
- ^ a b c Buskin, Richard (September 2010). "The Eagles 'Hotel California' Classic Tracks". Sound on Sound.
- ^ William Ruhlmann. "Eagles". AllMusic.
- ^ a b c History of the Eagles. 2013. Event occurs at 56:30–58:22.
- ^ History of the Eagles. 2013. Event occurs at 38:00–39:20.
- ^ a b c d David Rensin (September 24, 2015). "Eagles: 'We were too busy trying to find a good restaurant' – a classic interview from the vault". The Guardian.
- ^ Rensin, David (September 24, 2015). "Eagles: 'We were too busy trying to find a good restaurant' – a classic interview from the vaults". The Guardian.
- ^ History of the Eagles. 2013. Event occurs at 59:08–60:10.
- ^ Andrew Vaughan (February 1, 2015). The Eagles FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Classic Rock's Superstars. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-61713-623-8.
- ^ Felder, Don; Holden, Wendy (2008). Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001). Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-4704-5042-0., 110-13.
- ^ William Ruhlmann. "On the Border". AllMusic.
- ^ Crowe, Cameron (September 25, 1975). "The Eagles: Chips off the old Buffalo". Rolling Stone. The Uncool. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- ^ Eliot, Marc (2004). To The Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles. Da Capo Press. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-306-81398-6.
- ^ Gary Graff; Daniel Durchholz (June 15, 2012). Rock 'n' Roll Myths: The True Stories Behind the Most Infamous Legends. Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-4230-5.
- ^ The Very Best of the Eagles (CD). Eagles. Warner Music Group. 2003. R2 73971.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c Browne, David (June 10, 2016). "Eagles' Complete Discography: Don Henley Looks Back". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Cameron Crowe (August 2003). "Conversations With Don Henley and Glenn Frey". The Uncool.
- ^ a b William Ruhlmann (1974-03-22). "On the Border - Eagles | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: E". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 0-89919-026-X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). Eagles. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ Hull, Tom (April 1975). "The Rekord Report: First Card". Overdose. Retrieved June 26, 2020 – via tomhull.com.
- ^ Janet Maslin (May 23, 1974). "On The Border". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. April 20, 1974.
- ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. June 1, 1975.
- ^ a b "American album certifications – Eagles – On the Border". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ On the Border (booklet). Eagles. California: Asylum Records. 1974. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Eagles – On The Border". Discogs.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4847". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eagles – On the Border" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Eagles Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1974". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1974". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ "Warner /Elektra /Atlantic Sets Canada's AII- Time,12 -Month Sales Record - 44 Gold and Platinum Albums:Gold-Album" (PDF). Billboard. October 2, 1976. p. 63. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "British album certifications – Eagles – On the Border". British Phonographic Industry.