Calling the shots isn’t really what it means to be a recording artist. There will always be a record label head staring down artists, wondering when the lightning will strike on the next big record, even with all the money in the world and the largest touring numbers imaginable. Glenn Frey was never pleased that the Eagles had to make a concession by putting out a greatest hits album. They were already committed to making their brand of sunshine rock accessible to a wider audience.
This is due to the Eagles’ apparent upward trajectory since the early 1970s. After the hippie dream faded, country rock began to dominate the music landscape. This change drastically altered what California would sound like in the years following Woodstock. Despite coming from Detroit, Frey was deeply ingrained in the country scene as soon as he joined Linda Ronstadt’s backing group.
Only when Frey connected with drummer Don Henley did he recognize his potential to become a rock star. Henley was the ideas man who always kept things close to the vest when it came to business. Though he had the lyrical prowess to keep things moving.
With the addition of Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon, the Eagles were able to experiment with a wide range of material. They explored everything from country music to hard rock and roll hits. Additionally, they covered random songs like Tom Waits’ “Ol’ 55.” On the Border and One of These Nights appeared to be the foundation for their next stage of success. But Desperado’s reception left fans rather cold.
Their label insisted on a greatest hits package just before they embarked on their career with Joe Walsh leading them. Although this album would go on to become one of the best-selling records ever, Frey recalled that he wasn’t as fond of the concept. He preferred making an album statement over assembling a collection of singles.
As the frontman told PBS, “I remember they wanted to put out a greatest hits album. I think we were probably resistant to it,” the band had some fun designing the cover to spite their superiors. “They have the right to do this,” they informed me. They are free to release it if they so choose. In light of that, we made the somewhat poor decision to place an eagle skull on the cover of the Greatest Hits album. Of course, it’s sitting there in a field of something that is a shimmering white powder.
Still, it’s hard to imagine a better way to promote the upcoming album than having an all-star greatest hits record feature songs like these. But after everyone had settled in, Frey and Henley prepared to produce an album as massive as it was. They ultimately released some of their best-known songs, including “New Kid In Town” and the title track from Hotel California.
When Frey decided to release a second greatest hits album from the two albums that they released after the first one, he faced with the same issue once more. This occurred even though the band had long since broken up. By now, everyone was well into their solo careers. However, trying to outpace your own legacy half the time makes it difficult to establish a solid foundation for a solo act.
