When a band reaches the legendary status of The Eagles, it’s hard to consider any of their tracks underrated. With a catalogue of hits like ‘Desperado’ and the immortal ‘Hotel California,’ their place in rock history is cemented. However, Don Henley believes a few of their songs don’t get the recognition they deserve, including one track that stands out as deeply underrated in their vast body of work.
In the early days of The Eagles, they were still finding their footing as songwriters. Despite delivering live renditions of songs like ‘Take It Easy’ and ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ with ease, it wasn’t until their later albums that the songwriting partnership of Glenn Frey and Henley truly flourished. Their first collaboration, ‘Tequila Sunrise,’ marked the beginning of their iconic creative duo.
While Henley was known for his perfectionism in the studio, he admitted that not every song they worked on stood out. He described ‘Earlybird’ from their self-titled debut as “corny,” especially due to the added effects towards the track’s end. It was a rough start, but Henley and Frey would eventually find their groove, especially with albums like Desperado and One of These Nights.
By the time they reached On the Border, tensions with producer Glyn Johns created some friction within the band. Despite this, they found their rhythm again, crafting hits like ‘Take It to the Limit.’ As the album progressed, Henley felt they needed to explore a bluesier side. That’s when ‘After The Thrill is Gone’ emerged.
Written in the style of BB King’s ‘The Thrill is Gone,’ the track reflected the emotional stagnation of a relationship. Though it didn’t have the dramatic flair of some of their other hits, Henley considered it a standout.
Speaking on The Very Best of the Eagles, Henley described the song as an overlooked gem: “‘After The Thrill Is Gone’ is something of an overlooked song that I think is very good. It’s me and Glenn working together. He did the verses with a little help from me. I did the bridge.
As exciting as the whole Eagles thing was at times, some of the lustre was beginning to wear off. We were combining our personal and professional lives in song.”
Despite the creative tensions building between Henley and Frey, they would go on to create their masterpiece with Hotel California. However, the pressure of following up such a legendary album led to internal struggles, and by the time The Long Run was released, the band was nearing their breaking point. The tensions came to a head with a backstage blowout at a benefit concert, leading to the band’s eventual breakup.
Looking back, ‘After The Thrill is Gone’ feels eerily prophetic, capturing the emotional cost of the band’s collaboration. While it may not be as well-remembered as some of their other hits, the song represents a critical moment in the Eagles’ journey, showing a band on the cusp of both creative brilliance and inevitable collapse.
