A new wave of rock music, popularised by The Eagles, swept through America and eventually the rest of the world. It was indisputable that their fusion of rock and country was unlike anything that people had ever heard. People still grin when they hear certain Eagles songs today. They haven’t had any trouble selling out arenas on their farewell tour, which is evidence of how well-suited a lot of the band’s material is.
Don Henley was the driving force behind the band’s work; he had a remarkable approach to songwriting. He was able to capture moments in time that no one else could. He approached each song with a specific goal, making them distinct and unique in their own right. This indicates that he has an interesting and varied discography.
The Eagles, in crafting their most famous song “Hotel California,” deliberately aimed for a unique sound and lyrical concept. Glenn Frey recollects collaborating on that song with Henley, stating, “We don’t know what that song was about, but everybody wants to know.”
They “wanted to write a song that was sort of like an episode of the Twilight Zone,” he continues. It was just one shot after another: a motorist on the motorway, a hotel, the man entering, the door opening, strange people. The song turned out to be a hit, catapulting the Eagles to a degree of fame that they managed to hold for a while with additional hits.
Given that you’ve released so many excellent songs, which is your best? Henley’s level of pride in a track was largely independent of its level of success. It was more about his perspective and what he was attempting to accomplish with his music.
In the 1980s, Henley was asked which songs he was most proud of. He mentioned his solo albums. He also included a few Eagles songs in his response. These works captured a period of transition for him. During this time, he established himself as a successful songwriter independently of his collaboration with Frey. Many people viewed Henley and Frey as the John Lennon and Paul McCartney of country rock. People saw trying to succeed as a solo artist after the Eagles broke up as risky for Don Henley. Having said that, Henley put out a few successful albums that solidified his reputation as an Eagles member and as a solo musician.
“I was nervous about the first album because it was my first solo album and I wasn’t sure if I could quite do it, you know. I’m particularly proud of this song ‘Lilah’, which is about the war in Northern Ireland,” he said. “And err, I’m pretty proud of this new album.” I tried to stretch myself a little bit, took more chances, and was much more confident this time. I believe we succeeded in that.
