The Evolution of Lead Vocals in The Eagles' Album Shrines: Analyzed Through Glenn Frey’s Quotation
In the dynamic world of music, vocal participation plays a pivotal role in shaping an artist's legacy. For The Eagles, their vocal lineup evolved significantly over the course of their career. As Glenn Frey noted in 2013, 'If you listen to my vocal participation in the Eagles in the 1970s, I sang less and less. It was intentional: we had Don Henley. '
Believe It or Not: Tying for Most Leads on Eagles
One of the most intriguing points in the Eagles' vocal history is the Believe (1975) album. Interestingly, this album marked a shared leadership in lead vocals, with a surprising outcome. Glenn Frey and Randy Meisner each contributed three lead vocal tracks, while Bernie Leadon and Don Henley both brought two each. It was a collaborative effort, harkening back to a time when all members of the band were integral and each brought their unique vocal palette to the table.
A Transitional Era with Desperado
Desperado (1973) stands out as a critical transitional phase in the Eagles' vocal composition. This album introduced the pivotal partnership between Don Henley and Glenn Frey, marking a shift in the band's creative direction. In this album, Glenn Frey took the lead with three solo lead vocal tracks. However, when we consider the two songs with co-lead vocals, Henry and Frey ended up with four lead vocal spots each, making it a significant milestone in their evolving roles within the band.
On the Border: Another Shift in Leadership
On the Border (1974) can be seen as a continuation of the shift in vocal dynamics. The album saw a three-way tie between Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Randy Meisner with two lead vocal tracks each. When co-lead vocal songs are included, the tally swings back toward Henley and Frey, with both of them holding a total of five lead vocal spots. This album marked a pivotal moment when the band began to coalesce around the shared songwriting and vocal leadership of Henley and Frey.
The Rise of Don Henley: One of These Nights
One of These Nights (1975) can be credited as the album that saw Don Henley take the reins of vocal leadership. This was his first time holding the majority of both sole lead vocals (two) and shared lead vocals in the Eagles. The album marked a new chapter in the band's history, solidifying Henley's role as the prominent lead vocalist.
Hotel California: Henley's Definitive Lead
Hotel California (1976) was a landmark album that definitively placed Don Henley as the band's lead vocalist. This album boasted a solid five sole lead vocal credits and no shared leads, in contrast to Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, and Randy Walsh, each of whom contributed just one lead. Henley's dominance in this album not only solidified his position as the band's lead vocalist but also marked the beginning of his era as the primary singing voice for The Eagles.
Further Evolution with The Long Run
The Long Run (1980), while somewhat of a departure from the sound of Hotel California, still retained Henley's lead as the primary vocalist. Here, he once again demonstrated his vocal prowess with five sole lead vocal credits and a total of seven lead vocal spots. His competitors, Glenn Frey, Timothy Schmidt, and Randy Walsh, each contributed just one sole lead vocal, with Frey adding another two as a co-lead with Henley. Although the shift was not as one-sided as on Hotel California, it was still a significant endorsement of Henley's lead vocal abilities.
Hell Freezes Over: Henley's Dominance Holds
Hell Freezes Over (1988), despite being a more intimate and stripped-down affair, saw Henley maintain his dominant stance. Out of the four original tracks on the album, half of the tracks were his, with the other two tracks split between Frey and Schmidt. This further cemented Henley's status as the band's primary lead vocalist.
The Long Road Out of Eden: Frey's Redemption
The Long Road Out of Eden (2007), towards the latter part of their career, saw a resurgence in Glenn Frey's vocal contributions. Frey took the lead with five sole lead vocal tracks and another three as co-lead with Henley, demonstrating that the band's vocal dynamics remained fluid and evolving until the very end.
Conclusion
The vocal evolution of The Eagles over their career is a testament to both their collaborative spirit and individual musical strengths. Glenn Frey’s intentional reduction in lead vocal presence, as noted in his 2013 statement, reflects a strategic decision to support Don Henley’s natural vocal talents and leadership. The album analysis provided herein not only highlights this evolution but also underscores the importance of vocal dynamics in shaping the legacy of an iconic band.