Desperado (Eagles song) explained

Desperado
Artist:Eagles
Album:Desperado
Released:April 17, 1973
Recorded:Early 1973
Studio:Island Studios (London, England)
Genre:
Label:Asylum
Producer:Glyn Johns

"Desperado" is a soft rock ballad by the American rock band the Eagles. The track was written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley, and appeared on the band's second studio album Desperado (1973) as well as numerous compilation albums. Although it was never released as a single, it became one of Eagles' best-known songs. It ranked No. 494 on Rolling Stones 2004 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[3]

Composition

According to Henley, "Desperado" was based on a song he started in 1968, written in the style of old songs by Stephen Foster.[4] The song was originally about a friend named Leo and with the opening line "Leo, my God, why don't you come to your senses..." In 1972, after they had recorded their debut studio album, Eagles, in London, Glenn Frey and Henley decided that they should write songs together, and within a day or two after returning from London they wrote "Desperado". They also wrote "Tequila Sunrise" in the first week of their collaboration.[5]

The piano introduction of the song is taken from Ray Charles' version of "Georgia On My Mind", which plays the same introduction on strings. In their first songwriting session at Henley's home in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, Henley played Frey the unfinished version of the song, and said: "When I play it and sing it, I think of Ray Charles and Stephen Foster. It's really a Southern Gothic thing, but we can easily make it more Western." According to Henley, Frey "leapt right on it  - filled in the blanks and brought structure", and the song became "Desperado". Henley added: "And that was the beginning of our songwriting partnership ... that's when we became a team."[6]

Recording

The song was recorded at Island Studios in London, with musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra was conducted by Jim Ed Norman, Henley's friend from his former band Shiloh, who also wrote and arranged the strings for the song.[7] [8] According to Henley, he was given only four or five takes to record the song by the producer Glyn Johns who wanted to record the album quickly and economically.[4] Henley felt intimidated by the large orchestra, and would later express regret that he did not sing as well as he could.[9] He said: "I didn't sing my best ... I wish I could have done that song again."[10]

Critical reception

"Desperado" is one of Eagles' most well-known songs, and it was ranked No. 494 on the Rolling Stones list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.[3] It was voted the second-most-favorite Eagles song in a poll of Rolling Stone readers.[11] In 2000, the song was included in MOJO magazine's list of greatest songs, nominated by songwriters such as Paul McCartney, Hal David, and Brian Wilson.[12] Members of the Western Writers of America included it in their list of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.[13] In 2017, Billboard ranked the song number two on their list of the 15 greatest Eagles songs,[14] and in 2019, Rolling Stone ranked the song number three on their list of the 40 greatest Eagles songs.[15]

According to an interview with Don Henley, "Desperado" was not a hit for the Eagles until Linda Ronstadt recorded it.[16]

William Ruhlmann of AllMusic considered it one of Eagles' major compositions.[17] [18] Paul Gambaccini of Rolling Stone felt it was Henley's rough voice that made the song memorable.[19] The Eagles' recording never charted on Billboard until the death of Glenn Frey, when it reached No. 20 on the Rock Digital Songs chart.[20] After the antagonist of the film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) claimed that "Brandy" by Looking Glass was "Earth's finest composition", that band's lead guitarist and songwriter Elliot Lurie countered that "Desperado" should have that title.[21]

Personnel

Eagles

Notable cover versions

In popular culture

The song inspired the title of the 1987 Western television film, Desperado, written by Elmore Leonard.[31] In season 4 episode 2 of Succession the song is referenced.[32] The song is also a plot device in the seventh episode of Seinfeld season 8.[33]

Notes and References

  1. Book: David . Horn . John . Shepherd . Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World . 2012 . 8 – Genres: North America . . 174 . 978-1-4411-6078-2.
  2. Book: Goldsmith, Melissa Ursula Dawn. Listen to Classic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre. 2019. 107. Abc-Clio . 9781440865794.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20061217025710/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/5 . December 17, 2006 . The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time . dead . Rolling Stone.
  4. Eagles' Complete Discography: Don Henley Looks Back . David . Browne. June 10, 2016 . Rolling Stone .
  5. Web site: Glenn Frey Tribute – Part 1. Travis Smiley . PBS . https://web.archive.org/web/20160227210128/https://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/interviews/glenn-frey-tribute-part-1/ . February 27, 2016 .
  6. Web site: Conversations With Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Cameron Crowe . August 2003 . The Uncool.
  7. Web site: The Eagles on Desperado: "We were quite taken with the idea of being outlaws..." . Graeme Thomson . May 21, 2014 . Uncut .
  8. Eagles Songs Get Country Coverage . Paul Verna . Billboard . July 10, 1993 .
  9. 10 Things We Learned From Billy Joel's Interview With Don Henley . Bob Doeschuk. September 21, 2015 . Rolling Stone .
  10. Web site: Desperado by Eagles . Song Facts.
  11. Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Eagles Songs . Rolling Stone . July 29, 2015 .
  12. News: Beatles head list of greatest songs . Colin Blackstock. July 13, 2000 . The Guardian.
  13. Web site: The Top 100 Western Songs. Western Writers of America. 2010. Western Writers of America. American Cowboy . https://web.archive.org/web/20101019002745/http://americancowboy.com/culture/top-100-western-songs. 19 October 2010. dead.
  14. The Eagles' 15 Best Songs: Critic's Picks. Gary. Graff. Billboard. October 17, 2017. April 8, 2022.
  15. The 40 Greatest Eagles Songs. Rolling Stone. September 22, 2019. April 8, 2022.
  16. [Laurel Canyon (documentary)|Laurel Canyon]
  17. Web site: Eagles: Desperado . William Ruhlmann . . Rovi Corporation .
  18. Web site: Song Review - Eagles: Desperado . William Ruhlmann . AllMusic .
  19. Desperado . Paul Gambaccini. May 10, 1973 . Rolling Stone .
  20. Rock Digital Songs . February 6, 2016 . Billboard .
  21. Web site: Phull. Hardeep. 'Guardians of the Galaxy 2' claims this song is 'Earth's finest composition'. New York Post. 2020-10-06. 2017-05-04. dmy-all.
  22. Web site: Johnny Rodriguez: Awards . AllMusic.
  23. Web site: Country Playlist: Volume 27, No. 1 . April 2, 1977 . . Library and Archives Canada.
  24. Hot Country Songs: November 27, 1993 . Billboard.
  25. Web site: Country Tracks: Volume 58, No. 24 . December 25, 1993 . . Library and Archives Canada.
  26. The Langley Schools Music Project's Innocence & Despair Turns 20 . October 21, 2021 . Stereogum.
  27. News: Premiere: Diana Krall covers 'Desperado' . Brian Mansfield . USA Today . September 22, 2014 .
  28. Jazz Digital Songs . October 11, 2014 . Billboard .
  29. Digital Songs . June 4, 2016 . Billboard .
  30. News: Entertainment Tonight. Miranda Lambert Covers The Eagles' 'Desperado' In Show-Stopping Kennedy Center Honors Performance. Sophie Schillaci. December 30, 2015.
  31. Walter Mirisch, I Thought We Were Making Movies, Not History (2008), p. 372.
  32. News: One surprising song links 'Succession,' 'Barry,' and 'The Last of Us' . Mashable.
  33. Web site: The Checks . 3 July 2024 . every time he hears the song "Desperado." . IMDB .

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