Having recently watched the first half of "History of the Eagles", I thought I'd post a list of my five favorite Eagles songs, with the caveat that I haven't heard any of their albums other than Hotel California and The Long Run in their entirety (and it's been many years since I heard the latter - not that most of the album tracks on that one were much good anyway). Three of the following songs are from Hotel California, but I know I'm not alone in considering that the peak of their career (also I lean to rock over country, and Hotel California is much more rock than the band's earlier material). I won't be delving into whether Glenn Frey and Don Henley were (or are) arrogant jerks or who was at fault for all the fights in the band. I will note that regardless of his personality, Henley strikes me as the most talented member of the group, both as a singer and a lyricist (he also has some of the best solo material), while Joe Walsh is definitely the coolest. Also, at the very least Henley and Frey do support many good causes. Whether they treated bandmates like Don Felder as well as they should have is another question.
Hotel California – With music by Don Felder and a melody and lyrics by Don Henley and Glenn Frey (the lyrics are mostly by Henley, I believe), this is of course the Eagles’ most famous song and their crowning achievement. The music and lyrics are great, as are the solos by Felder and Joe Walsh at the end. The song is no doubt overplayed on classic rock radio, but since I haven’t listened to classic rock radio in many years, that’s not an issue for me.
The Last Resort – Though credited to both Don Henley and Glenn Frey, Frey has said it was nearly all by Henley. Henley wasn't entirely satisfied with the music, but he was justifiable proud of the lyrics. These really are great, equal to those in "Hotel California", concisely tearing apart humankind's tendency to destroy every place it goes to, while getting digs in at the concept of manifest destiny and at religion. The music, while a simple progression, works well, and Henley's singing is superb, especially at the end. It really is, as Frey called it, "Henley's opus".
Take It to the Limit – This song was written by bassist Randy Meisner with Frey and Henley, and Meisner sang lead. It was the band's biggest hit up to that time, and deservedly so, with a great chorus and nice vocals from Meisner.
Life in the Fast Lane – This song was based on a riff by guitarist Joe Walsh and finished up by Frey and Henley. One of the Eagles' hardest rocking songs, and a good example of what Walsh brought to the band.
One of These Nights – This song by Henley and Frey is another showcase for Don Henley's vocals, and has a great melody.
Other favorites by the Eagles, in no particular order: I Can’t Tell You Why, Witchy Woman, Take It Easy, James Dean, Pretty Maids All in a Row, The Long Run, Already Gone, Get Over It, Seven Bridges Road
