The Eagles song Don Henley called the end of an era: “We could feel it passing”
Every band has an expiration date, though they rarely recognise it at the time. While some, like The Beatles, manage to grow even more influential after their time in the spotlight, most rising stars shine only briefly before the public moves on to the next emerging talent. Don Henley was acutely aware that the Eagles were nearing the end of their journey when they recorded their final album, The Long Run. The track ‘The Sad Cafe’ was crafted as a poignant farewell, reflecting on the glory days of their career with a sense of bittersweet nostalgia.
For the past few years, though, it looked like nothing could have stopped the California rockers from conquering the entire music world. Henley may have started his songwriting career with Glenn Frey on tracks like ‘Desperado,’ but once they hit classics like ‘Already Gone’ and ‘One of These Nights,’ they took a major leap forward. No more country rock; this was just pure rock and roll.
When they hit Hotel California, even their greatest detractors couldn’t deny what they had created. Outside of the heavenly harmonies and themes about the darker side of Hollywood, Henley and Frey had crafted an elaborate concept record based on the seedy side of fame and what it can do to someone if they aren’t fully prepared to take the plunge.
But once they returned for The Long Run, they were in danger of becoming the casualty they had written about. Bassist Randy Meisner had become so burnt out that he left the group midway through the tour, and while Timothy B Schmitt was a worthy successor, ‘I Can’t Tell You Why’ wasn’t going to be able to carry an entire project.
Although the title track and ‘King of Hollywood’ were still firm commentaries on what life was like after becoming famous, ‘The Sad Cafe’ is the inverse of a track like ‘The Last Resort’. Whereas Henley was talking about the tragedy of people neglecting the environment in the previous record, this was a gloomy look at the scene they came from going to hell.
They could still go to the same bars with their friends, but Henley knew that it would never be the same for them after they became famous, telling Rolling Stone, “‘The Sad Cafe’ was inspired by the Troubadour and Dan Tana’s restaurant. We could feel an era passing. The crowd that hung out in the Troubadour and the bands that were performing there were changing. The train tracks that had run down the middle of Santa Monica Boulevard had been ripped out. Those remarkable freewheeling times were receding into the distance.”
Given how their star was fading, it wasn’t shocking why the band eventually fell out following a benefit concert midway through the tour. The camaraderie amongst everyone had fallen by the wayside a long time ago, and there was no real indication that it would be coming back any time soon.
Then again, every group has their peak, and even if they didn’t realise it would end so quickly, ‘The Sad Cafe’ is a cold eulogy for those fun times they spent around the Troubadour. It might be fun to reminisce, but this track is a reminder that one can never go back and relive it all over again.
