The Eagles’ Glenn Frey on the “greatest American vocal band”
Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon, the three classic songwriters of the Eagles, rose to prominence in the early 1970s with an exceedingly popular brand of country-infused rock music. With chart-busting hits like ‘Take It Easy’ and ‘One of These Nights’, they became one of the world’s most beloved and successful acts by the mid-1970s
Despite the band’s unmitigated success following 1975’s One of These Nights, Leadon decided to leave the band. He was replaced by former James Gang guitarist Joe Walsh, who would contribute handsomely to the 1976 masterpiece Hotel California, an album that cemented the Eagles’ immortal legacy as one of the 20th century’s most influential pop-rock acts.
Most directly, the Eagles were a huge inspiration for Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, without whom Fleetwood Mac may never have enjoyed its most successful run through the late 1970s. “The Eagles were very inspirational to both Lindsey and I because we loved their singing,” Stevie Nicks once said. “And we loved their ability to bridge country and rock and roll so beautifully.”
Tracing this verdant evolutionary trail back to the 1950s and ’60s, the Eagles were, in turn, inspired by folk and country rock artists, including Gram Parsons, The Byrds, Fairport Convention, Simon & Garfunkel, The Rolling Stones and Crosby, Stills Nash & Young. Beyond melodious acoustic instrumentals, however, the Eagles’ towering vocal harmonies were chiefly a result of an infatuation with surf-rock stalwarts The Beach Boys.
During the Eagles’ 2014 concert at the Forum, Frey gave a nod to their fellow Californians, humbly comparing their respective legacies. “The Beach Boys were pioneers,” he said. “The Eagles were settlers.” In this statement, Frey honoured Brian Wilson and his band of brothers for laying the foundations from which the Eagles soared.
Frey seemed to concede that, despite the Eagles’ equal degree of popularity and success, The Beach Boys were the true innovators. “The Beach Boys were a huge influence on all of the Eagles; we consider them to be the greatest American vocal band ever. We admire their work and Brian in particular,” Frey said in a quote on Brian Wilson’s website.
Continuing, the Eagles’ co-lead vocalist picked out one of his favourite songs by The Beach Boys. “Well, first of all, when you start to break [‘Caroline, No’] down, you appreciate just how good the chord changes are, and the melody, and it’s a beautifully written song,” he said.
Listen to ‘Caroline, No’ by The Beach Boys below.
