Glenn Frey’s six favourite albums
The Eagles epitomise yacht rock, their smooth, laid-back sound embodying the sun-soaked, easygoing vibe of the 1970s. With breezy harmonies and pastel-soft soul, they struck gold during their heyday, amassing millions of fans and redefining West Coast rock. Their compilation, Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975), remains a towering achievement, still one of the best-selling albums in history.
Conquering the charts before their defining ‘Hotel California’, founding members Glenn Frey and Don Henley similarly dominated the 1980s with an even slicker pop offering, their respective ‘Boys of Summer’ and ‘The Heat Is On’ staples of corporate radio.
Speaking to Express in 2012, Frey revealed the six albums he loved the most while promoting his covers album After Hours. Starting safely with The Beach Boys’ opus Pet Sounds, Frey praised the record’s innovative production, stating: “John Lennon told Brian Wilson this was the greatest record he’d ever heard. It’s not three chords and an attitude. It’s so sophisticated. I was overwhelmed. ‘Caroline, No’, which is on my new album, and ‘God Only Knows’ are my favourites. Inspirational.”
Naturally jumping from one epochal LP to another, Frey picks The Beatles’ seminal Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band as the Fab Four LP closest to his heart: “The first concept album – you hear different things every time you play it. ‘Fixing A Hole’ and ‘Getting Better’ got me”.
Often hailed as the first concept album, despite largely setting aside the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band theme after ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’, there’s no doubt the record revolutionised music. It redefined the possibilities of the album as a cohesive art form, cementing its place as more than just a collection of songs and elevating it into a unified artistic statement. Frey added: “It’s unfettered writing. They taught me not to be afraid to write any kind of song.”
Originally part of country singer Linda Ronstadt’s backing band and appearing on her eponymous third LP, her turn to lounge on 1983’s What’s New featured in his collation: “Linda was our muse and a brave artist who followed her instincts. This album, the first of three with Nelson Riddle, is my benchmark. Songs such as ‘I’ve Got A Crush On You’ are perfect – well-written, infectious, beautifully sung.”
Selecting two titans of soul, Aretha Franklin’s Very Best of (all killer that album) is highlighted for its nostalgic magic: “I grew up in Detroit and used to hear her sing on her father’s gospel radio show,” he said, followed by Georgian R&B legend Otis Redding’s Live in Europe: “A great live album that captured the energy of his show. You hear the band, feel the crowd and his plaintive voice. ‘Try A Little Tenderness’ is a beautifully crafted song. The way they add instruments and intensity is amazing.”
Finally, Frey selects roots rock ensemble The Band. Playing since the 1950s as The Hawks, they achieved acclaim as part of Bob Dylan’s 1966 backing band, and their final concert film The Last Waltz by Martin Scorsese one of the most celebrated music features of all time.
Influencing everyone from Roger Waters to The Byrds and Eric Clapton, The Band’s 1968 debut, Music from Big Pink, made an impression on a young Frey: “We played this over and over. It wasn’t perfect, but it was funky with a unique pulse and sound. It had respect for black gospel music and a feeling of Americana, that Appalachian, rootsy thing. It was a landmark.”
Glenn Frey’s six favourite albums:
- Pet Sounds – The Beach Boys
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles
- What’s New – Linda Ronstadt
- Very Best of – Aretha Franklin
- Live in Europe – Otis Redding
- Music from Big Pink – The Band
