Desperado

Eagles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1973
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000002GYW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,036 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #54 in Music > Classic Rock > Supergroups

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If ever a group of musicians had a clear vision of where they wanted to go and how to get there, it was these southern California boys who built a steady rolling FM hit factory on basic tenets of Gram Parsons's invention of country-rock. For their second album, the group decided concept was most important and set out to portray themselves as keepers of the old West--their outlaw image a natural for those born unto rock and roll soil. The hits are lazy, decadent, and unrepentant; "Tequila Sunrise" and the title track, feature the flawless harmonies and strong vocals of Glenn Frey and Don Henley. --Rob O'Connor

Product Description

Import pressing of their 1973 album Desperado. Vinyl replica CD comes housed in a slipcase. Rhino UK. 2006. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Eagles' Masterpiece, January 10, 2001

By 

Biker395 (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desperado (Audio CD)

I know this is not the majority opinion, but in my view, "Desperado" is easily the Eagles' best album and their most enduring work. "Desperado" is the Eagles' only "concept" album, and one of the best concept albums ever.

Besides a lyrical cohesiveness that far exceeds most "concept" albums, the musicianship demonstrated in this album eclipses anything the Eagles did before or after. It shows how much was lost when Bernie Leadon left the band.

The album presents the story of an outlaw using a loose historical reference to a member of the Doolin-Dalton gang at the turn of the century. The main character begins as a relative innocent with a taste for the fast life. He follows that instinct and finds himself unable or unwilling to break away from it. He senses it will overwhelm him, and in the end, it does.

The songs on the album have a subtle appeal ... they take time to appreciate, but both the lyrics and the melodies are superb. "Twenty-One" and "Out of Control" are terrific depictions of the life. Musically and lyrically, "Out of Control" is just that ... out of control. "Tequila Sunrise" and "Desperado" reflect the reality of the choices he's made ... when the lights are off and everyone goes home he's still all alone. He knows he's headed for trouble:

"You better let somebody love you, before it's too late."

In "Certain Kind of Fool", he chooses the wild life, but why?

"It wasn't for the money, at least it didn't start that way It wasn't for the running, but now he's running every day."

The transformation is complete in "Outlaw Man," which reflects the lonely reality of the wild life:

"All my friends are strangers, they quickly come and go; and all my love's in danger, cause I steal hearts and souls."

In the end, the life destroys him, "all alone in the center ring" and "with no time left to borrow." Musically, the last song on the album reprises the first: "Doolin Dalton." Here, the epilogue of his life and the reasons for his untimely end are made clear:

"The Queen of Diamonds let you down, she was just an empty fable; the Queen of Hearts you say you never met. Your twisted fate has found you out, and it's finally turned the tables; stole your dreams and paid you with regret."

Great stuff.

Hey, I know. It's only an album. Maybe it's because I spent a similar period of my life like a "Desperado" -- in a room full of people, yet somehow still alone. But I think it's a great album. Nothing the Eagles did before or since can touch it.

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Talk About Peaking Early . . ., July 27, 2004

By 

Gary Popovich "Retired Banjo Picker" (Chesterfield, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Desperado (Audio CD)

Hardcore fans will undoubtedly disagree, but for my money, The Eagles absolutely nailed it with "Desperado," which ranks with The Byrds "Sweethard of the Rodeo" and Gram Parsons' "Return of the Grevious Angel" as a high-water mark for '70's country rock.
Containing songs rich with Western/outlaw imagery, singers Glen Frey and Don Henley's trademark vocals were never better in delivering classics like "Tequila Sunrise," "Saturday Night," and the title track - and with Bernie Leadon still in the band, the authenticity of the group's country underpinnings were never stronger.

Once Leadon left, The Eagles became more of an arena band that tried to capture more of the mainstream rock audience (while still delivering the occasional country-tinged classic like "Lyin' Eyes" and "Best of My Love"). Obviously, they were wildly successful, but with the possible exception of "Hotel California," the band never again approached the creative genius that produced "Desperado."

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply The Best, March 23, 2002

By 

Burt Tschache "Curlybird" (Vernonia, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desperado (Audio CD)

The Eagles didn't invent country-rock, although all of them were involved with groups that dove into those deep, turbulent waters early on. What they did was evolve and perfect the form, taking it to new levels. Desperado is the quintessential country-rock album, a true masterpiece based loosely around the Doolin-Dalton gang. The songs lead one to the next in a seamless blend of musical styles. Folk, country, bluegrass and rock are all churned together to form something altogether different and wonderful.

Don Henley's plaintive Doolin-Dalton sets the tone for the album. Bernie Leadon's Twenty-One gives the sense of youthful exuberence and invincibility a real kickin' edge. Glen Frey's Out Of Control rocks your socks off with the boys comin' to town for a night of raucous amusement which then leads to the morning after, Tequila Sunrise. Desperado is a masterful ballad beautifully sung by Henley. Randy Meisner's Certain Kind Of Fool is the definitive song in drawing parallels between outlaws and musicians. The Doolin-Dalton instrumental shows off their accomplished pickin' skills and leads into Outlaw Man, another rocker sung by Frey. Saturday Night is some of the most beautiful close harmony ballad work ever heard. Leadon's Bitter Creek is a brilliant ballad, its stark acoustic pathos a warning to those that would venture the outlaw path. The Reprise ending the album just keeps going through my head even after fading completely.

If you are a fan of Country-Rock, this album is a must for your collection. It shows what can be done when a group of highly talented musicians write some great songs and capture the magic on tape. They blazed a trail for so many new artists to walk.