glenn frey
1948-2016
As i said to my brother yesterday, "Is there a hole in your world?" Farewell glenn, you'll be missed. You'll also be resurrected more than most humans, your songs sure to be heard for many more decades (oops, that comment's for joe). One of the founding members of the Eagles, glenn deservedly rode that wave for the rest of his life, enjoying a successful solo career and eventual Eagle rebirth. He also painted pictures, took the occasional acting gig, and sang a perfect (and largely unrecognized) guest vocal on randy newman's "Short People". That he garnered as many solo raspberries as he did kudos is largely subjective nonsense, as the vagaries of fame are endless. Did some enjoy kicking glenn, just because he took away America's favorite band? History wants to re-write the Beach Boys into that slot, and it's a worthy debate, but much of the anti-Eagle sentiment is small-minded crap - anti-country snobbery, anti-intellectual snobbery, anti-California snobbery...for smart, multi-faceted music that evolved and endures, the Eagles take a back seat to no one. So was solo glenn gratuitously abused for what he wasn't, rather than what he was? His ex-partner don enjoyed greater success, but the concomitant anti-don backlash was more pointed as well. I myself once pooh-poohed glenn's work, but when judged fairly, he owes apologies to no one (except for taking lead vocal on the resurrection of "Take It to the Limit"). The only vaguely objective assessment for popular music is, does it pop into your head without prompting? By that measure, even glenn's worst (i'm looking at you, "Heat is On") had some sort of merit. The poet and social agitator in me always pulled me to henley, and in that light it's interesting to compare glenn and don to paul and john, the greatest musical duo from the other side of the pond (one even wonders whether the late-Beatle dominance of paul mirrors late-Eagle don, but the parallel doesn't stand up). A part of me wants to say that don's work is flat-out better, and probably it is...but maybe that just means he had more motivation, and knew better how to offset his own weaknesses, often using the Heartbreakers as both band and co-writers. Perhaps glenn wasn't chasing his own shadow so much. Or not - whatever the case, maybe glenn just had fun making music (with writing partner jack tempchin). And some of it's much better than you think.
NO FUN ALOUD (1982)
Flaccid and forgettable, with one balladeer gem ("The One You Love" - insipid, but undeniable).
THE ALLNIGHTER (1984)
A step in the right direction, as rocker glenn is back with a blues edge. Some consider "Sexy Girl" the pinnacle of frey saccharin stomach-churners, but stripped of all Eagle expectations, it's a well-crafted, fun song. And "Smuggler's Blues" burns the barn.
SOUL SEARCHIN' (1988)
Returning to the music that came out of the Detroit of his youth, frey made an album more listenable than its predecessors, with two standout singles.
STRANGE WEATHER (1992)
The best frey by far...and i say that not just because he channeled his inner henley. Unfortunately, no one was listening - i've yet to meet a single person who knows how great this one is. Long enough to be a double album, you might search for a weak link in vain, as track after track sinks into your consciousness. On a great album it can be hard for any song to stand out...but the exquisite "River of Dreams" manages that effortlessly.
LIVE (1993)
Had glenn released a live album earlier, it might now be held up as a classic example of what not to play at a party. And i suppose this one will never gain a hip cult following...but be glad he waited. I'm not promising there won't be moments when you'll wish for a tad less frey, but if you forget about "that band", you'll have a dandy time. Filmed in Dublin, he offers the perfect four songs off the new album, four from the catalog, and six Eagle tracks - including a respectable take on "Desperado". You might even abide that song from 48 HOURS. The standouts are "River of Dreams" and irish classic "Wild Mountain Thyme".
SOLO COLLECTION (1995)
Led off by three new tracks which show almost no fall-off from STRANGE WEATHER, the rest (except for "Heat...") is spot-on, largely because his less-successful fourth album gets more play than the previous three.
AFTER HOURS (2012)
In the american-songbook era, an album of standards from a heretofore rocking dinosaur is cause enough to tense up. But relax - this one's more nightclub than big band. Yes, there's an orchestra, but they play second fiddle to a jazz combo. And glenn's vocals are silky smooth. Along with the forties and fifties, he throws in a little brian wilson and randy newman, plus one original. Of course the lyrics are occasionally embarrassingly regressive - but if you can relax on that, let the smoky sounds carry you away.
Dream Set List
-Common Ground
-New Kid in Town
-This Way to Happiness
-Lyin' Eyes
-Smuggler's Blues
-Love in the 21st Century
-Here's to Life
-After the Thrill is Gone
-What Do I Do with My Heart
-Tequila Sunrise
-I've Got Mine
-Soul Searchin'
(encores)
-True Love
-River of Dreams
-Peaceful Easy Feeling
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