Maps of Music

On the Border (1974)

Where the lyrics of On the Border take you, and where it was really made.

The album's first two-plus months of sessions in London were scrapped; only two tracks survived, and the band finished the record in California and Miami.

Key places

Initial sessions at Olympic Studios (1974)

Recording site Olympic Studios — The album was first produced by Glyn Johns and recorded at Olympic Studios in London. The band later discarded most of these recordings. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Rest of the album at Criteria Studios (1974)

Recording site Criteria Studios — The band recorded the rest of the album at Criteria Studios in Miami after hiring Bill Szymczyk. The studio is one of two locations for the remaining sessions. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Rest of the album at Record Plant (1974)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The band recorded the rest of the album at the Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles sessions were one of two locations for the remaining recording. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• On the Border: third studio album by American rock band the Eagles
• Released March 22, 1974
• First Eagles album to feature guitarist Don Felder
• Reached number 17 on the Billboard album chart; has sold two million copies
• Three singles: "Already Gone", "James Dean", "Best of My Love"
• "Best of My Love" reached number 1, the band's first of five chart toppers

Background

• Initially produced by Glyn Johns; most of the album produced by Bill Szymczyk
• Band wanted a more rock-oriented sound instead of the country-rock feel of the first two albums
• Disagreement with Johns over the band's sound and his no-drug policy during recording
• Six weeks of London recording discarded except two usable tracks
• Band returned to California and hired Szymczyk, who had produced Joe Walsh's album The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get

Recording

• Initial sessions at Olympic Studios in London
• Rest of the album recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami and Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles
• Band had more input and more freedom with Szymczyk
• Szymczyk suggested a harder-edged guitarist for slide guitar on "Good Day in Hell"; Bernie Leadon suggested Don Felder
• Felder credited as a late arrival in the liner notes

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971.
• Founding members were Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner, all first recruited as musicians for Linda Ronstadt.
• They signed to David Geffen's Asylum Records in September 1971.
• The name was reportedly suggested by Leadon, though accounts vary.

Members

• Founding members: Glenn Frey (guitar, vocals), Don Henley (drums, vocals), Bernie Leadon (guitar, vocals), Randy Meisner (bass, vocals).
• Don Felder joined in 1974 as guitarist; Joe Walsh replaced Leadon in 1975; Timothy B. Schmit replaced Meisner in 1977.
• Frey died in January 2016; Meisner died in July 2023.

Career

• The band has five number-one singles and six number-one albums in the US, and six Grammy Awards.
• Estimated sales exceed 200 million records worldwide; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
• Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) and Hotel California are among their best-selling albums.
• The band broke up in 1980, reunited in 1994 for Hell Freezes Over, and released Long Road Out of Eden in 2007.
• The band announced a farewell tour in 2023 and held a Sphere residency in Las Vegas from 2024.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Janet Maslin of Rolling Stone called the album competent and commercial
• Maslin found it disappointing next to the potential shown on Desperado
• Maslin said three guitarists produced too many intrusive guitar parts and too many solos with gratuitous heaviness
• Maslin still called it a tight and likable collection with nine potential singles

Reappraisal

• William Ruhlmann of AllMusic noted the R&B direction of the title track, which later albums pursued more fully
• Ruhlmann called it a transitional effort that combined more styles than most of the band's records

Records

• Debuted at number 50 on the US Billboard 200 in its first week
• Peaked at number 17 in its sixth week on the chart
• Certified Gold by the RIAA about two and a half months after release
• Certified double platinum for 2 million shipments on March 20, 2001
• Became the band's most successful album of the three released up to that point

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album is the earliest Eagles release issued in Quadraphonic surround sound, on Quadraphonic 8-track tape and CD-4 LP
• Some vinyl LP copies carry a hidden message carved into the run-out groove
• The title track was inspired by the Watergate scandal and fears of government overreach; Glenn Frey can be heard whispering a line near the end
• Henley called the title track a clumsy, incoherent attempt, written while the band was still learning to write
• Best of My Love became the band's biggest hit thus far after the label cut the song without the band's approval

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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