The Long Run - Eagles (Rock) (The) (CD)

"The Long Run" was the Eagles' 1979 followup to the Heaven-sent "Hotel California." It yielded half an album's worth of singles. Many people were quite unimpressed with "The Long Run." Acknowledged, it's weird. But I don't see anything wrong with it.
The Eagles were at the time comprised of the likes of Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder, and Tim B. Schmit. After they finished this album and toured for it, they broke up, and that was it for this late seventies staple band. "The Long Run" marks this ending point.

It starts off with its title track- an optimistic story, and freakin' happy song. Doesn't Henley sound like a charmer...and I love it when Joe Walsh plays that slide, the guy can make magic with a guitar.
There is superior Joe Walsh song "In The City," featuring a little bit of harmonizing by the boys, and sprinkled with like eleven rare but well-placed piano notes.

"I Can't Tell You Why" is performed by light-voiced Tim Schmit, and finished up with some Glenn Frey guitar. It's a low and murky sound, not the most joyful at all, but one of the Eagles' best.
There's "Heartache Tonight," or, The Glenn Frey Yelling Song. Almost as cute as "The Long Run" but not so dearly lighthearted...listen to that bass! Rock out. "Moon shinin' bright/ So turn out the light/ And we'll get it right!" Great group effort. Leave what in the parking lot?

And there's "Those Shoes," or, 'he just said jerkoffs!' Putting the raunch on with the great obscene talking guitars. It tries to come off as mean, but is more entertaining. Classic attitude-filled Eagles song.
"The Disco Strangler." As oddball as its title, with a very strange vocal setup, seems like Henley's speaking in a singing voice. Trouble is, it ends before it's finished. If it was longer, though, it wouldn't be as interesting.

Frey and Henley take the lead together on "King of Hollywood," and it results in a very weird vibe. Frey goes way low, and Henley stays up high, as he often does, and it sounds like one voice that's distorted and cut into two echoes. It sounds magnificent, and draws attention away from the monotonous guitar arrangement.

"Teenage Jail" sounds like early-80's "metal" all brash and gloomily wailing, while they tap out the beat to "Pretty Maids All In A Row." This track doesn't even come to a full stop before the next one, "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks," starts. The Eagles can really be goofballs sometimes, but bring in Jimmy Buffett and it only encourages them. This is the story of a frat; I don't know why they are singing about that of all things, or even just what they are trying to say. It's sort of funny though.

We wrap up with a "Last Resort" of sorts, the sweet and easy "The Sad Cafe." It's totally Eagles, but fades away with saxophone.

"The Long Run" doesn't live up to "Hotel California," in my opinion, but many fans liked the different flavor offered in this album. Despite any disappointment, it's a necessary part of the Eagles collection, and has some of their best songs within it. It's good in its own right.