Hell Freezes Over - Eagles (Rock) (The) (CD 1994)

On April 25th 1994 The Eagles came together for a reunion concert after a gap of fourteen years that was to spark a world tour and produce a much acclaimed album release. This is a review of the video release of that concert, featuring the tracks that became the CD and also including bonus footage in the form of a documentary of the occasion. The concert was filmed at Warner Brothers Studios in front of an appreciative and well mannered audience.

The format I have is laserdisc but it has also been released on DVD. The sound quality of the disc is sparkling and clear; picture quality is excellent. The CD is a good testimony but full appreciation of such an event can only come from the fusion of sound and pictures. I regret that I was not able to be at one of those historic venues.

The original members of the group (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder and Timothy B Schmidt) were encouraged back together. They introduce the video with recollections of their feelings. They are shown in rehearsal as a group and with an orchestra. The show itself encompasses many older favourites from the heyday of the group as well as the introduction of new material.

The running order is as follows:

Hotel California
Tequila Sunrise
Help Me Through The Night
The Heart Of The Matter
Love Will Keep Us Alive
Learn To Be Still
Pretty Maids All In A Row
The Girl From Yesterday
Wasted Time
I Can t Tell You Why.
New York Minute
The Last Resort
Take It Easy
Life In The Fast Lane
In The City
Get Over It
Desperado

I have to admit that the opener, Hotel California, has never sounded better. The group are seated along the edge of the stage. There is a huge cheer when the melody comes in for the first time. I have played the original version and this one back to back in comparison. This live performance is crisp, all the inflections are there, the instrumentation is spot on.

Each member has at least one solo. Joe Walsh is backed by the orchestra (making its first appearance) in Little Maids . Don Henley also mounts the drum kit for the first time.

Don Henley gives a sterling performance sitting solo in the spotlight at the front of the stage for The Last Resort . He is joined by the rest of the group for the final chorus.

It is also a delight to see little nuances and other minor details that are just missed from the CD. Some of my favourites are:

Joe Walsh over emphasising his acoustic role in Hotel California . He hams it up behind Don Henley and out of his line of sight at the end of The Last Resort .
Don Henley using the back of a guitar as a drum.
Don Felder playing slide guitar on The Girl From Yesterday
Don Henley wearing a heavy strap on his left wrist and using one drum stick back to front.
There was some excellent solo work from all the guitarists which was depicted in close up shots of finger work by the cameraman. Most noticeable are Joe Walsh s riffs and fretwork in Lie In The Fast Lane .

The new songs are Love Will Keep Us Alive by Timothy B Schmidt; Learn To Be Still and Get Over It from Don Henley and The Girl From Yesterday from Glenn Frey.

The concert ends after Desperado with hugs and handshakes.

I placed this Eagles release at Number 3 in my Top Ten All Time Video Concert Greats. To see my other favourites please have a look at:

http://www.epinions.com/musc-review-793E-3C202201-3A202B45-prod6