The Long Run (song)

Last updated

"The Long Run"
TheLongRun45.jpg
Single by Eagles
from the album The Long Run
B-side "The Disco Strangler"
ReleasedNovember 27, 1979
Genre
Length3:42
Label Asylum
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Bill Szymczyk
Eagles singles chronology
"Heartache Tonight"
(1979)
"The Long Run"
(1979)
"I Can't Tell You Why"
(1980)

"The Long Run" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and recorded by the Eagles. The sound of the song is viewed as a tribute to the Stax / Memphis rhythm and blues sound. [2] It was the title track of their album The Long Run and was released as a single in November 1979. It reached No. 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in early 1980. [3] It was the second of three singles released from The Long Run album, preceded by "Heartache Tonight," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1979, and followed by "I Can't Tell You Why," which also reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, in the spring of 1980. [3]

Contents

Composition

According to Don Henley, "The Long Run" was written in part as a response to press articles that said the Eagles were "passé" as disco was then dominant and punk emerging, inspiring lines such as "Who is gonna make it/ We'll find out in the long run". He also said that irony was part of the inspiration, as the song is about longevity and posterity while the group "was breaking apart, imploding under the pressure of trying to deliver a worthy follow-up to Hotel California ". [4]

Reception

Billboard describes "the Long Run" as "a midtempo rocker with a rather straightforward rhythmic delivery and a catchy lyrical hook towards the end." [5] Billboard also praised the "tight, well crafted orchestration. [5] Cash Box said that the song is an "upbeat cut" but that "Don Henley's raspy vocals suggest subtle tension with the theme of survival." [6] Record World praised "Henley's affecting vocals." [7] In his book The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made, music critic Dave Marsh called the song a complete ripoff of the 1972 R&B record "Tryin' to Live My Life Without You". [8]

Music video

A music video was produced from the song, featuring the band playing in a staged recording session. The line-up was the same as the studio version, except that Joe Vitale plays the Hammond organ in place of Don Felder, and no electric piano is featured. [9]

Personnel

Chart performance

Cover versions

Related Research Articles

<i>The Long Run</i> (album) 1979 studio album by the Eagles

The Long Run is the sixth studio album by American rock group the Eagles. It was released in 1979 by Asylum Records in the United States and the United Kingdom. This was the first Eagles album to feature bassist Timothy B. Schmit, who had replaced founding member Randy Meisner, and the last full studio album to feature Don Felder before his termination from the band in 2001.

<i>Eagles Live</i> 1980 live album by Eagles

Eagles Live is the first live album by the American rock band Eagles, a two-LP set released on November 7, 1980. Although the Eagles were already in the process of breaking up, the band owed Elektra/Asylum Records one more album and fulfilled that contractual obligation with a release of performances from the Hotel California and The Long Run tours.

<i>But Seriously, Folks...</i> 1978 studio album by Joe Walsh

But Seriously, Folks... is the fourth studio album by the American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh. The album was released in mid-1978, on the Asylum label. It included the satirical song "Life's Been Good". The original 8:04 album version of this track was edited down to 4:35 for single release, and this became Walsh's biggest solo hit, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>There Goes the Neighborhood</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Joe Walsh

There Goes the Neighborhood is the fifth solo studio album by the American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and sometime-guitarist for the Eagles, Joe Walsh. The album was released in May 1981, by Asylum Records, three years after Walsh's album But Seriously, Folks... (1978).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Tell You Why</span> 1980 single by Eagles

"I Can't Tell You Why" is a song by the American rock band Eagles that appeared on their 1979 album The Long Run. It was written by band members Timothy B. Schmit, Glenn Frey and Don Henley. Recorded in March 1978, it was the first song finished for the album and the first Eagles song to feature Schmit on lead vocals. Released as a single in February 1980, it became a Billboard top 10 hit in April, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Adult Contemporary chart. It was the group's last top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Best of My Love (Eagles song)</span> 1974 single by the Eagles

"Best of My Love" is a song written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and J. D. Souther. It was originally recorded by the Eagles, and included on their 1974 album On the Border. The song was released as the third single from the album, and it became the band's first Billboard Hot 100 number 1 single in March 1975. The song also topped the easy listening chart for one week a month earlier. Billboard ranked it as the number 12 song for 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurts So Good</span> 1982 single by John Cougar

"Hurts So Good" is a song by American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, then performing under the stage name "John Cougar". The song was a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for the singer/songwriter. It was the first of three major hit singles from his 1982 album American Fool. The others were "Jack & Diane" and "Hand to Hold On To," which were all released in 1982. The song was also a critical success with Mellencamp, winning the Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male at the 25th Grammy Awards on February 23, 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One of These Nights (Eagles song)</span> 1975 single by Eagles

"One of These Nights" is a song by the American rock band Eagles, written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey. The title track from their 1975 One of These Nights album, the song became their second single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart after "Best of My Love" and also helped propel the album to number one. The single version was shortened from the album version of the song, removing most of the song's intro and most of its fade-out, as well. Henley is lead vocalist on the verses, while Randy Meisner sings high harmony on the refrain. The song features a guitar solo by Don Felder that is "composed of blues-based licks and sustained string bends using an unusually meaty distortion tone."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Kid in Town</span> 1976 single by Eagles

"New Kid in Town" is a song by the Eagles from their 1976 studio album Hotel California. It was written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther. Released as the first single from the album, the song reached number one in the U.S. and number 20 in the UK. The single version has an earlier fade-out than the album version. Frey sings the lead vocals, with Henley providing the main harmony vocals. Randy Meisner plays the guitarrón mexicano, Don Felder plays electric guitars, and Joe Walsh plays the electric piano and organ parts. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartache Tonight</span> 1979 single by Eagles

"Heartache Tonight" is a song written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bob Seger and J. D. Souther, recorded by the Eagles and features Glenn Frey on lead vocals. The track was included on their album The Long Run and released as a single in 1979. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in November of that year and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America representing one million copies sold. It was the Eagles' final chart-topping song on the Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyin' Eyes</span> 1975 song by the Eagles

"Lyin' Eyes" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and recorded in 1975 by the American rock band Eagles, with Frey singing lead vocals. It was the second single from their album One of These Nights, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 8 on the Billboard Country chart. It remained their only top 40 country hit until "How Long" in 2007–2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Dean (song)</span> 1974 single by Eagles

"James Dean" is a song written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Jackson Browne, and J. D. Souther, and recorded by the American rock band Eagles for their 1974 album On the Border. It was the second single released from this album, reaching number 77 on the U.S. pop singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take It to the Limit (Eagles song)</span> 1975 single by Eagles

"Take It to the Limit" is a song by Eagles from their fourth album One of These Nights from which it was issued as the last third single on November 15, 1975. It reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and was also Eagles' greatest success to that point in the United Kingdom, going to No. 12 on the charts. Billboard ranked it as the No. 25 song for 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life in the Fast Lane</span> 1977 single by the Eagles

"Life in the Fast Lane" is a song written by Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey and Don Henley, and recorded by American rock band Eagles for the band's fifth studio album Hotel California (1976). It was the third single released from this album, and peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tequila Sunrise (Eagles song)</span> 1973 single by Eagles

"Tequila Sunrise" is a song from 1973, written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, and recorded by the Eagles. It was the first single from the band's second album, Desperado. It peaked at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who Loves You (song)</span> 1975 single by The Four Seasons

"Who Loves You" is the title song of a 1975 album by The Four Seasons. It was composed by Bob Gaudio and Judy Parker and produced by Gaudio. It reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Will Keep Us Alive</span> 1994 single by Eagles

"Love Will Keep Us Alive" is a song written by Jim Capaldi, Paul Carrack, and Peter Vale and recorded by American rock band the Eagles. It was first performed by the Eagles in 1994, during their Hell Freezes Over reunion tour, with lead vocals by bassist Timothy B. Schmit. This is the last single to feature Don Felder, who was terminated from the band in 2001. The song was nominated at the 38th Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Over It (Eagles song)</span> 1994 single by Eagles

"Get Over It" is a song by the Eagles released as a single in 1994 after a fourteen-year breakup. It was also the first song written by bandmates Don Henley and Glenn Frey when the band reunited. "Get Over It" was played live for the first time during their Hell Freezes Over tour in 1994. It returned the band to the U.S. top 40 after a fourteen-year absence, peaking at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also hit No. 4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song was not played live by the Eagles after the Hell Freezes Over tour. It remains the group's last top 40 hit in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breakdown Dead Ahead</span> 1980 single by Boz Scaggs

"Breakdown Dead Ahead" is a 1980 song recorded by Boz Scaggs, and composed by Scaggs and David Foster. It was the lead single of two released from Scaggs's album Middle Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride)</span> Song by Don Felder

"Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride)" is a song by Eagles guitarist Don Felder with lead vocals sung by Don Felder with backing vocals sung by Timothy B. Schmit and Don Henley. It is the theme song of the animated film Heavy Metal, not to be confused with the song of the same title by Sammy Hagar, also included on the same movie soundtrack. The B-side, "All of You", is also a track on the movie's soundtrack album.

References

  1. Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2001). All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN   9780879306274.
  2. Ruhlmann, William. "The Long Run > Review". Allmusic . Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Long Run > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  4. Browne, David (June 10, 2016). "Eagles' Complete Discography: Don Henley Looks Back". Rolling Stone.
  5. 1 2 "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. December 1, 1979. p. 52. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  6. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 1, 1979. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  7. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 1, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  8. Dave Marsh (7 May 1999). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Hachette Books. p. 332. ISBN   9780306809019 . Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  9. Eagles - The Long Run (1979) Video , retrieved 2023-09-05
  10. "RPM Volume 32 No. 19, February 02 1980". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  11. "RPM Volume 32 No. 19, February 02 1980". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  12. "Eagles - The Long Run". charts.nz. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  13. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 175. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  14. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 77.
  15. "Cash Box Top 100 2/02/80". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  16. "Top 100 Singles (1980)". RPM. Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  17. "Top 100 Hits of 1980/Top 100 Songs of 1980". www.musicoutfitters.com.
  18. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1980". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-28. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  19. "Untitled". www.oocities.org.