Best Eagles Vocalist
 

The Eagles were not short on vocalists throughout the years. I find it astounding how one band can have so many very competent and a few exceptional vocalists. The two giants, though, were Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Two differnet styles and two different sounds kept this band interesting and fresh. But, I cannot overlook some of the other great vocalists who contributed very much to the band's success. Which is your favorite? Why?

Don Henley, also drummer
examples: (Hotel California, One of These Nights, Life In The Fast Lane)

Glenn Frey, also guitar
examples: (Tequila Sunrise, Heartache Tonight, Already Gone)

Randy Meisner, also bass
examples: (Take It To The Limit, Certain Kind of Fool, Take The Devil)

Bernie Leadon, also guitar
examples: (Earlybird, Train Leaves Here This Morning, Bitter Creek)

Joe Walsh, replaced Bernie Leadon, guitar and keyboards
examples: (In the City, Pretty Maids All In a Row)

Timothy B. Schmit, replaced Randy Meisner, bass
examples: (I Can't Tell You Why)

I would have to give my favorite more to Don Henley. Though I love Glenn Frey's easy to listen to, soft, country tinged voice, I think I prefer Don Henley's more exciting rock tinged voice.

Glenn Frey definately for me, I like his solo work better too. Good call on Tequila Sunrise, which also happens to be my favorite Eagles song.

People really underrate this group, I have to say, they were not only a talented band but every member was a talented individual songwriter.

Joe Walsh has the best solo career, hands down, and he played for The James Gang who were awesome. But I have to agree with Crash. Glenn had the best vocals.

Really Nice Original Post.

I'm not going to break the streak here. It's Glenn Frey for me, Henley is the only one that really bothers me. You cited three great examples of why I like his voice best.

I know we disagree on this Boo Boo, I wouldn't argue their individual and collective talents and for all I complain I still like the band, but all that aside they made a lot of safe, often boring and average at best (for the place they hold in music lore) music.

So I think they are over rated if anything, maybe more over looked then then under rated by the younger generation.

Thanks for the votes and comments so far, everyone. Ahhh yes, what a great song Tequila Sunrise is. Crash Override--Are you familiar with the fishing worm bait that is called Tequila Sunrise? I always buy that kind just because of the name.

Thanks JJJ. Yes, I have to agree that they have put out some yawners in their day, but when they put out as much music as they did it is bound to happen. Just think about how many hits they have put out, though. Lots. Too many to list here. Another reason why I picked Don Henley is because I find that the more exciting songs have just so happed to have him singing the lead vocals.

No I am not familiar with it. Actually, despite living in a huge fisherman community for a while (shelter island) I'm not much of a fisherman. Tequila Sunrise is one of my favorite ****tails though just because of the name. Now drinking, that's something I know a thing or two about. :p:

They're the band virtually everyone hates, and they don't deserve to be. I don't see how that's overrated.

Well then, if thats the case, I suppose you've had a few Tequila sunrises in your day, huh. :laughing:

edit: to crash override

There haver been a few magazine polls that rate them the best american band of all time. I think maybe thats what he's referring to.

Magazines for really old people probably.

Haha, I believe it was like Blender and Spin or something like that.

Lol.

I'd hardly doubt Blender or Spin take kindly to The Eagles, they're phony corporate music mags that try to appeal to hipsters and to appeal to that demographic, Eagles bashing is pretty much mandatory.

Which reminds me, have you ever read Alternative Press? Worst f*cking music magazine ever.

No I've never read it. I normally stray away from those types of magazines. I used to have subscriptions to Bass Player and Guitar World for the tab lessons but I didn't renew.

It's a generational thing.

Everyone my age loves them, thinks they are fantastic.

A lot of my friends consider them one of the best (or at least their favorite) bands of all-time.

Sounds like you have cool friends.

Well played, I think I am cornered.

I can't say my friends are uncool or I am uncool

and thinking my friends are cool must mean I think the Eagles are cool.

Well that's it, I fucking Love the Eagles

Check Mate

Ha, got ya. jk catch 22's are a bitch.

Hahaha. A whopping 5 votes, I honestly thought there were more Eagles fans out there, or at least people who could tolerate them.

Look, I've had a long night, and I ****ing hate the Eagles, man...

You don't like my music? Get outta my ****in' cab!

a big lebowsky reference AND a vote for Don Henley. This thread is lookin up

Yeah, the back cabbie who loves The Eagles. He should have his own movie.

Life In The Fast Lane?







No?

haha. You whippersnapper you

Oh man this is getting intense, its neck and neck!

I like Joe Walsh away from the Eagles best of all, but I'm not sure he's a real good singer.

"I got to parties sometimes until four, it's hard to leave when you can't find the door"

Let that gem ring in your memory.

But really, James Gang was great and solo he had the best good music\junk ratio.

No votes, 50 *******s have an opinion on Nickelback and 8 on the best vocalist from one of the greatest of all-time in their genre(s).

Eagles get so much hate man.

I'm like the black taxi driver in Big Lebowski.

"Get the f*ck out of my cab."

It's worse then hate, it's apathy.

I was wrong, you were right, they are not over rated anymore.

What do you think about James Gang and Walsh' solo stuff?

Haven't heard anything outside of the hits, but yeah I really like what I've heard from James Gang.

Thats so funny you say that...because go look at my latest journal entry. Great minds think alike. :)

I like em all, but I think Henley and Frey are the best voices in the group.

What?

That makes no sense

Not being a fan of country rock The Eagles and some of Neil Young`s stuff are about as near as I get to it (The Eagle`s country stuff mostly seems to be evident on their pre-Hotel California stuff) Certainly agree with the OP about the contrast between Glenn Frey and Don Henley`s voices and to be fair few groups have been blessed with such a variety of great vocalists like the Eagles have. My favourite song by the Eagles is sung by Timothy B.Schmit " I can`t tell you why"

Favourite member though is Joe Walsh but that`s because he was in the James Gang.:band:

Thanks for voting Unknown Soldier, I'm blown away that Schmit has gotten two votes in the past day. I wasn't expecting that since he does the vocals for one song only, but I agree with you that "I Can't Tell You Why" is a good one. No doubt about that.

I`ve always been amazed, that he only did the vocals on one Eagles song!!!

I know he was in Poco before the Eagles but given that I listened to some of Poco`s stuff about 10 years ago, I really don`t have an opinion on him from his Poco days.

Glenn Frey IMO

I voted for Henley, because he's the lead vocal on my favorite song by anyone, "Hotel California". But I also like Glenn Frey and Randy Meisner. Meisner's tenor is gorgeous on "Take It To The Limit" from 1975's *One of These Nights*.

"Tequila Sunrise", from the 1973 album *Desperado*, is a great song as well.

Jim

Joe Walsh
 

My personal favorite is Don Henley, but the most distinctive vocalist, in my opinion, is Joe Walsh. His harmony is so unique and all Joe Walsh, I always liked the Eagles as one of my picks for the all time 'best of the best'. I am going to suggest that Joe Walsh might be underrated as a guitarist also.

Best Eagles Vocalist
 

Glenn Fry IMO. I liked his work on Lyin' Eyes.

Don, I guess

i don't fucking hate the Eagles, like Le Dude, but neither am I a fan, i thought the Desert Rose Band did this kinda stuff better anyway

He might be underrated, but Pete Townsend was always a huge fan of his work when he fronted the James Gang.

The Desert Rose Band came out much later than the Eagles and the Chris Hillmen connection to the Byrds gives them credibility. The nearest band to the Eagles was probably Poco who never got the fame that the Eagles achieved.