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Rating:
A classic.
Is there anything else to say about "The Long Run" by the Eagles? Ten songs that slide away with pleasure, genuine sounds in all departments (special mention to the guitars, played by four out of five band members), freshness in the vocal parts, incisive and refined arrangements. The only thing that can be criticized about this album, released in 1979, is that it marks the end of the Californian group, as perhaps the gloomy cover suggested: "The Long Run" is indeed the sixth and final studio album of the band, followed by a live album released in 1980 ("Eagles Live") and then nothing more, well not exactly: even the Eagles would succumb to the allure of reunion (and dollars), first in 1994 with "Hell Freezes Over" and some occasional tours in the following years, and then with the new studio album "Long Road Out of Eden", released in 2007.
But at the time of "The Long Run" it was a whole different music: just listen to the title track, which opens the album, with slide guitar in evidence and the sharp and expressive voice of drummer Don Henley. Or the following "I Can't Tell You Why", a ballad of great atmosphere and suggestion where the voice of bassist Timothy Schmit is protagonist. Or again the third track, "In The City", this time by Joe Walsh, an effective sketch of metropolitan anxieties fittingly used in the soundtrack of Walter Hill's beautiful film, "The Warriors".
It is not necessary to give a description, even a summary, of all the tracks: ten little gems that have carved out a prominent place in the rock Olympus, a perfect musical commentary on the American way of life of the '70s. Rather, it should be said that the production and recording of the album took almost two years. A laborious gestation, brilliant result: sometimes it is the fate of memorable works, and it surely is for this one.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Long Run (03:45)
I used to hurry a lot, I used to worry a lot
I used to stay out till the break of day
Oh, that didn't get it,
It was high time I quit it
I just couldn't carry on that way
Oh, I did some damage, I know it's true
Didn't know I was so lonely , till I found you
You can go the distance
We'll find out in the long run
(in the long run)
We can handle some resistance
If our love is a strong one (is a strong one)
People talkin' about us
they got nothin' else to do
When it all comes down we will
still come through
In the long run
Ooh, I want to tell you, it's a long run
You know I don't understand why you don't
treat yourself better
do the crazy things that you do
'Cause all the debutantes in Houston, baby,
couldn't hold a candle to you
Did you do it for love?
Did you do it for money?
Did you do it for spite?
Did you think you had to, honey?
Who is gonna make it?
We'll find out in the long run
(in the long run)
I know we can take it
if our love is a strong one
(is a strong one)
Well, we're scared, but we ain't shakin'
Kinda bent, but we ain't breakin'
in the long run
Ooh, I want to tell you, it's a long run
in the long run
in the long run, etc...
02 I Can't Tell You Why (04:57)
Look at us baby, up all night
Tearing our love apart
Aren't we the same two people who live
through years in the dark?
Ahh...
Every time I try to walk away
Something makes me turn around and stay
And I can't tell you why
When we get crazy,
it just ain't right,
(try to keep you head, little girl)
Girl, I get lonely, too
You don't have to worry
Just hold on tight
(don't get caught in your little world)
'Cause I love you
Nothing's wrong as far as I can see
We make it harder than it has to be
and I can't tell you why
no, baby, I can't tell you why
I can't tell you why
No, no, baby, I can't tell you why
I can't tell you why
I can't tell you why
03 In the City (03:47)
Somewhere out there on that horizon
Out beyond the neon lights
I know there must be somethin' better
but there's nowhere else in sight
It's survival in the city
When you live from day to day
City streets don't have much pity
When you're down, that's where you'll stay
In the city, oh, oh.
In the city
I was born here in the city
With my back against the wall
Nothing grows, and life ain't very pretty
No one's there to catch you when you fall
Somewhere out on that horizon
Faraway from the neon sky
I know there must be somethin' better
And I can't stay another night
In the city, oh, oh.
In the city
04 The Disco Strangler (02:46)
Lookin' for the good life
dressed to kill
She don't have to worry 'cause
there's always someone else who will
Loose and loaded every night
Dancin' underneath the flashin' light
sayin, "Look at me, baby, look at me.
I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm somebody."
Just slip into the arms of the disco strangler
He's been around here all along, baby,
Been waiting for his time to come.
You lookin' for attention, darlin'
He will surely give you some
He's the crimson in your face du jour,
the fiddler in your darkest night.
He's the melody without a cure and
Rome is burning, but that's all right.
Just slip into the arms of the disco strangler
Just slip into the arms of the disco strangler
05 King of Hollywood (06:30)
Well, he sits up there on his leatherette
Looks through
pictures of the ones that he hasn't had yet
When he
thinks he wants a closer look,
He gets out his little
black telephone book
(He's calling, calling, calling
He's calling, calling, calling
He's
calling ,calling, calling
He's calling)
/>"Come sit down here beside me, honey.
Let's have a
little heart to heart.
Now look at me and tell me,
darlin',
How badly do you want this part?
Are
you willing to sacrifice?
And are you willing to be real
nice?
All your talent and my good taste,
I'd
hate to see it go to waste."
"We gon' get you
an apartment, honey.
We gon' get you a car. />(Spoken) yeah, we're gonna take care of you,
darlin'.
We gon' make you a movie star. />For years i've seen 'em come and go."
He says,
"i've had 'em all, 'ya know.
I handled
everything in my own way.
I made 'em what they are
today."
After 'while nothin' was pretty.
After 'while everything got lost.
Still, his
jacuzzi runneth over.
Still he just couldn't get off.
He's just another power junky.
Just another
silk scarf monkey.
You'd know it if you saw his
stuff.
The man just isn't big enough
07 Those Shoes (04:56)
Tell us what you're gonna do tonight, mama.
There must be someplace you can go
In the middle of the tall drinks and the drama,
there must be someone you know.
God knows, you're lookin' good enough,
but you're so smooth and the world's so rough.
You might have somethin' to loose.
Oh, no, pretty mama, what you gonna
do in those shoes?
Got those pretty little straps around your ankles
Got those shiny little chains around your heart.
You go to have your independence
but you don't know just where to start.
Desperation in the singles bars
an' all those jerkoffs in their fancy cars.
you can't believe your reviews.
Oh, no, you can't do that,
once you started wearin' those shoes
They're lookin' at you, leanin' on you
Tell you anything you want to hear
They give you tablets of love
They're waiting for you
got to score you
handy with a shovel and so sincere
Ooh, they got the kid glove
You just want someone to talk to
They just wanna get their hands on you
You get whatever you choose
Oh, no, you can't do that,
Once you started wearin' those shoes.
08 Teenage Jail (03:46)
Stare out the window,
You can't make the time go
You don't even know why you're here
Wait for the weekend to go off the deep end
and make everything disappear
You're lost in a teenage jail
So you and so vicious and so frail
where something is always for sale
You're lost in a teenage jail.
You're not like your mothers.
you're not like the others
You're not quite like anyone else,
They don't even know you,
Got nothing to show you,
So get something good for yourself
You're lost in a teenage jail
So young and so vicious and so frail
Where something is always for sale.
You're lost in a teenage jail.
09 The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks (02:22)
There was beer all over the dance floor
and the band was playin' rhythm and blues
You got down and did the gator, and half
an hour later, you were barfin' all over your
Girlfriend's shoes.
But the Greeks don't want no freaks.
The Greeks don't want no freaks
Just put a little smile on them rosy
cheeks,
'Cause the Greeks don't want no freaks.
(GATOR!!)
She was the pride and the passion of Dixie
She did exactly what her daddy had planned.
She was perfect little sister until somebody missed
her and they found her in the bushes with
the boys in the band
But the Greeks don't want no freaks
The Greeks don't want no freaks
So put a great big smile on them rosy cheeks,
'Cause the Greeks don't want no freaks
No, the Greeks don't want no freaks
Said, the Greeks don't want no freaks
Just put that monster smile on them rosy cheeks
'Cause the Greeks don't want no freaks
No, the Greeks don't want no freaks,
Ahh...
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