The Eagles ‘One of These Nights‘ is a classic album that represents the apex of post-Byrds Southern California rock. Ok what does that actually mean? This was the sound of a band growing into their iconic sound, producing a more consistent album than it’s predecessors. A wonderful, and successful record in it’s own right – this one set the scene for what came next.
Released in 1975, a year before their iconic “Hotel California,” the album showcases the band’s signature California country rock sound with polished harmonies, catchy melodies, and storytelling songwriting. Listening to the record from England, this was another slice of Americana, telling the stories of California which seemed a million miles away from the overcast skies of home.
“Their music reflects the Hollywood ethos of glamorous, narcissistic ennui (I had to look that word up – lack of energy/listlessness), exhibiting the contradiction between the city’s atmosphere of ‘laid-back’ machismo and its desperate rootlessness of spirit.”
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/one-of-these-nights-192533/
The album’s opening track, “One of These Nights,” sets the mood for the rest of the album with its relaxed and distinctive opening chord progression and beautiful harmonies. The following tracks, “Too Many Hands” and “Hollywood Waltz,” continue with the laid-back vibe until “Journey of the Sorcerer” comes along, which seems out of place in the context of the rest of the album.
Written by Bernie Leadon, this piece is recognisable to British fans of a certain age who grew up listening to a BBC radio version of Douglas Adams’ “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
The album’s hit single, “Lyin’ Eyes,” tells the story of a young girl who trades her happiness for what she thinks is security but feels trapped in her life. In later life I can now imagine someone slipping off to the Sunset Strip or to the Troubadour to see the latest bands. She slips out to watch bands and meet her younger friends in the evenings, seeking escape from her mundane existence. The track features the Eagles’ signature harmonies and is a classic example of their storytelling songwriting style. Speaking to Ultimate Classic Rock, Don Henley said, “”I think ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ is one of the best songs we ever wrote. It tells a story, and it has a really catchy melody. I’m proud of that one.”
“Take It to the Limit” is another polished classic from the Eagles and showcases their ability to craft catchy and memorable melodies. The rest of the album continues with the same high-quality songwriting, musicianship, and harmonies, making it a cohesive and enjoyable listening experience from start to finish. Unlike earlier albums like Desperado and On the Border, this album had a much more consistent feel to it, taking them one step closer to the classic album.
I wish you peace
“I Wish You Peace” is the closing track on the Eagles’ “One of These Nights” album. It is a gentle, acoustic ballad that provides a stark contrast to the rest of the album’s upbeat and rock-oriented songs. The song was written by Eagles’ guitarist and founding member, Bernie Leadon, and his then-girlfriend, Patti Davis. The daughter of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, she was dating Leadon at the time he wrote the song. Apparently he wrote the song as a way of expressing his love and affection for her. The song’s melancholic tone and wistful lyrics suggest a sense of longing and sadness.
While “I Wish You Peace” may not be one of the Eagles’ most well-known songs, it is a beautiful and introspective piece that showcases the band’s softer side. The song’s emotional resonance and heartfelt lyrics have resonated with fans over the years, and it remains a testament to Leadon’s songwriting abilities and the band’s musical versatility.
One of these Dreams
“One of These Nights” was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and selling over four million copies in the US alone. The album’s themes revolve around love, loss, and the struggles of everyday life, with the band showcasing their musical and songwriting abilities. The opening track has racked up a quarter of a million streams on Spotify, making it one of their biggest tracks on the streamer (the song Hotel California has 1.2 billion!)
The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1976 Grammy Awards, but lost to Paul Simon’s “Still Crazy After All These Years but did win Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for “Lyin’ Eyes.” (They would also lose album of the year in 1978 with Rumours taking beating Hotel California to the top prize.)
The Eagles’ “One of These Nights” is a classic album that captures the essence of Southern California rock with its polished harmonies, catchy melodies, and storytelling songwriting. Another perfect slice of Americana.
As Rolling Stone noted, “This sweetness, combined with superb arrangements, brilliant playing, and the seamless vocal harmonies of Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Randy Meisner, accounts for the band’s popularity, for it evokes everything gratifying that people would like to fantasise about L.A.” The album’s critical and commercial success cemented the band’s place in music history, and it remains a beloved classic among fans to this day.
The Album Cover
While the image of an eagle’s head has become synonymous with the Eagles, it was not the first time that the band had used this imagery. After the cowboy imagery of ‘Desperado‘, It was the band’s previous album, “On the Border,” that first featured an image of an eagle on the cover, though it was a more abstract and stylised depiction. However, it was the “One of These Nights” album cover that cemented the eagle imagery as a key part of the Eagles’ visual identity.
Are you a fan of One of these Nights? What’s your favourite track? Let me know in the comments.
