On the Border

For the restaurant chain, see On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina.

On the Border
Studio album by Eagles
Released	March 22, 1974
Recorded	Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles, CA Olympic Studios, London, 1973-74
Genre	Rock, country rock
Length	40:29
Label	Asylum
Producer	Bill Szymczyk, Glyn Johns
Eagles chronology
Desperado (1973) On the Border (1974) One of These Nights (1975)

On the Border is the third studio album by the Eagles, released in 1974. During the making of the album, the band experienced significant changes. As the band tried to lean towards a more hard rock sound, they felt that producer Glyn Johns emphasized too much on their country sound. After recording only two songs, the band let go of Johns and hired Bill Szymczyk. At Frey's request they brought in guitarist Don Felder to add slide guitar to the song "Good Day in Hell". The band was so impressed that they invited Felder to become the fifth Eagle. They credited him as a late arrival on the album's liner notes. The album reached #17 on the charts and sold 2 million copies. The album also released three singles, "Already Gone", "James Dean" and "Best Of My Love". The singles reached #32, #77 and #1 respectively. "Best of My Love" became the band's first of five chart toppers.

This is the first album by the Eagles to be released in Quadraphonic surround sound. It was released on Quadraphonic 8-track tape and CD-4 LP.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Robert Christgau	(B+)
Rolling Stone	link

Track listing

Side one

1. "Already Gone" (Jack Tempchin, Rob Strandlund) – 4:13
   • Lead vocal by Glenn Frey, lead guitar (uncredited) by Don Felder, guitar solos by Glenn Frey and Don Felder
2. "You Never Cry Like a Lover" (J.D. Souther, Don Henley) – 4:02
   • Lead vocal by Don Henley, lead guitar (uncredited) by Bernie Leadon
3. "Midnight Flyer" (Paul Craft) – 3:59
   • Lead vocal by Randy Meisner, slide guitar by Glenn Frey, banjo by Bernie Leadon
4. "My Man" (Bernie Leadon) – 3:31
   • Lead vocal and pedal steel guitar by Bernie Leadon
5. "On the Border" (Henley, Leadon, Frey) – 4:28
   • Lead vocals by Don Henley, T.N.T.S. by "Coach", claps by The Clapetts, lead guitar (uncredited) by Glenn Frey

Side two

1. "James Dean" (Jackson Browne, Frey, Souther, Henley) – 3:37
   • Lead vocal by Glenn Frey, lead guitar by Bernie Leadon
2. "Ol' '55" (Tom Waits) – 4:22
   • Lead vocals by Glenn Frey and Don Henley, pedal steel guitar by Al Perkins
3. "Is It True?" (Randy Meisner) – 3:14
   • Lead vocal by Randy Meisner, slide guitar by Glenn Frey
4. "Good Day in Hell" (Henley, Frey) – 4:27
   • Lead vocals by Glenn Frey, lead and slide guitar by Don Felder
5. "Best of My Love" (Henley, Frey, Souther) – 4:36
   • Lead vocal by Don Henley, pedal steel guitar by Bernie Leadon

Song information

"My Man"

Bernie Leadon's "My Man" is a tribute to Gram Parsons, who had died of a drug overdose in September 1973. Leadon and Parsons had been members of the pioneering country-rock band The Flying Burrito Brothers.

"On the Border"

This track was inspired by the infamous Watergate scandal and fears at the time of the government overstepping its bounds and infringing on people's privacy. Barely audible at the end of the song, someone (either Henley or Frey) can be heard whispering "Say Goodnight, Dick," a line made famous by Dan Rowan of Rowan and Martin but in this case referring to Richard Nixon's resignation.^[1]

Personnel

• Glenn Frey - lead vocals, lead guitar, slide guitar, piano
• Don Henley - lead vocals, drums, guitar
• Bernie Leadon - lead vocals, lead guitar, banjo, steel guitar
• Randy Meisner - lead vocals, bass guitar
• Don Felder - electric guitar, slide guitar

Singles

• "Already Gone"/"Is It True" - Asylum 11036; released April 19, 1974
• "James Dean"/"Good Day in Hell" - Asylum 45202; released August 14, 1974
• "Best of My Love"/"Ol' 55" - Asylum 45218; released November 5, 1974

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1974	Pop Albums	17

This was the first Eagles album to chart in the UK, reaching #28.

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1974	"Already Gone"	Pop Singles	32
1974	"James Dean"	Pop Singles	77
1975	"Best Of My Love"	Pop Singles	1
1975	"Best Of My Love"	Adult Contemporary	1

None of the above singles charted in the UK.

References

1. ^ (2003) Album notes for The Very Best of the Eagles by Eagles [CD]. Warner Music Group (R2 73971).