Ask almost anyone of any age and they can sing a line or two from the Eagles 1973 hit 'Desperado.' The song has become one of the band's most played songs on American radio, but the album it came from was fairly obscure and not hit filled like other Eagles albums.

In 1972, the Eagles released their self-titled album to HUGE success. This debut album yielded 3 Top 40 hits including 'Take it Easy', 'Witchy Woman' and 'Peaceful Easy Feeling.'

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The band went in a totally new direction on their second album by taking a risky step in recording a concept album.  'Desperado,' based on themes of the old west, was also the first time that Don Henley and Glenn Frey would write songs together.

Even though the title song would become one of the best known hits, it was never even released as a single. Many radio stations and DJ's simply liked the song and began to play it, which was not a common practice at the time.

The album DID generate two hit singles including 'Tequila Sunrise' and the lesser-known 'Outlaw Man'...which is the best song on the album, in my opinion.

Take a listen to 'Outlaw Man':

'Desperado' Track listing:

Side one:

  1. "Doolin-Dalton" (Glenn Frey, J. D. Souther, Don Henley, Jackson Browne)
  2. "Twenty-One" (Bernie Leadon)
  3. "Out of Control" (Henley, Frey, Tom Nexon)
  4. "Tequila Sunrise" (Henley, Frey)
  5. "Desperado" (Henley, Frey)

Side two:

 

  1. "Certain Kind of Fool" (Randy Meisner, Henley, Frey)
  2. "Doolin-Dalton (Instrumental)" (Frey, Souther, Henley, Browne)
  3. "Outlaw Man" (David Blue)
  4. "Saturday Night" (Meisner, Henley, Frey, Leadon)
  5. "Bitter Creek" (Leadon)
  6. "Doolin-Dalton / Desperado (Reprise)" (Frey, Souther, Henley, Browne)

The Cactus Theater is doing a special tribute to this classic album every Friday in August. Get more information HERE

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