The Eagles’ Don Henley recently opened up about the recording process behind one of the band’s most iconic songs. He revealed his ongoing struggles with the track in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning.
Henley discussed how “Desperado” came together through his collaboration with late bandmate Glenn Frey. He shared the creative inspiration behind the song.
“I showed him [Glenn Frey] the bits and pieces that I had and he sat down at the piano,” Henley said. “It was sort of based on an old American songwriter who, at one point in time was America’s most popular songwriter, a guy named Stephen Foster who died penniless in New York City. But it was based on his songs that my grandmother used to sing in her rocking chair.”
The Eagles frontman praised Frey’s musical abilities and their collaborative process during the song’s creation.
“And Glenn knew who Stephen Foster was and just sort of picked up the thread and went with it,” he continued. “He was great. We used to call him the Lone Arranger, because he was so good at arranging songs.”
Despite the song’s enduring popularity, Henley revealed his personal dissatisfaction with his vocal performance on the track.
“I think I got to do about four takes, maybe five and I still have a little trouble with the intonation on the lead vocal to this day,” he admitted. “I don’t listen to it [‘Desperado’].”
Henley’s candid admission about “Desperado” reflects the perfectionist nature that helped establish the Eagles as one of music’s most successful acts.
Wikipedia reported that the Eagles have sold over 150 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy Awards throughout their career. The band also charted five number one singles, 17 top 40 singles, and six number one albums, cementing their status as America’s biggest selling band.
The Classic Drummer Hall of Fame noted that Henley has drummed, sung and co-written many of their biggest hits as a founding member of the Eagles. Beyond “Desperado,” he served as lead vocalist on other Eagles classics including “Hotel California” and “Witchy Woman.”
The band’s remarkable achievements extend beyond commercial success. Global Music Rights documented that Henley has earned 8 Grammy Awards and received 37 Grammy nominations throughout his career. He was also inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to American music.
Henley’s solo career commenced in the early 1980s after the Eagles’ initial breakup and has also been highly successful. The Eagles’ greatest hits compilation from 1971-75 alone has sold more than 26 million copies, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the music that Henley helped create during the band’s formative years.
