In The City isn’t an Eagles’ original for Joe Walsh initially recorded it for The Warriors soundtrack. That said, I would have loved to have seen Krall invite Schmit to record the backing vocals with her, or even perform the song as a duet, for I feel it would have been amazing. It doesn’t match the original, but it jazzes it up. While there have been a few covers of this classic tune, one of the best that you should check out is Diana Krall’s from Wallflower. Like, really, different! It just isn’t the same and while I acknowledge that Schmit has aged and likely cannot hit the near-falsetto vocal like he could in his prime, I find it detracting to the extent that I don’t appreciate this particular performance.

The performance featured on Eagles Live is a lovely early interpretation from 1980 that is very similar to the studio recording but the recording from Live From The Forum MMXVIII is different. The live performance from Hell Freezes Over is, as I’ve suggested before, incredibly smooth with zero distortion, notable as it’s a live recording, thereby resulting in a perfect song that will see you toe-tapping to the infectious rhythm. Schmit’s vocal is otherworldly but the entire composition of the tune is so perfect that I could listen to it on repeat indefinitely it’s most certainly a song for inclusion on any desert island playlist. I Can’t Tell You Why is nothing short of a masterpiece and is, without doubt, one of the best songs the Eagles ever recorded. Is it Don Henley’s greatest vocal performance? No, but the guitar tuning and licks are what make The Long Run such an enjoyable tune. The Long Run isn’t the greatest opener, although you immediately know what you’re going to get. My body moves involuntarily, I want to sing along, and the air guitar makes an appearance throughout all aspects that are missing when I play the vinyl counterpart. Regardless, if I had to choose one, as much as it pains me to say it, I’d go with the Apple Music stream every time as it simply sounds right.

The bass issue I have with the vinyl release isn’t present here as the bass is less pronounced but smoother and more analog sounding a dichotomy considering it is most certainly a digital medium. The (Hi-Res) Lossless Apple Music stream, an Apple Digital Master, is fantastic and while it lacks the vinyl sound signature, it’s edgier and fuller with the same benefits heard on the vinyl release but there’s a little less spaciousness that is particularly noticeable on songs such as The Disco Strangler with regard to the echoing vocal. A first-world problem, I know, but when I invest in vinyl, both from a cost and time perspective, I want to be wowed and while I thoroughly enjoy this pressing, I often wonder if another edition would better suit my expectations of a warmer reproduction. It’s a small issue, and one that generally doesn’t bother me, but it sounds a little too accurate. The vinyl record ( 2014 reissue/cat: RRM1-508) I’m fortunate to own is spacious, detailed, smooth, and silent with a level of bass depth that isn’t overbearing but similarly feels like it isn’t quite there. Perfection was something the Eagles were known for, particularly with regards to their production values and while there isn’t a bad way to experience this album, some versions appeal to me more than others.

Schmit's subtle tones brought a new level of musicality to the band and I Can’t Tell You Why is about as close to perfect as any song can get.

Meisner, as a founding member of the Eagles, was synonymous with their sound but Schmit filled the role perfectly and along with the addition of Joe Walsh in 1976 is amongst my favourite lineup changes in all of recorded music history. Schmit for the first time in the Eagles’ lineup as he replaced Randy Meisner. Released in 1979, The Long Run featured Timothy B. The Long Run, subsequently, is one of the greatest Eagle’s albums. While it could never compete with the success of Hotel California, it offers a more cohesive overview of their career with rock influences ranging from their self-titled debut to Hotel California’s laid-back fluidity.

For decades, The Long Run was considered the final chapter in the Eagles’ story, and in a way it is, for as exceptional as the four new songs from Hell Freezes Over are, and Long Road Out Of Eden is, The Long Run is the culmination of the classic Eagle’s body of work.

Eagles long road out of eden vocal