Make no mistake, this lavishly illustrated and thoughtfully researched book is a must-have for fans; a catch-all compendium of facts, figures and critical appraisal that thrills and delights at the turn of every page. At the same time, respected British-born writer Vaughan, resident in Nashville for several years, analyses the internal frictions that constantly threatened to destroy the band, and assesses their influence on today’s Americana high-rollers.
At home in the US, The Eagles were often dismissed by their country-rock contemporaries, perhaps resentful of the group’s massive success and the suspicion they had somehow “sold out”. In the UK, they had the misfortune to release Hotel California at the height of punk and new wave, resulting in many critics fast-tracking them into the rock dinosaur compound. Yet, as the author persuasively argues, they were an important bridge between the musical idealism of the 60s and the corporate cynicism of the 70s, representing a sea change in the industry, but still managing to produce some truly emotive and articulate records.
It’s rare for what initially appears to be a picture-packed coffee table book to pay as much attention to the text as the images, but Vaughan’s words display a genuine affection and understanding of the music, without the blinkers of a fanatical apologist.
