Album of the Day

ON THE BORDER was an appropriate title for Eagles' third studio set; the 1974 collection straddles the mellower music of their earlier discs and the tougher sounds they'd soon explore. After initial sessions with Glyn Johns in London, the band shifted gears, moving to L.A.'s Record Plant and teaming with producer Bill Szymczyk to find a harder rock edge. The band got a boost in that direction from guitarist Don Felder, who plays on two songs here and would become the fifth Eagle. There are still plenty of country influences on the album – Bernie Leadon's “My Man” is a tribute to his old friend Gram Parsons, and No.1 hit “Best Of My Love” features some fine pedal steel work – but the group was looking beyond their rural roots on punchier singles “Already Gone” and “James Dean,” both featuring strong lead vocals by Glenn Frey. Well-rounded and brilliantly performed, ON THE BORDER is the ideal way to remember the late performer.