The story behind the Eagles

Did you know that the Eagles started out as Linda Ronstadt’s backing band back in the early ’70s? Ronstadt, who soon after became a big star with hits like Blue Bayou and Hurt So Bad, was most supportive of the decision of Glen Fray, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meiser to form their own group. She even later recorded and made a big hit out of the Eagles song Desperado.

Did you know that an eagle literally flew in full majestic glory over the boys during the photo session for their first album on the mountains outside Los Angeles? It was during a peyote and tequila filled morning after a sleepless night, when the huge bird came into view. And that was the reason they decided to call themselves, Eagles. Not The Eagles, mind you, but just plain Eagles. They did not think much of it then but the choice was very American.

You can find more tales like those about the Eagles in the film History of the Eagles, The Story of an American Band. This is an incisive look at the workings of this famous band whose music came to symbolize the hopes, dreams and failures of a generation. It tells of how Frey and Henley began to write songs and how the members met. It chronicles their struggles, their rise to the top, their lives of sex, drugs and rock and roll, their plunge to the bottom and almost mythical resurrection as one of the greatest American bands in pop music history. Change that to plain band because the Eagles also conquered the world and indeed became one of the greatest bands of all time.

History tells all that happened on the road to fame in an easy, charming manner. Director Alison Ellwood’s work probably took its tempo from the music of the band. It rocks in the right places, has its share of joys and sadness and lots of deep introspection. Truth to tell, watching it is quite an experience, the sort wherein you stay glued to the screen because do not want to miss anything. You want to hear everything they are saying and to closely follow their story. It is a great one and makes you wish all bands could end up like the Eagles.

The band, now comprised of Frey and Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, runs a tight ship. They really look more like middle-aged tycoons than rock musicians now, with their families and strictly no drink or drugs rule. As a result they are playing and singing better than ever. And in the end, though their story is truly most interesting, what the Eagles are really all about is the music. And they have quite a lot of songs we have voluntarily or not, playing in the soundtracks of our lives.

You will get bits and snatches of Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Witchy Woman, Desperado, Tequila Sunrise, Already Gone, Best Of My Love, Lying Eyes, Take It To The Limit, Hotel California, New Kid In Town, Life In The Fast Lane, I Can’t Tell You Why, The Long Run, Heartache Tonight, I Can’t Tell You Why and more in the video and also how these were written and performed. Quite engrossing really. I have a feeling I will be watching History again and perhaps again, again.

Still in a music watching mood. You might want to also check out We Will Always Love You. This is the Grammy tribute to the departed Whitney Houston and like Whitney at the peak of her powers, the production literally glows. Unlike the Eagles’ History, which presents the facts, warts and all, this is an homage, a celebration of the illustrious career of the soul diva, once so young and beautiful, who tragically died on Feb. 11 a year ago.

Included are her memorable performances like when she sang the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl in 1991, her first ever TV appearance in the Merv Griffin Show in 1983 and her biggest moments at the Grammy Awards. Whitney was a six-time Grammy winner and she died on the eve of the 2012 Grammy Awards.

Sharing their favorite Whitney memories are Celine Dion, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Cece Winans, Yolanda Adams, Britney Spears, Halle Berry, LL Cool J, Taraji Henson and record executive Clive Davis, who propelled Whitney to stardom and who is also among the producers of the special presentation.

Best of all, fans of Whitney will be delighted with the inclusion of the videos of her biggest hits. Saving All My Love For You, How Will I Know, Greatest Love Of All, I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me, Where Do Broken Hearts Go, I’m Your Baby Tonight, I Look To You, which was one of her last recordings and of course, the unforgettable I Will Always Love You from the motion picture, The Bodyguard.

One cannot help but feel regret while watching this. Whitney was such an extraordinary talent and it was just too bad that unlike the Eagles, she was not favored with a second act.