On the Border

The Zoo Crew is spinning the Eagles’ “On the Border” from their 1974 album of the same name, and this track has some wild stories for all you Zoo Freaks out there. The song, written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Bernie Leadon, was born during the height of the Watergate scandal, reflecting the band’s frustration with government overreach and privacy concerns. Henley revealed in the liner notes for The Very Best of the Eagles that the song was a stylistic clash, never quite reaching its full musical potential, but its lyrics hit hard, especially with a cheeky nod to Richard Nixon. If you listen closely to the fade-out, you’ll hear a voice saying, “Say goodnight, Dick,” a jab at Nixon echoing a famous line from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. It’s a subtle but bold kiss-off to “Tricky Dick” as his presidency unraveled.

Another juicy tidbit comes from the song’s recording process, which was anything but smooth. The Eagles started working on the On the Border album with producer Glyn Johns in London, but tensions flared. Johns wanted to keep their country-rock vibe, while the band, especially Frey, craved a harder rock edge. Frey later told Phonograph Record, “I hate when people call us a country-rock band because they are so full of it. We can do anything!” The band ditched most of Johns’ recordings, keeping only two tracks, and brought in Bill Szymczyk, who gave them the raw, funky sound they wanted. Szymczyk, nicknamed “Coach” by the band, was a game-changer, with Henley noting in a 1994 interview, “There’s a lot less echo with Bill, for one thing. There’s more of a raw and funky presence.”

Social media posts from fans on platforms like Reddit’s EaglesBand community highlight the song’s enduring vibe. A 2024 post celebrating the album’s 50th anniversary called it “the forgotten album,” with fans praising its edgier rock/country blend and the addition of guitarist Don Felder, who joined during these sessions. One user noted, “This record is where they started to turn the corner,” crediting Felder’s slide guitar on tracks like “Good Day in Hell” for pushing the band’s sound forward. The album’s cover art, designed by Gary Burden, also has a cool story—Burden snagged the painting by Navajo artist Beatian Yazz at a rummage sale for just a quarter, later tracking down the artist to ensure they were compensated, though he was never sure if the check reached them.

The Eagles got their start in Los Angeles in 1971, a group of talented musicians brought together by a shared connection to Linda Ronstadt. Founding members Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner had all played on Ronstadt’s self-titled third solo album in 1972, with some touring as her backing band. Their chemistry was undeniable, and with encouragement from David Geffen’s Asylum Records, they formed the Eagles, blending rock, country, and folk into what became known as “California rock.” Their debut album, Eagles, dropped in 1972, featuring hits like “Take It Easy” and “Witchy Woman,” which skyrocketed them to fame. By the time On the Border rolled around, they were ready to experiment, adding Felder and leaning into a harder sound that set the stage for classics like Hotel California.

You can keep up with the Eagles on their official website, where they share tour dates and news. Their official social media accounts include Facebook, Instagram, and X, offering glimpses into their ongoing legacy. Fans gather on platforms like the r/EaglesBand subreddit and the Eagles Fan Group on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over trivia, share vinyl finds, and debate favorite tracks. The band’s influence endures, with over 200 million records sold worldwide, six Grammy Awards, and a 1998 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, proving they’re still soaring high.