Although rock ambition eclipsed their country origins on later records, the Eagles, whose Their Greatest Hits: 1971-1975 is the best-selling album of all time, remained loyal to their beginnings in terms of image throughout their career. On the number-one hit, “Best of My Love”, which closes their third LP, On the Border, the Eagles‘ soothing harmonies console a narrator analyzing the breakdown of a relationship. “You see it your way / And I see it mine / But we both see it slippin’ away,” lead singer Don Henley confesses. Henley told journalist Cameron Crowe many Eagles songs are “double entendres”, applying to the personal life of the writer and symbolizing a truth about the music industry. In this case, “Best of My Love” predicted the breakup of the band, which rode a high of commercial and critical success until they became too close to the sun.
The acoustic strum of “Best of My Love” allows Eagles’ harmonies to shine: a pristine capsule for their country-rock origins. Although not innovative, the self-contained nature of this track allows them to define its strengths. The restraint of the light acoustics and straightforward lyrics set up chances for innovation on future albums. For example, the title song of One of These Nights dabbles in rhythm and blues, with Henley’s vocals remaining the driving force. From On the Border forward, Eagles’ sonic transformations correlated directly with commercial success. Although this path may appear clear-cut, and the Eagles’ brand of Americana may seem as transparent, the group contains contradictions that undermine their laid-back image. When speaking of their first single, “Take It Easy,” Life magazine said, “[They] failed to follow their own advice.”