5 Great Don Felder Songs In Eagles That Fans Forgot About In Recent Times
By the time the Eagles were working on their third album, On the Border (1974), Don Henley and Glenn Frey were still leading the charge when it came to songwriting. But this album also marked the arrival of a new face—guitarist Don Felder. He made his debut playing lead guitar on “Already Gone” and slide guitar on “Good Day in Hell.” Impressed by his skills, the band asked him to join permanently, and Felder became an essential part of the Eagles’ sound from One of These Nights (1975) through The Long Run (1979).
After the Eagles split in 1980, Felder carved out his own path. He dropped his first solo album, Airborne, in 1983 and contributed music to the animated sci-fi film Heavy Metal. With some help from his old bandmates Henley and Timothy B. Schmit, he recorded “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)” for the soundtrack. He also wrote “All of You” for the film and later worked on music for Secret Admirer (1985) and The Slugger’s Wife.
In 1994, Felder reunited with the Eagles for their iconic Hell Freezes Over MTV special. Four years later, he joined them again for their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, performing “Take It Easy” and “Hotel California” before parting ways with the band in 2001.
During his time with the Eagles, Felder co-wrote several songs that became part of the band’s legacy. Let’s take a closer look at them.
“Visions” (1975) – Written with Don Henley
Felder’s second contribution to One of These Nights was “Visions”, notable because it was the only Eagles song he ever sang lead on.
“Hotel California” (1976) – Written with Don Henley and Glenn Frey
By the time “Hotel California” rolled around, the Eagles had welcomed another new member—Joe Walsh. While Walsh left his mark on “Life in the Fast Lane” and “Pretty Maids All in a Row”, Felder played a key role in crafting the album’s title track, co-writing it alongside Henley and Frey.
“Victim of Love” (1976) – Written with Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and J.D. Souther
Felder had been working on “Victim of Love” long before “Hotel California” was even an idea. He recalled pulling together ideas and recording rough demos, later sharing them with the rest of the band. “I gave one to Don, one to Glenn, one to Joe, and one to Randy,” he said in 2015. “I told them, ‘If there’s anything here you like, let’s finish writing it together.’”
“The Disco Strangler” (1979) – Written with Don Henley and Glenn Frey
By the time the Eagles released The Long Run, disco fever had taken over the charts. But the band wasn’t exactly a fan of the trend. “The Disco Strangler” was their way of taking a jab at the disco craze, complete with subtle nods to the genre’s signature beats.
“Those Shoes” (1979) – Written with Glenn Frey and Don Henley
Sung by Henley, “Those Shoes” tells the story of a woman navigating some risky situations. With its moody vibe and layered guitars, the song added a darker edge to The Long Run.
Though Felder’s time with the Eagles had its ups and downs, there’s no denying his impact on their music. From his intricate guitar work to his songwriting contributions, his fingerprints are all over some of the band’s most memorable tracks.
