Liner Notes
Booklet:
Most successful musicians are lucky enough to have hit pay dirt once in their careers. In Glenn Frey's case, it came twice -- the first time around being with the Eagles, one of the most popular bands ever. The second time came as a trend-setting solo artist whose hits, "The Heat Is On" and "You Belong to the City," became two of the eighties' most memorable anthems.Born in 1948 in Detroit, Michigan, his early love of rock'n'roll brought him to the town's performance center, Olympia Hall, where he witnessed various seminal bands including the Beatles. Passing on a career as an athlete, he instead picked up the guitar and eventually played acoustic and also maracas on Bob Seger's records. "Seger was cool," Frey is quoted saying in The Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock, and Soul. "I was never in his band, but he liked me and let me come to some sessions when he was recording four-track." Glenn Frey also sang back-up on the Seger hit "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" in addition to playing guitar for local groups such as the Mushrooms, the Subterraneans and the Four Of Us. He dropped out of college and moved to Los Angeles over his parents' objections. But he knew the L.A. move was right when, on his first day in town, he saw David Crosby on the steps of a store in Laurel Canyon. "To me, that was an omen," he said, "I immediately met J.D. Souther who was going with my girlfriend's sister and we really hit it off." They quickly formed the group Longbranch Pennywhistle that was signed to Amos Records in 1971. The two lived in the Echo Park area with singer-songwriter Jackson Browne.
When Frey and Souther called it quits as an act, due to a dispute with their label, Frey joined Linda Ronstadt's back-up band that included Don Henley. He and Henley went on to form the Eagles with ex-Flying Burrito Brother Bernie Leadon and ex-Poco and Stone Canyon Band member Randy Meisner. They were signed to David Geffen's Asylum Records towards the end of 1971, and over the next few years, Frey co-wrote many of the band's big hits including "Desperado," "One Of These Nights," "Take It To The Limit," "Life In The Fast Lane" and "Hotel California."
When the Eagles disbanded in 1980, it was shocking, though not unexpected. With every passing album and roster upgrade, their recordings sounded more like solo outings than a group effort. For example, 1976's adventurous Hotel California, definitely was unified in its theme and production values (compliments of legendary producer Bill Szymczyk). But Frey's vocal on "New Kid In Town" stepped out from under the Eagles' shadow as much as newest member Tim Schmit's vocal on "I Can't Tell You Why" or Don Henley's take on the title track. The trend progressed when in 1979, the band's follow-up album, The Long Run, seemed more like a launching pad for five talented artists than a band project. It became apparent that it was time for each of the Eagles to leave the nest, with Frey and Henley no longer needing the group as a vehicle for their creative endeavors.
Since Frey and Henley were at the heart of the Eagles' songwriting and "sound," the fans speculated as to whether or not the pair's solo projects would be either Eagles-like or a strong departure. They were both, with Frey's album No Fun Aloud first out of the chute in June 1982. The record employed similar background vocal arrangements, but it was lighter in tone than the last two Eagles' ventures and Henley's moodier album, I Can't Stand Still. Filled with Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin songwriting collaborations (a union that continued throughout most of Frey's solo work), the album featured the pop hits "I Found Somebody" and "The One You Love" (with a love version included on this millennium collection). But it was Frey's next project, The Allnighter, that gave him an even fresher start.
In 1984, he left behind his record label of over a decade, Asylum, and moved to MCA when his manager, Irving Azoff, was appointed that label's president. Frey's first MCA charter was the light-hearted "Sexy Girl," but another of the album's strongest tracks, "Smuggler's Blues," became a hit in 1985 due to its exposure (as well as Glenn Frey's exposure as an actor) on the television series, Miami Vice. Series' star and friend Don Johnson's highly-rated TV show had such an influence on fashion and music that newly be-stubbled young men donning pastel-colored tee-shirts and jackets haunted bars and malls from coast to coast for much of the eighties.
The series made hits of "Smuggler's..." as well as another Frey recording, "You Belong to the City." Though the two were back-to-back hits, the rally started the previous year with "The Heat Is On," a track Grey recorded for the film Beverly Hills Cop. The combination of Frey's hits and the popularity of both Beverly Hills Cop and Miami Vice led to those soundtracks selling over a million copies. That success began a trend of multi-artist soundtrack releases featuring new material by major artists.
The Allnighter's follow-up, Soul Searchin', was released in 1988 and it returned Frey to the charts with the hit "True Love." Its choir-drenched title track was as socially aware as it was entertaining, and four years later, Frey expanded on similar themes on his album Strange Weather. It was loaded with social commentaries and featured the hits "I've Got Mine" and "Part of Me, Part of You" (from the film Thelma & Louise) along with the clever tracks "Love In The 21st Century" and the title track. Glenn Frey Live followed, but soon after came the famed Eagles Hell Freezes Over reunion tour and album that focused his attention again on the legendary band. Now in the year 2000, his fans are no doubt anxious for him to return with another solo project that's relevant in the new millennium. As far as his impact on the last millennium, take a listen to this collection and "Take It To the Limit" one more time...
Compilation Produced & Liner Notes by Mike Ragogna
Mastered by Erick Labson at Universal Mastering Studios-West No. Hollywood, CA
Project Coordination by Beth Stempel
Editorial Assistance by Barry Korkin
Art Direction: Vartan
Design: t42design
Photos: Dennis Keeley / MCA Files
Photo Research: Jason Pastori / Geary ChansleyLiner Notes Resources include:
The Encyclopedia Of Rock Stars by Dafydd Rees & Luke Crampton
The Encyclopedia Of Pop, Rock And Soul by Irwin Stambler
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin LarkinSpecial Thanks to Andy McKaie, Richie Gallo, Rhonda Malmlund, Glen Sanatar, Cary E. Mansfield, Richard Wallace & Tommy West
GLENN FREY ALSO AVAILABLE
The Allnighter (MCAD-31158)
Live (MCAD-10826)
Solo Collection (MCAD-11227)THE BEST OF...20TH CENTURY MASTERS/
THE MILLENIUM COLLECTION - ALSO AVAILABLE
Joe Walsh (088 112 231-2/4)
Poco (008 112 224-2/4)
Steve Winwood (314 564 791-2/4)
Tom Jones (422 844 935-2/4)
Robert Palmer (314 546 556-2/4)
Rod Stewart (314 546 331-2/4)
Allman Brothers Band (314 547 899-2/4)
The Moody Blues (314 541 139-2/4)
Lynyrd Skynyrd (MCAC/D-11941)
B.B. King (MCAC/D-11939)
Steppenwolf (MCAC/D-11954)MCA
Music Corporation of America©2000 MCA Records, 0881123592
1) The Heat Is On
(Keith Forsey-Harold Faltermeyer)
Produced by Keith Forsey & Harold Faltermeyer
Vocals, Guitar Solo: Glenn Frey / Guitar: Rick Vito / Keyboards, Bass: Harold Faltermeyer / Drums: Keith Forsey / Background Vocals: Glenn Frey, Keith Forsey
MCA single 52512
Pop #2 / charted 12-8-84
from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack2) Smuggler's Blues
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin)
Produced by Glenn Frey & Allan Blazek
Vocals, Synthesizer, Electric and Slide Guitar: Glenn Frey / Electric Guitars: Duncan Cameron, Josh Leo / Bass: Bryan Garofalo / Drums: Michael Huey / Conga: Steve Forman
MCA single 53546
Pop #12 / charted 4-6-85
from the albums Miami Vice and The Allnighter3) You Belong to the City
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin)
Produced by Glenn Frey
Vocals: Glenn Frey / All Instruments: Glenn Frey / Saxophone: Bill Bergman
MCA single 52651
Pop #2 / charted 10-12-85
from the album Miami Vice4) Sexy Girl
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin)
Produced by Barry Beckett, Glenn Frey & Allan Blazek
Vocals, Bass, Electric Guitar: Glenn Frey / Lead Guitar: Duncan Cameron / Drums: Larrie London / Background Vocals: Oren Walters, Roy Galloway, Luther Waters, Glenn Frey, Duncan Cameron and Jack Tempchin
MCA single 52651
Pop #20 / charted 6-30-84
Adult Contemporary #23 / charted 7-14-84
from the album The Allnighter5) Love In The 21st Century
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin-Danny Kortchmar)
Produced by Glenn Frey & Elliot Scheiner
Vocals: Glenn Frey / All Instruments Played and Programmed by Glenn Frey & Jay Oliver
Horns--The Heart Attack Horns / Baritone Sax: Greg Smith / Tenor Sax: Bill Bergman / Trumpet: John Barry / Arranged by Greg Smith, Glenn Frey / Additional Keyboards: Robby Kilgore / Additional Programming: Mike Harlow / Additional Percussion: Lenny Castro / Background Vocalists: Glenn Frey, Rosemary Butler, Valerie Carter, Robbie Martin
from the album Strange Weather6) True Love
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin)
Produced by Glenn Frey & Elliot Scheiner
Vocals: Glenn Frey / Keyboards: Glenn Frey, Barry Beckett, Robbie Buchanan / Percussion: Ralph MacDonald / All Other Instruments: Glenn Frey / Horns Arranged by Greg Smith, Glenn Frey
MCA single 53363
Pop #13 / charted 8-20-88
Adult Contemporary #2 / charted 8-20-88
from the album Soul Searchin'7) The Allnighter
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin)
Produced by Glenn Frey & Allan Blazek
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Electric Piano: Glenn Frey / Organ, Synthesizers: Hawk Wolinski / Bass: Bryan Garofalo / Drums: John Robinson / Percussion: Steve Forman
MCA single 52461
Pop #54 / charted 9-29-84
Adult Contemporary #23 / charted 7-14-84
from the album The Allnighter8) The One You Love (live)
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin)
Produced by Elliot Scheiner & Glenn Frey
Vocals, Guitar: Glenn Frey / Guitar, Vocals: Danny Grenier / Guitar, Vocals: Duane Sciacqua / Drums: Martin Fera / Percussion: Michito Sanchez / Sax, Percussion: Chris Mostert / Sax, Violin: Al Garth / Baritone Sax: Greg Smith / Trumpet: Darrell Leonard
from the album Glenn Frey Live9) Strange Weather
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin-Jay Oliver)
Produced by Glenn Frey & Elliot Scheiner
All Instruments Played and Performed by Glenn Frey & Jay Oliver / Additional Keyboards: Robby Kilgore / Additional Programming: Mike Harlow / Additional Percussion: Lenny Castro / Background Vocalists: Glenn Frey, Rosemary Butler, Valerie Carter, Robbie Martin
from the album Strange Weather10) I've Got Mine
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin)
Produced by Glenn Frey & Elliot Scheiner
Vocals: Glenn Frey / All Instruments Played and Performed by Glenn Frey & Jay Oliver / Sax Solo: Chris Mostert
MCA single 54429
Pop #91 / charted 7-25-92
from the album Strange Weather11) Soul Searchin'
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin-Duncan Cameron)
Produced by Glenn Frey & Elliot Scheiner
Vocals: Glenn Frey / Guitar: Duncan Cameron / Bass: David Hood / Keyboards: Glenn Frey, Barry Beckett, Steve Nathan, Steve Thoma / Drums: Roger Hawkins
Background Vocals: Glenn Frey, Roy Galloway, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Oran Waters, Duncan Cameron, The Institutional Radio Choir - Directed by Carl Williams
MCA single 53452
Adult Contemporary #5 / charted 12-3-88
from the album Soul Searchin'12) Part Of Me, Part Of You
(Glenn Frey-Jack Tempchin-Jay Oliver)
Produced by Don Was
Co-produced by Glenn Frey & Elliot Scheiner
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar: Glenn Frey / Guitar: Mark Goldenberg / Bass: Jerry Scheff / Piano: Scott Thurston / Organ: Ben Tench / Additional Keyboards: Jay Oliver / Drums: Kenny Aronoff
Pop #55 / charted 5-11-91
Adult Contemporary #7 / charted 5-4-91
from the Thelma & Louise soundtrack and the album Strange Weather
Back:
[song listing]M:C:A Music Corp of America
A Universal Music CompanyUMUSIC:CA
©2000 MCA Records. All rights reserved. Manufactured and distributed in Canada by Universal Music, 2450 Victoria Park Ave., Willowdale, Ontario M2J 4A2. Unauthorized reproduction, copying and rental of this recording is prohibited by law. 0881123592
On Disc Itself:
20th Century Masters
The Millennium CollectionGLENN FREY
©2000 MCA Records. All rights reserved, unauthorized copying, reproduction, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting prohibited. 088 112 359-2