June 9, 2005
Well, it’s funny what catches people’s attention. Here’s more feedback on the Desperado discussion:

"I'm giving this serious, serious contemplation, and here are my nominees:
"Man In The Long Black Coat," Bob Dylan
"The Road Goes On Forever," Joe Ely
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," Gene Pitney (he was the greatest man of all.)
—Bonny Holder

"I do like the song ‘Desperado’ very much, but my favorite
OUTLAW SONG is "Friend of the Devil" by the Grateful Dead."
—Jim Hatzell

"It may not be outlaw rock 'n roll, but my favorite gunfighter ballads are by Marty Robbins .... El Paso, Big Iron and Streets of Laredo. Johnny Cash's song Johnny Yuma .... and Ghost Rider's in the Sky."
—J.Rae

"Y'know, it's great that folks with rock 'n' roll names like Charlie Waters and
Emma Bull (fabulous moniker for a blues belter, I think) agree that I Fought
the Law is a superior rock/outlaw song.

"You, too, can join this Red State revolution, leaving behind the left coast
wussiness of the Henley/Frey crowd. Give up your tofu and quiche existence.
Bite down into the juicy red meat of real rock. Don't fight the Law--because
it's already won."
—Mark Boardman

I guess I never realized how much of an Eagles backlash there is. I know they are somewhere way beyond commercial, and it’s definitely true that they are played to death on several wimpy formats, but I still remember when the album Desperado came out (1974?) I was stunned. They were doing great songs about the Old West and I have always thought the imagery in the lyrics was, and is, absolutely, devastatingly, right on: "Take another shot of courage, wonder why the right words never come, you just get numb." Has there ever been better lyrics written about being in a bar and trying to meet women? Okay, maybe "Satisfaction," or AC/DC’s "Girl’s Got Rhythm" but still, I think good is good. Granted, the song "Glenn Frey Must Die" is quite zany and probably deserving, but the songs still stand, Man.

"He who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger."
—Old Vaquero Saying