"The Long Run" is the sixth studio album by the Eagles, released in 1979 by Asylum Records. This album marked the first appearance of bassist Timothy B. Schmit, who replaced founding member Randy Meisner, and it was the last full studio album to feature guitarist Don Felder before his departure from the band in 2001.
As the band's final studio album for Asylum Records, it also represented the end of their original era, as the Eagles disbanded in 1980. Although they reunited in 1994, their next studio album wouldn't come until 2007's "Long Road Out of Eden."
The album produced three singles: "Heartache Tonight," "The Long Run," and "I Can't Tell You Why." "Heartache Tonight" achieved notable success, reaching No. 1 on the singles chart and winning a Grammy Award. "The Long Run" itself was certified 7× Platinum by the RIAA and has sold over eight million copies in the US, solidifying its place in rock history.
"The Long Run" was initially intended to be a double album, but the Eagles faced challenges in producing enough material, leading to its cancellation. Recording began in 1978 and stretched over 18 months across five studios, finally releasing in September 1979. Don Henley noted that the band members were "completely burned out" from a lengthy tour and had few songs to work with.
Despite this, they assembled ten tracks, with contributions from friends like JD Souther and Bob Seger, who co-wrote "Heartache Tonight." The title track responded to criticism suggesting the band was becoming outdated amidst the rise of disco and punk, with Henley reflecting on the irony of writing about longevity while the band faced internal strife.
Randy Meisner left after a dispute in 1977 and was replaced by Timothy B. Schmit, who brought the unfinished "I Can't Tell You Why," which was completed with Henley and Glenn Frey. Joe Walsh contributed "In the City," originally for The Warriors soundtrack, while Don Felder wrote "The Disco Strangler" as a critique of disco culture. "The Sad Cafe" was inspired by the Troubadour nightclub, and "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks" paid homage to 1960s frat rock.
The album was produced by Bill Szymczyk, with the Eagles credited as co-producers, highlighting their collaborative effort during a challenging period.
