I love music, and when I was finishing up high school, the Eagles were just beginning to really catch fire.
In 1975, when I was a junior at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach, California, the Eagles were starting to redefine the “California sound” that the Beach Boys had created. While the Beach Boys were pure, dizzily happy pop, the Eagles brought a sound that merged country with rock, delighting and alienating equal numbers of fans of both genres.
But that “country-rock” sound endured, and the Eagles became huge. Now, as we learned earlier this week, one of the architects of that sound is gone. Glenn Frey died from complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. He was 67.
Back in ’75, the Eagles scored their first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Best of My Love.” The next year, they released the song with which they would become most synonymous: “Hotel California.”
My love affair with wine was still 10 years in the future, so I had no idea those two songs would one day fit into my extremely broad definition of “wine songs.” (For me, a “wine song” is any tune that mentions wine in any way.)
The key lyrics from “Best of My Love”:
Beautiful faces and loud, empty places
Look at the way that we live
Wastin’ our time on cheap talk and wine
Left us so little to give
The key lyrics from “Hotel California”:
So I called up the Captain,
“Please bring me my wine”
He said, “We haven’t had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine”
I love the Eagles and their music so much that I’ve been willing to overlook the technical inaccuracy in “Hotel California.” The “Captain” apparently did not recognize that wine is not a spirit. A spirit is a distilled liquor such as brandy, whiskey, gin or rum.
I’m especially willing to overlook it now… now that Glenn Frey is gone. Rest in peace, Mr. Frey. And thanks for all the great music.
Great story. So much to say ,hard to believe the Eagles music was a big part of my life too. Thanks for sharing
Spirit was meant to refer to Woodstock, not wine. We haven’t had that spirit here since 1969. Don Henley said this at one time.
I agree, I always took That line in he song as a spirit of the soul, and not the substance . however comparing the Late Glenn Frey to a very fine wine is a gracious and kind tribute. His talent and effects on so many people will stay with us and only age with us Like a fine wine. It will only get better with time.
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“It’s Your World Now”
(by Glenn Frey and Jack Tempchin)
“It’s Your World Now”
A perfect day, the sun is sinkin’ low
As evening falls, the gentle breezes blow
The time we shared went by so fast
Just like a dream, we knew it couldn’t last
But I’d do it all again
If I could, somehow
But I must be leavin’ soon
It’s your world now
It’s your world now
My race is run
I’m moving on
Like the setting sun
No sad goodbyes
No tears allowed
You’ll be alright
It’s your world now
Even when we are apart
You’ll always be in my heart
When dark clouds appear in the sky
Remember true love never dies
But first a kiss, ONE GLASS OF WINE
Just one more dance while there’s still time
My one last wish: someday, you’ll see
How hard I tried and how much you meant to me
It’s your world now
Use well the time
Be part of something good
Leave something good behind
The curtain falls
I take my bow
That’s how it’s meant to be
It’s your world now
It’s your world now
It’s your world now