In deciding to review the Eagles’ fourth album, it became an incredible coincidence that “Reagan”, the biopic starring Dennis Quaid as the 40th U.S. president, entered the weekly U.S. box office chart during the weekend ending 1^st September, 2024, as the lyrics of one of the songs from the ‘One Of These Nights’ album, called I Wish You Peace, was written by none other than Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, who was then dating Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon.

Nevertheless, this is the first Eagles album that saw an obvious shift in the band’s musical direction (country-folk to country-rock) thanks to a full-time change in producers from Glyn Johns to Bill Szymczyk; the line-up being enhanced from four members (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, Bernie Leadon) to five (with the addition of guitarist Don Felder, who eventually went onto co-write Hotel California); and the usage of strings conducted by Jim Ed Norman, who also played piano on two of the album’s three hits (Lyin’ Eyes and Take It To The Limit, the latter containing the lead vocals of bassist and song co-writer Randy Meisner); the other hit being the album’s title-track.

But leaving these “hits” aside, the other songs are gems too: the guitar-driven Visions, the acoustic-flavoured After The Thrill Is Gone and Too Many Hands (the latter also featuring the vocals of Meisner on vocals with drummer Henley doubling on playing tabla, and fine guitar interplay between guitarists Don Felder and Glenn Frey), the lilting swing of Hollywood Waltz (featuring guitarist Glenn Frey on harmonium), and the amazing banjo-driven instrumental Journey Of The Sorcerer (a rendition of which was utilised as the theme of BBC’s ‘The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy’).

Nine tracks of sounds that had barely been popularised until then no doubt makes ‘One Of These Nights’essential listening accompanied by tight arrangements, brilliant playing, and the seamless harmonies of the band, all of whom were vocalists.

This album, which has an artwork now commonly associated with the Eagles, is one containing an embossed painted skull with wings and feathers (and, not unexpectedly, the sleeve received a ‘Best Album Package’ Grammy nomination), also holds a special place for this writer, being the first album purchased by his father during an UK trip in 1976, the very year in which the song Lyin’ Eyes, which was also nominated for ‘Record Of The Year’, won the Eagles' their first Grammy ever for ‘Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with vocals’.

Meanwhile, for the trivia-minded, it is interesting to note that among the several people thanked on the album sleeve are John Boylan, the man who co-produced Boston’s 1976 self-titled album with band founder Tom Scholz, and Al Kooper, who played organ on Bob Dylan’s Like A Rolling Stone, French horn and piano on the Rolling Stones’ You Can't Always Get What You Want, and became the producer for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Released on: 10^th June, 1975

Recorded: 1974-75

Duration: 43.08 minutes

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Parag Kamani

Parag Kamani has been part of the media and entertainment industry across 35 years, having worked for licensors such as Warner Music and EMI/Virgin in music, as well as Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures in the field of films. Parag continues pursuing his passion as a profession.