One of These Nights (song)
| "One of These Nights" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Netherlands picture sleeve, unusually crediting "The Eagles" | ||||
| Single by Eagles | ||||
| from the album One of These Nights | ||||
| B-side | "Visions" | |||
| Released | May 19, 1975 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Genre | Soft rock, disco[1][2] | |||
| Length |
4:55 (album) 3:28 (single) | |||
| Label | Asylum | |||
| Writer(s) | Don Henley, Glenn Frey | |||
| Producer(s) | Bill Szymczyk | |||
| Eagles singles chronology | ||||
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"One of These Nights" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and recorded by the American rock band the Eagles. The title track from their One of These Nights album, the song became their second single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart after "Best of My Love" and also helped propel the album to number one. The single version was shortened from the album version of the song, removing most of the song's intro and most of its fade-out, as well. Henley is lead vocalist on the verses, while Randy Meisner sings high harmony (not lead) on the refrain. The song features a guitar solo by Don Felder that is "composed of blues-based licks and sustained string bends using an unusually meaty distortion tone."[3]
Background
The song was a conscious attempt by the band to write something different from a country-rock and ballad-type song. Don Henley said: "We like to be a nice little country-rock band from Los Angeles ... about half the time". He added: "We wanted to get away from the ballad syndrome with "One of These Nights." With Don Felder in the band now, we can really rock."[2] Frey said that they "wanted 'One of These Nights' to have a lot of teeth, a lot of bite—a nasty track with pretty vocals."
The writing was influence by R&B music and disco; according to Frey, he was listening to Spinners and Al Green records when he started writing the song. Frey started the writing process by composing the music, and Henley then started with the lyrics.[2] Frey said: "I just went over to the piano and I started playing this little minor descending progression, and he comes over and goes, 'One of these nights'."[4] After that, Frey said: "What usually happens is when we get the thing fused together, he gets involved in the music and I get involved in the lyrics."[2]
In the liner notes of The Very Best Of, Frey had this to say about the song:
| “ | We had Don Henley's voice, which allowed us to go in a more soulful direction, which made me exceedingly happy ... A lot of things came together on One Of These Nights – our love of the studio, the dramatic improvement in Don's and my songwriting. We made a quantum leap with "One Of These Nights." It was a breakthrough song. It is my favorite Eagles record. If I ever had to pick one, it wouldn't be "Hotel California"; it wouldn't be "Take It Easy." For me, it would be "One Of These Nights."[5] | ” |
Frey also said that the song is about putting things off. "We've all said, 'One of these nights I'm gonna do something -- get that girl, make that money, find that house.' We all have our dreams - a vision we hope will come true someday. When that 'someday' will come is up to each of us."[6]
On the recording, Frey said: "We cut the basic track in Miami in December at Criteria Studios. We took it to L.A., put all the drone guitars and Felder's solo on in L.A., and went back to Miami to put the vocals on in March."[2]
The B-side, "Visions", features lead vocals by guitarist Don Felder, the only Eagles song to do so.
Personnel
- Don Henley: Lead vocals, drums
- Glenn Frey: Piano, guitar harmonies, backing vocals
- Don Felder: Rhythm guitar, lead guitar
- Randy Meisner: Bass guitar, backing vocals
- Bernie Leadon: Rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Charts
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] | 8 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] | 13 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] | 18 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] | 7 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] | 5 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] | 23 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 1 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[14] | 20 |
References
- ↑ Masley, Ed (September 30, 2014). "10/1: 5 essential Eagles albums- 'Hotel to 'Border'". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Paul Gambaccini (August 28, 1975). "Eagles Fly High With Disco 'Night'". Rolling Stone.
- ↑ Prown, Pete; Newquist, Harvey P. (1997). Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists. Milwaukee, WI: Leonard. p. 119. ISBN 978-0793540426.
- ↑ Travis Smiley. "Glenn Frey Tribute – Part 1". PBS.
- ↑ The Very Best Of (CD). Eagles. Warner Music Group. 2003. R2 73971.
- ↑ ""One of These Nights" - The Eagles". Super Seventies.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Eagles – One of These Nights" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4019a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4016." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eagles – One of These Nights" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Eagles – One of These Nights". Top 40 Singles.
- ↑ "Eagles: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
- ↑ "Eagles – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Eagles.
- ↑ "Eagles – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Eagles.
External links
| Preceded by "The Hustle" by Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single August 2, 1975 (one week) |
Succeeded by "Jive Talkin'" by The Bee Gees |
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