What was the first Eagles song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey?

That changed when the two became neighbors in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of the Hollywood Hills. Frey visited Henley’s house to write, and one day the Eagles drummer summoned up his courage and brought out an unfinished piece he’d been keeping in the back of his mind for the past four years.

Henley explained what he thought of the song and how he planned to complete it. He described it as “southern gothic” music, as he borrowed the introduction from Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind,” but suggested that he and Frey “make it more western.” Without hesitation, Frey “pounced on it,” working what his bandmate had in mind into a full-fledged song.

So what song was that?

As the lyrics took shape, the song became “Desperado,” a hard-hitting title track for the Eagles’ second LP. The song quickly became a staple of live performances and was featured on the band’s best-selling compilation album. Today, it is one of the band’s most well-known and beloved songs.

From that point on, Frey and Henley never looked back, co-writing their first Eagles single, “Tequila Sunrise,” that same week. These songs marked the beginning of a creative surge that would see them through the recording of their fifth album. Hotel Californiain 1976.

“I think I brought him ideas and a lot of opinions,” Frey told Cameron Crowe in 2003. “He brought me poetry,” he added, referring to Henley. “We were a good team.” That may be something of an understatement.

During their heyday in the mid-1970s, Henley and Frey were arguably the most equal and prolific songwriting duo of any band in the world. Together they wrote eight top-ten singles and four number-one albums, including one of the best-selling records of all time.

Eagles fans should be thankful that they live in Laurel Canyon. And also toast to “Desperado.” The beginning of everything.

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