Desperado

Released in 1973, Desperado is the Eagles' second studio album and their only true concept record. Recorded at Island Studios in London with producer Glyn Johns, the album famously juxtaposes the lives of the 19th-century Dalton Gang with the modern life of a rock star, suggesting that the 'outlaw' lifestyle remains unchanged across centuries. Despite containing the title track - which became one of the most enduring standards in the American songbook - the album was initially a lukewarm commercial performer compared to their debut. Critics at the time, including those at AllMusic in retrospect, noted the ambition of the songwriting team of Don Henley and Glenn Frey, who began their legendary partnership in earnest here. Sonically, it is the band's most 'country' leaning effort, heavily featuring Bernie Leadon's banjo and mandolin work, which grounds the rock elements in authentic Americana textures. It stands as a pivotal moment where the band moved away from being a simple hit-machine toward becoming serious album-oriented architects of the Southern California sound.