Хөгжмийн ертөнцийн сонгодог бүтээлд тооцогддог энэхүү дууг бичихэд дуучин Дон Хенли маш их сандарч, хүндрэлтэй нөхцөл байдалтай тулгарч байжээ.
1973 онд “Eagles” хамтлагийн хоёр дахь цомогт багтсан “Desperado” дуу нь тухайн үедээ хамтлагийн хувьд шинэлэг сорилт байв. Анхны цомгийн амжилтын дараа хамтлагийнхан барууны болон ковбойчуудын сэдвийг барьж ажилласан бөгөөд Дон Хенли амьд оркестртой анх удаа хамтран ажиллахдаа ихээхэн сандарсан гэдгээ дурссан байдаг. Лондоны “Island” студид бичлэг хийх үеэр оркестрын хөгжимчид уйтгарлаж, шатар тоглох зэргээр анхаарал сарниулж байсан нь түүнийг улам бүр түгшээж, дуулах явцдаа өөртөө итгэлгүй байдал гаргахад хүргэжээ.
Продюсер Глин Жонс бичлэгийг хурдан бөгөөд хэмнэлттэй хийхийг зорьсон тул дуучинд ердөө тав хүртэлх удаагийн оролдлого хийх боломж олгосон байна. Дон Хенли тухайн үеийн дуу хоолойн гүйцэтгэлдээ сэтгэл хангалуун бус үлдсэн бөгөөд дахин дуулах боломж олдоогүйдээ харамсдаг гэдгээ 2015 онд илэрхийлжээ. Гэвч түүний хамтран зүтгэгч Гленн Фрайтай хамтран бүтээсэн энэхүү дуу нь хамтлагийн түүхэн дэх хамгийн шилдэг бүтээлүүдийн нэг болж чадсан юм.
“Desperado” нь Billboard Hot 100 жагсаалтад ороогүй боловч “Rolling Stone” сэтгүүлийн бүх цаг үеийн хамгийн шилдэг 40 дууны жагсаалтын гуравдугаарт бичигдсэн байдаг. Албан ёсны сингл болж гараагүй хэдий ч энэ дуу нь “Eagles” хамтлагийн тоглолтуудад хамгийн их эгшиглэдэг хоёр дахь бүтээл болж, үе үеийн сонсогчдын дунд үлджээ.
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Eagles singer Don Henley once faced intense studio anxiety while recording one of the band’s most celebrated songs.
According to American Songwriter, Henley felt like a “nervous wreck” while recording Desperado. The classic ballad appeared on the band’s second studio album of the same name, released in 1973.
The Eagles were already enjoying commercial success when they began working on their second album. Their 1972 self-titled debut produced three hit singles: Take It Easy, Witchy Woman and Peaceful Easy Feeling.
That early success put pressure on the band to deliver another strong album. Henley later described the situation as a “sophomore freakout.” He said the group took a different approach with Desperado, building the album’s theme around cowboys and the American West.
That artistic direction shaped the recording of the album’s title track. Henley had never performed with a live orchestra before recording Desperado. The song opens with piano before building into a fuller arrangement featuring drum and string parts from the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
How a 1973 Eagles Classic Made Don Henley a ‘Nervous Wreck’
The 1973 recording session took place at Island Studios in London. Henley recalled feeling overwhelmed by the studio’s size and intimidated by the seemingly bored orchestra members.
“When we were in England, recording Desperado, I was a nervous wreck,” Henley told Mojo in 2015. “I was standing in this huge room, Island Studios, a big orchestra right behind me, and they were bored to tears.”
“Some older gentleman had brought chessboards and they would play between takes,” he continued. “I would hear these remarks like, ‘Well, you know, I don’t feel much like a desperado.’ I was so intimidated that I didn’t sing my best.”
Henley was allowed only up to five takes during the session. Dissatisfied with his vocal performance, he admitted that he wished he had another chance to sing the song.
“Our producer Glyn Johns, who is still a friend of mine, I think, wanted to get the album done quickly and economically, and he didn’t let me do many takes,” Henley recalled. “I wish I could have done that song again.”
Desperado marked the beginning of a songwriting partnership between Henley and Glenn Frey, the Eagles’ other lead singer. Frey helped Henley develop the song’s lyrics.
Despite Henley’s disappointment with his vocals, Desperado became one of the band’s greatest songs. Rolling Stone ranked the orchestral ballad No. 3 on its list of the 40 Greatest Eagles Songs. It placed behind Take It Easy at No. 2 and Hotel California at No. 1.
Desperado was never officially issued to retail or radio as a single. With limited exposure, the song never appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 during its initial run.
Despite that, it has continued to resonate with listeners across generations. Desperado became a staple in the Eagles’ catalog and ranks as their second-most-performed song during live shows throughout their more than six-decade career. Its incredible journey proves that a song’s legacy can extend far beyond the charts.
Related: 1975 Rock Album, Which Caused the Singer to Quit, Became a No. 1 Hit
