Having acquired MTV in 1983, I found, at the time, a more reliable source than radio to keep me informed of new music. If it hadn't been for this revolutionary new TV station that showed music videos 24/7 and informed viewers of news in music, then the album "Airborne" by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder would have most likely passed me by.
One very good reason for this was that MTV showed the video to the single from this album, "Bad Girls" while I never recall hearing the song played on radio. I remember the video quite well because not only "Bad Girls" was a decent song, but it also featured a guest appearance by Cheech Marin of Cheech and Chong fame. Then again, Don Felder had already gotten my attention two years earlier with his phenomenal song, "Heavy Metal" from the soundtrack to the film of the same name. If I was to try to rank solo songs by all the members of the Eagles, "Heavy Metal" would definitely be number one.
"Airborne" has no such powerful heavy metal anthems like the one I have mentioned from the above soundtrack. Saying that, the album tends to chart the waters of melodic hard rock and is very similar to some of the songs he co-wrote with his former band mates when he was in The Eagles. The first half of the album is pure evidence of this but all of the tracks are nicely done. While I cite the Eagles influence, I am not left thinking, "why don't I just put on "Hotel California" when I listen to "Airborne."
Track five, "Never Surrender" appeared on the soundtrack of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." If you remember when I covered the soundtrack, I thought it was a very good album but shame the movie sucked. But, I digress yet again. With the tracks following "Never Surrender," he does get more adventurous. "Asphalt Jungle" and "Night Owl" are more in the blues fashion and in my view the two best tracks on the album. While Felder rips out some great guitar solos and bridges with every song, his best efforts are on these two tracks and the closer. He really just lets himself go on these and really shines.
Track Listing:
- Bad Girls
- Winners
- Haywire
- Who Tonight
- Never Surrender
- Asphalt Jungle
- Night Owls
- Still Alive
Don Felder[/caption]Don Felder- guitar, vocals, synthesizer, keyboards
George 'Chocolate' Perry,Greg Hawkins, Nathan East - bass
Jeff Lorber, Michael Murphy- keyboards
Joe Vitale- keyboards, flute, drums
Albhy Galuten, Anthony Marianelli- synthesizers
Carlos Vega, Ross Kunkel, Tris Imboden- drums
Paulino da Costa- percussion
James Pankow, Lee Loughnane- horns
Dave Mason, Kenny Loggins, Timothy B Schmidt- backing vocals
"Airborne" by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder is probably the best hidden gem from 1983. When I listen to it, I ask myself why this album didn't make more of an impression on people. Maybe it was just the way things were back then because this is a very good album. Felder was just a good singer/song writer as the rest of his compatriots from the Eagles and he is one hell of a guitarist as well.
Next post: Brian May and Friends- Starfleet
To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
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