"Already Gone" is a song recorded by the American rock band the
Eagles
Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...
for their 1974 album ''
On the Border''. It was written by
Jack Tempchin and Robb Strandlund and produced by
Bill Szymczyk.
The song was the first single released from ''On the Border'' and peaked at No. 32 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. Since then, the Eagles have included it in their greatest hits albums and live performances.
Background
"Already Gone", which is four minutes and 13 seconds long, was written by Robb Strandlund and Jack Tempchin.
["On the Border - Eagles"](_blank)
allmusic.com. Retrieved December 30, 2011. In the liner notes for ''
The Very Best Of'',
Glenn Frey said that Tempchin sent him a tape of the song through the mail. Tempchin had already written one of the Eagles' previous singles, "
Peaceful Easy Feeling".
[ Excerpt also in ''The Very Best Of'' (p. 13) ]D booklet
D, or d, is the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''dee'' (pronounced ), plural ''dees''.
History
The ...
Warner Music Group REF.
"Already Gone" was one of the first songs that the Eagles recorded for the album after they stopped recording in London and returned to
Los Angeles, and switched their producer from
Glyn Johns to
Bill Szymczyk.
Frey was the lead vocalist. New guitarist
Don Felder played a
Les Paul Special and provided the song's solo lick.
Release
"Already Gone" is the opening track of the Eagles' album ''On the Border'', which was released by
Asylum Records on March 22, 1974.
It was released as the first single from the album in April 1974.
[Strong, Martin Charles (2006). ]
The Essential Rock Discography
'. Canongate U.S. p. 345. Its b-side was "Is It True".
The song has also been included on some of the Eagles' compilation albums, including ''
Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)'' and ''The Very Best Of''.
Critical reception
''
Cash Box
''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' said that this was the Eagles' "best single release to date" calling it a "hard rocker driven by the group's incredible harmonies."
"Already Gone" has been described as a "classic". In his book ''To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles'', Marc Eliot wrote that the song "was an out-and-out rocker ... Musically it sounded like a fuel-injected rave-up, with melodic echoes of both 'Peaceful Easy Feeling' and 'Take It Easy.' In 2017, ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' ranked the song number nine on their list of the 15 greatest Eagles songs, and in 2019, ''
Rolling Stone'' ranked the song number six on their list of the 40 greatest Eagles songs.
Chart performance
The song was a "staple" on AM and FM radio. It peaked at #32 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on June 29, 1974, spending three weeks on the
American Top 40
''American Top 40'' (previously abbreviated to ''AT40'') is an internationally syndicated, independent song countdown radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds, and Ron Jacobs. The program is currently hosted by Ryan Seacr ...
, and a total of 15 weeks on the chart.
[ "Already Gone - Eagles" billboard.com. Retrieved December 30, 2011.]
Live performances
The Eagles have included "Already Gone" in their live performances since the 1970s. It was one of their "best selections" at a 1979
Michigan show, according to one reviewer. At a 2002 concert in
Washington, the song created a "frenzy," with the audience singing along. A performance was included on the 2005 ''
Farewell 1 Tour'' DVD, which was filmed in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. In 2006, the band played the song in
Manchester, and Frey delivered it "with humour and passion."
Personnel
*
Glenn Frey – lead vocals, guitar solos
*
Don Henley
Donald Hugh Henley (born July 22, 1947) is an American musician and a founding member of the rock band Eagles. He is the drummer and one of the lead singers for the Eagles. Henley sang the lead vocals on Eagles hits such as "Witchy Woman", "Despe ...
– drums, background vocals
*
Bernie Leadon – guitar, background vocals
*
Randy Meisner
Randall Herman Meisner (born March 8, 1946) is a retired American musician, singer, songwriter and founding member of the Eagles. Throughout his professional musical career, Meisner's main role was that of bassist and backing high-harmony vocal ...
– bass, background vocals
*
Don Felder – guitar solos
Track listing
7"
# "Already Gone"
# "Is It True"
Charts
Other versions
*"Already Gone" was recorded by
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Denise Tucker (born October 10, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13. Over the succeeding decades, Tucker became one of the few child performers to mature int ...
for the 1993 tribute album ''
Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles''. ''
Rolling Stones Kara Manning wrote that Tucker's version "transforms its male bravado into a feminist battle cry."
*The song was included by
Wilson Phillips
Wilson Phillips is an American pop group formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The group consists of Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, and Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of th ...
on their 2004 album ''
California''.
[Gardner, Elysa]
"Wilson Phillips: 'California' dreaming"
usatoday.com. June 17, 2004. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
*The Finnish rendering "Alan Sooloilemaan" was recorded by
Karma () for their 1977 album ''Morjens''.
References
{{authority control
1974 singles
1993 singles
2004 singles
Eagles (band) songs
Tanya Tucker songs
Wilson Phillips songs
Songs written by Jack Tempchin
Song recordings produced by Bill Szymczyk
Asylum Records singles
1973 songs