Hole in the World

This is starting to really sting...and I'm not looking forward to next Monday.

We learn of our loss of Bowie last Monday. We learn that Glenn Frye has departed terra firma this past Monday. Neither expected. Neither fair.

Though not as well-known, we also lost Gary Loizzo last week. Those of us that grew up in the shadow of WLS and the Mighty CFL knew Gary as the voice of the American Breed. But, he was so much more...mentor, friend and kick-ass producer and engineer of such Chicago stalwarts as Styx. We also lost Mic Gillette, founder of the Tower of Power and a member of Cold Blood last weekend.

It's coming, babies of the '60s and '70s...the great migration is upon us.

But, on this Music Friday, we honor Glenn. The uber hip soul master from the Motor City that sang back-up on Seger's Ramblin Gamblin Man, went on to back Ronstadt and then co-found the Eagles with Don Henley. 

There are a lot of creative duos in Rock like Jagger-Richards and Tyler-Perry. The one that most resembles the heart of the Eagles in my mind, however, is Lennon-McCartney...because the Henley-Frey team was just as polar opposite as John and Paul.

John was the wit and political conscience of the Beatles; Paul the romantic balladeer. Don was the wistful philosopher on the state of relationships and politics while Glenn was the heart and the soul.

Terri suggested Hole in the World...and while it so aptly says what we feel, it's really more of a Henley play. I originally thought of an obscure Eagle B-side that is all Glenn...but it doesn't capture his essence quite as true.

So...I'm going with a two-fer to say farewell and safe passage. A personal favorite rave-up from his solo album The Allnighter called Better in the USA (from a decidedly different space and time) and a song that combines the smokey cool of LA with his Detroit roots, True Love.

Hole in the World, indeed. 

Comments

[Lee T]

Part of learning to play guitar as a teenager was through the piano w/guitar chords music book of the Eagles' Greatest Hits (1971-75). Still is quite a shock.