Eagles
Steeped in the country-rock sound ofthe ByrdsandFlying Burrito Brothers(guitarist/banjo player Bernie Leadon had been a member of the latter) and the burgeoning So-Cal singer-songwriter movement (Jackson Brownecontributes to a pair of songs on the album), the Eagles 1972 debut is full of breezy hit singles ("Take It Easy," "Peaceful Easy Feeling") and stinging rock ("Witchy Woman," "Take the Devil"). Thanks to Leadon's presence, there's a bluegrass feel to songs like "Nightingale" and "Early Bird." Mostly, though, the album offers a sampling of the L.A. scene's laid-back early-70s optimism, with just a hint of the darkness to come.--Daniel Durchholz