The Long Run (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Long Run" is a song written by Don Henley
and Glenn Frey
(with additional writing credit to Bob Seger) and recorded by the Eagles. The sound of the song is viewed as a tribute to the Stax
/ Memphis
R&B sound. The lyrics of the song are viewed by some as a description of the longevity of the relationship between Glenn Frey
and Don Henley
, even though they were growing apart at the time. It was the title track of their album The Long Run
and was released as a single in November 1979. It reached #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
in early 1980. It was the second of three singles released from The Long Run album, preceded by "Heartache Tonight
," which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1979, and followed by "I Can't Tell You Why
," which also reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, in the spring of 1980.
The song was featured on the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati
on the episode "The Doctor's Daughter". Specifically, Dr. Johnny Fever decides to air the recording and his programming director, Andy Travis
is hysterical with delight that his popular DJ is playing a hit record for once.
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
and Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
(with additional writing credit to Bob Seger) and recorded by the Eagles. The sound of the song is viewed as a tribute to the Stax
Stax Records
Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
/ Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
R&B sound. The lyrics of the song are viewed by some as a description of the longevity of the relationship between Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
and Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
, even though they were growing apart at the time. It was the title track of their album The Long Run
The Long Run (album)
The Long Run is the sixth studio album by the Eagles, released in 1979 . This was the first Eagles album not to feature founding member Randy Meisner, who was replaced by Timothy B. Schmit....
and was released as a single in November 1979. It reached #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in early 1980. It was the second of three singles released from The Long Run album, preceded by "Heartache Tonight
Heartache Tonight
"Heartache Tonight" was revived four years later in a cover version by country music artist Conway Twitty. Released as the second single from his Lost in the Feeling album, Twitty's version reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the fall of 1983.Twitty's version featured the...
," which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1979, and followed by "I Can't Tell You Why
I Can't Tell You Why
"I Can't Tell You Why" is a song from the Eagles which appeared on their 1979 album The Long Run. The song was written by Timothy B. Schmit, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley, and was the first Eagles song to feature Schmit on lead vocals....
," which also reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, in the spring of 1980.
The song was featured on the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...
on the episode "The Doctor's Daughter". Specifically, Dr. Johnny Fever decides to air the recording and his programming director, Andy Travis
Andy Travis
Andy Travis is a fictional character on the television situation comedy WKRP in Cincinnati . He was played by Gary Sandy.Travis was originally intended to be the lead character, the more-or-less normal person who would anchor the series and provide the focus for most of the stories...
is hysterical with delight that his popular DJ is playing a hit record for once.
Personnel
- Don HenleyDon HenleyDonald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
: Lead vocals, drums - Glenn FreyGlenn FreyGlenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
: Rhythm Guitar, backing vocals - Joe WalshJoe WalshJoseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
: Slide Guitar, backing vocals - Don FelderDon FelderDonald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...
: Slide Guitar, Organ, backing vocals - Timothy B. SchmitTimothy B. SchmitTimothy Bruce Schmit is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as bass guitar player and singer for Poco and the Eagles. Schmit has also worked for decades as a session musician and solo artist.-Early career:Raised in Sacramento, Schmit began playing in the folk music group...
: Bass guitar, backing vocals
Chart performance
| Chart (1979/1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
8 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Top Singles |
9 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Oriented Playlist | 9 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 30 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
66 |
Cover versions
- American Ska Punk band Reel Big FishReel Big FishReel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Huntington Beach, California, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out". The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold certified album Turn the Radio Off. Soon after, the band...
have done their own rendition of the song on their 2009 album2009 in musicThe following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
Fame, Fortune and FornicationFame, Fortune and Fornication-Personnel:Reel Big Fish:* Aaron Barrett - Lead guitar, lead vocals* John Christianson - Trumpet* Derek Gibbs - Bass guitar* Scott Klopfenstein - Trumpet, vocals* Dan Regan - Trombone* Ryland Steen - DrumsAdditional Musicians:...
.