It’s 1976. The Eagles are essentially the biggest band on the planet, and they are currently locked inside Criteria Studios in Miami, sweating through the recording of Hotel California. Most people, when they think of that era, think of Don Henley’s rasp or Joe Walsh’s gritty guitar slides. But tucked away on side one, right before the title track’s shadow looms too large, is Eagles Try and Love Again.
It’s a song that feels like a sunset. Honestly, it’s probably the most sincere three and a half minutes the band ever put to tape. While the rest of the album is busy deconstructing the "American Dream" and the rot of the Los Angeles high life, this track—penned and sung by bassist Randy Meisner—is just a pure, unadulterated plea for optimism.
The Meisner Magic
Randy Meisner was always the "reluctant" Eagle. He had this incredible, high-register voice that could pierce through a thick wall of electric guitars, yet he famously struggled with the limelight. By the time they were tracking Eagles Try and Love Again, the internal friction between the "Alpha" duo of Henley and Frey and the rest of the band was starting to blister.
Meisner didn't write often. When he did, he made it count.
Look at the structure here. It’s not complex. It’s a straight-ahead rocker with a country-rock soul. But the vocal performance? That’s where the magic lives. He’s singing about the exhaustion of the road and the hope of finding something real. You can hear the weariness in his breath. It’s a precursor to the breakdown he’d eventually have over "Take It to the Limit," but here, he sounds like he still believes in the redemptive power of a relationship.
Why the Production Hits Different
Most of Hotel California is polished to a surgical degree. Bill Szymczyk, the producer, was known for that "big" 70s drum sound and those pristine, layered vocals. On Eagles Try and Love Again, the guitars have a specific chime. It’s Joe Walsh and Glenn Frey weaving together. Walsh provides that signature greasiness, while Frey keeps it grounded.
You’ve got to love the lead guitar work here. It’s melodic. It doesn’t overplay. It serves the song's sentiment rather than trying to show off. The solo is almost conversational, mirroring the lyrics' theme of trying one more time despite the odds.
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The harmonies are, as usual, world-class. The Eagles were basically a vocal group that happened to play instruments like gods. When Henley and Frey come in behind Meisner on the chorus, it creates this wall of sound that feels like a safety net. It’s ironic, considering how much they were actually getting along (or not getting along) at the time.
The Lyrics: A Simple Truth
"Right or wrong, what's done is done / It's only moments that we borrow."
That’s the core of it. It’s a very un-cynical take for an album that is otherwise pretty dark. Most of the songs on Hotel California are about traps—hotels you can’t leave, "life in the fast lane" that kills you, or "new kids in town" replacing you. Eagles Try and Love Again is the outlier. It’s the door that’s still open.
It’s about the risk of vulnerability.
If you’ve ever been burnt by a relationship and found yourself standing on the edge of a new one, this song hits. It’s not a "happily ever after" song. It’s a "let’s give this another shot" song. There’s a massive difference. One is a fairy tale; the other is real life.
The Live Performance Struggle
The tragedy of Eagles Try and Love Again is that it barely got the live recognition it deserved. Meisner’s shy nature and his eventual departure from the band in 1977 meant this song was largely mothballed. When Timothy B. Schmit replaced him, the setlists shifted toward Schmit’s "I Can't Tell You Why."
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The song became a deep cut for the die-hards.
If you look at bootlegs from the '76 tour, you can see the strain. Meisner was hitting those high notes, but the pressure of being the "ballad guy" was eating him alive. He didn't want to be the center of attention. He just wanted to play bass. This song represents the peak of his creative input before the wheels totally came off his tenure in the band.
Why it Still Matters Today
We live in an era of over-processed pop. Everything is quantized. Everything is pitch-corrected. Listening to Eagles Try and Love Again in 2026 feels like a palate cleanser. There is a "looseness" to the rhythm section that you just don't get anymore.
Don Henley’s drumming on this track is underrated. He’s not doing anything flashy, but the pocket is deep. It allows Meisner’s bass lines to dance around the melody. It’s a reminder that great music doesn't need to be loud or aggressive to be powerful. It just needs to be honest.
A lot of critics at the time dismissed the Eagles as "corporate rock." They saw the perfection as a lack of soul. But listen to the bridge of this song. There’s a yearning there that feels anything but corporate. It feels like a guy in his 30s wondering if he’s already seen his best days or if there’s something better around the corner.
Breaking Down the Misconceptions
Some fans think Glenn Frey wrote this because of the vocal arrangement style. Nope. This was Randy's baby. Others think it was a B-side. It wasn't; it was a core part of the most successful album of its decade.
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There's also this weird idea that the Eagles were all about "The Desert" sound by this point. By 1976, they had moved far away from the "Peaceful Easy Feeling" vibes. They were a stadium rock band. Eagles Try and Love Again is the last real thread connecting them to their country-rock roots before they went full-blown rock-and-roll-juggernaut.
How to Appreciate This Song Properly
Don't just stream it on your phone speakers.
This is a "headphone song." You need to hear the separation. Put on a decent pair of cans or fire up the vinyl. Notice how the acoustic guitar sits just to the left of center. Listen to the way the harmony vocals fade out on the final chorus. It’s a masterclass in 70s analog recording.
Actionable Takeaways for the Classic Rock Fan
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era of the band, don't stop here. Here is how you can actually experience the "Meisner Era" to its fullest:
- Listen to "Certain Kind of Fool": This is Meisner’s autobiographical track from Desperado. It explains his discomfort with fame and sets the stage for the sentiment in "Try and Love Again."
- Compare the Mixes: Find the 2013 Remaster of Hotel California. The low end on "Try and Love Again" is much clearer, allowing you to actually hear Meisner's melodic bass playing, which often got buried in older radio edits.
- Watch the Houston '76 Footage: There are grainy videos of the band during this period. Watch the body language. You can see the transition from the "cowboy" Eagles to the "superstar" Eagles happening in real-time.
- Read "Heaven and Hell" by Don Felder: If you want the gritty details of what was happening in the studio while this song was being recorded, Felder’s memoir is the gold standard. He talks about the meticulous (and often soul-crushing) process of getting these tracks right.
Basically, Eagles Try and Love Again isn't just a song. It’s a snapshot of a band at its zenith, written by the man who was already looking for the exit. It’s beautiful, it’s fleeting, and it’s the most human moment on an album that otherwise feels like it was delivered from a different planet.