It was 49 years ago today — March 22nd, 1974 — that the Eagles released their third album, On The Border. The album marked the first appearance of soon-to-be fifth member, guitarist Don Felder and featured a trio of major hits for the band.
On The Border peaked at a respectable Number 17 on the Billboard 200, and was driven by the band's first chart-topper, “Best Of My Love,” which was written by leaders Don Henley and Glenn Frey with J.D. Souther, and “Already Gone,” an FM staple, which topped out at Number 32 and was co-written by close friend Jack Tempchin, who had already written “Peaceful Easy Feeling” fir the band on its 1972 self-titled debut set.
The album also featured a notable cover of Tom Waits' “Ol' 55,” “James Dean” written by Henley, Frey, Souther, and Jackson Browne, and “Good Day In Hell” featuring some scorching slide guitar by Don Felder. Although Bill Szymczyk (pronounced: SIMM-zick) produced most of the album, “Best Of My Love” was a holdover from the band's final sessions with legendary Rolling Stones and Who producer/engineer, Glyn Johns.