I was kind of an Eagles fan already when this album was released in 1979, though their only other album I had at that point was "Hotel California". I was a bit surprised at the change of musical style when Long Run came out, and my first impression was that I didn't really care for it. But I was only 19 years old and freely admit now that I didn't know much about music at that time.

About six months after getting the album, my girlfriend and I began experiencing *serious* problems. At that point, this album really came to mean a lot to me, as a lot of the lyrics really hit home even though I was likely interpreting them wrong. I played that album literally 100 times or more during the coming months, and I now say that it was one of the few things I looked forward to at that time in my life. So my opinion is biased.

The quality of this album from beginning to end is absolutely first-rate, which is a given for any Eagles release. There is a change in style from their previous work, and I found that change to be best described as 'edgy' and slightly dark. I love every song on this album. All this said however, it ranks second place with me after "Hotel California" which was a difficult album to improve upon. It's not a quality issue though. Merely a style issue. I do like this album's style quite a lot, but nothing could top "Hotel California". And this style change, though subtle and certainly not a negative aspect, may take some getting used to if you haven't heard this album already.

Also please note that Elektra has just released a "Digitally Remastered For The First Time" edition of this CD. The ones I've seen have a sticker on top of the cellophane stating exactly that, so I would try and get that release if possible. I cannot imagine any lover of music being disappointed with this CD.

Let me start by saying that I have known this recording intimately since it was first released. I still have a mint LP copy and the first release of this on CD from 1984 (solid puuple Elektra silkscreen CD label). So like any audio enthusiast I bought this "remastered" edition (I also bought the Dec 2005 remastered Japan version in the mini-LP...read that review as well). In a word: disappointment.

Credit Bill Szmyczyk for creating a great (if somewhat muffled...and maybe that was the intent) recording to begin with. The ONLY thing this new incarnation brings to the table is a much louder volume. There is NO sonic revelation, there is NOT a replication of the original complete artwork, there is NO indication on the actual inserts that this is a remastered edition. The only indication is a black sticker on the shrinkwrap. So if you have any of the CD versions out there, DO NOT PITCH THEM TO BUY THIS ONE...you will be disappointed.

Released in September of 1979, "The Long Run" is the last Eagles album (not counting the "Eagles Live" album) prior to their initial disbandment, and what a fascinating way to go out. You've got to give the Eagles credit--they really put a lot of edgy, ballsy music on here, and though the album certainly is flawed, there's actually not a weak song on the entire album. Some folks are simply not willing to embrace the doom-laden atmosphere of much of the album, and that goes a long way to explaining its mixed reviews.

The album does start off with a pair of big hits which I presume most folks are ultra-familiar with--the title track is an upbeat and catchy mid-tempo pop-rocker; and the Timothy B. Schmit spotlight "I Can't Tell You Why" is a sumptuous haunting ballad. There's another huge hit that topped the US singles chart with the early rock 'n' roll-styled "Heartache Tonight"--it's undeniably catchy, but the sugariness and bombast of the arrangement do make it annoying. There's also the Joe Walsh spotlight "In The City" which is a pretty good laidback rocker, though it's generic and kind of dull.

As for the rest, there's some really intriguing stuff that finds the Eagles branching out. The peppy, stuttering rocker "The Disco Strangler" has a great "intentionally annoying" repetitive melody that fits perfectly with the amusingly sarcastic lyrics and Don Henley's cleverly-phrased vocal. "King Of Hollywood" is an arresting, hypnotic mood piece with Glenn Frey, Don Felder, and Walsh all contributing some seriously tasty guitar work. The supremely creepy downbeat rocker "Those Shoes" is definitely super cool, although on this album version of the song, Henley's vocal is weirdly buried in the mix, and the "oh no" harmonies sound wimpy--don't miss the live version of "Those Shoes" from the "Selected Works" box set which totally kicks ass and gets the edge over the version here. The super slow "Teenage Jail" has a compelling 'waking-up-with-a-hangover' vibe to it; it does have some laughably "vicious" spoken vocals from Henley, but it's still a damn good track. The surf rock-flavored "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks" is silly, but still pretty fun. The album-closing ballad "The Sad Cafe" is a bit dull musically, although it's still a nice song with effective lyrics that make for a fitting finale both to the album and to the Eagles initial run.

All in all, there's a lot of really impressive creativity on "The Long Run", and for serious listeners, this is a solidly recommended album.

"The Long Run" is the last Eagles studio album, and aftermath of three long years of bickering and rivalry among the bandmembers. There was a lot of tension involved in finishing the project, and towards the end of the album one can tell that the Eagles wanted to be released from one another and go their separate ways. The introduction of Timothy B. Schmit helped heal the dying soul within the band. It is ironic that positive songs like "I Can't Tell You Why" and "The Long Run" are on this album. "The Sad Cafe" seems more appropriate for the mood behind making this album. Joe Walsh's "In The City" is a nice contribution but seems out of place with the rest of the songs. "King Of Hollywood" is a dark song featuring Don Henley singing in a much lower range, adding a nice touch to Timothy and Glenn's harmonies. They performed this song during their 1979-80 tour and it sounded just like the studio cut. "Heartache Tonight" and "Those Shoes" are easily recognizable as they are often played on the radio. The remaining three songs I have not mentioned, "The Disco Strangler," "Teenage Jail," and "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks" should not have been included on the album. They are mediocre in comparison to the lyrical and melodic efforts of the other tracks. "The Long Run" has a polished production, further explaining the amount of time it took to complete the album. Great album, and highly recommended. Check out Eagles Live too if you want to hear some of these tracks with a harder punch.

Took a long time to come out and the results were mixed. More cynical rock from the guys who did it best back then. However, there is no standout cut on this album (Hotel California consisted of almost ALL standouts). This was their last effort before that live album they did a few years ago. However, judging by the quality of this album and subsequent solo works, it is difficult to see what all of the fuss was surrounding the breakup.