WCSX Classic Cuts : Heartache Tonight

WCSX Classic Cuts

Eagles: "Heartache Tonight"

The Hook: Glenn Frey had always wanted the Eagles to do a shuffle.

Album: The Long Run

Year: 1979

Writers: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bob Seger and J.D. Souther

Stats: Topped the Billboard Hot 100

Background: Although it eventually took four writers to complete it, Glenn Frey tells us that the groundwork for "Heartache Tonight" was laid during a visit to his L.A. home by Bob Seger. He recalls how the song got started.

Eagles singer-guitarist Glenn Frey on how he and Bob Seger began writing “Heartache Tonight.” OC:…screaming part. :27

“I told Bob Seger that I always had wanted the Eagles to do a shuffle and Seger and I were jamming at my house and I had the first part of the song [sings ‘Somebody’s gonna hurt someone…’] together and I sort of played him what I thought the verse was. And then right after that Seger went to the forecourt and started screaming the chorus, ‘Heartache tonight.’ Seger could do a great version of “Heartache Tonight.” I was slightly overmatched in the vocal. It took me a little while to get that vocal right – the screaming part.”