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WCSX Classic Cuts : Best of My Love

WCSX Classic Cuts Eagles: “Best of My Love” The Hook: Their first number-one, it surprised some band members that it was even released as a single. Album: On the Border…

NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 16: Glen Frey, Don Henley and Joe Walsh of the Eagles perform during “History Of The Eagles Live In Concert” at the Bridgestone Arena on October 16, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

Credit: Rick Diamond / Gettyimages

WCSX Classic Cuts

Eagles: "Best of My Love"

The Hook: Their first number-one, it surprised some band members that it was even released as a single.

Album: On the Border

Year: 1974

Writer: Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther

Stats: The third single off On the Border, it topped the Billboard Hot 100.

Background: It took three tries for the Eagles to get a number-one hit off their third album, On the Border. The first single, "Already Gone," barely scraped the Top 40 and the second, "James Dean," didn't even do that. Then came "Best of My Love." Guitarist Bernie Leadon was a bit shocked by what happened next.

Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon on “Best of My Love.” OC:…pretty slow. :23

“It definitely was our first number-one, which to me was ironic because it was such a ballad and we liked to think ourselves a rock band, even though we were really a vocal band, of whatever tempo. And ‘Best of My Love’ certainly is a vocal exercise and certainly has a mood. But I was surprised, to be honest with you, when the label released that as a single, ‘cause I thought it was too mellow. And the tempo is really pretty slow.”