The theme over on Star Maker Machine this week is songs from the year 1973. I was originally gonna post this up there, but I decided it was shaping up to be a little too in depth for what they do over there so I’ve decided to post it up over here.

The Eagles have their fair share of detractors and many of the complaints about the Eagles are more than fair. Others are just people squeezing lemons. Personally, I like The Eagles. Fuck, I like them a lot. They are part of the soundtrack of my childhood and, really, they wrote some great fucking music. If you can’t see that then you’re probably one of the aforementioned lemon squirters.

In 1973 The Eagles released their second (and best) album of their storied carrier, Desperado. It’s a concept album based on Bill Doolin and his gang, The Wild Bunch. While the album carries the title of one of their most famous tracks, Desperado was never released as a single. The album managed to reach the Billboard Top 50 but couldn’t net a top single out of “Tequila Sunrise” or “Outlaw Man”. I imagine these days more people know of “Tequila Sunrise” from the Greatest Hits album than some long forgotten album released 35 years ago.

Bill Doolin first joined the Dalton gang in 1892 and rode with them until four of the six gang members were killed by Coffeyville, Kansas lawmen and their posse following a botched bank robbery. Less than a month later, the surviving members of the Dalton gang had recruited new members and, led by Bill Doolin, they would make up The Wild Bunch. Over the next 3 (or so) years the gang would terrorize the Oklahoma territories until disbanding after an Ames, OT gunfight with a posse that resulted in another death of Tulsa Jack. Later in 1895, Doolin was apprehended by Deputy Marshal Tilghman Eureka Springs and jailed in Guthrie, OT. On July 5, 1896, Doolin and 12 other priosoners managed to escape from jail and Bill returned to his wife in Lawson, OT. However, the reunion would be short lived. While Bill and his wife, Edith, were making plans to leave the Oklahoma Territories, Deputy Marshal Heck Thomas and a possee were hot on Bill’s trail. Heck caught up to Bill on August 24, 1896 and Bill was killed by shotgun blast. As was custom in that era, Bill’s body was photographed shirtless (above)to show his wounds.

By the end of 1898 all of the members of The Wild Bunch would be dead and most would meet their maker via the barrels of Thomas himself.

Go down, Bill Doolin, don’t you wonder why
Sooner or later we all have to die?
Sooner or later, that’s a stone-cold fact,
Four men ride out and only three ride back

If you’re ever in the mood, put on this album and pull up one of the many Bill Doolin biographies on the internets. Perhaps you’ll find some love for an album you’ve likely never bothered to listen to.

The Eagles - Doolin-Dalton
The Eagles - Doolin-Dalton [Instrumental]
The Eagles - Outlaw Man
The Eagles - Doolin-Dalton / Desperado [Reprise]

The Eagles’ Official Site, Bill Doolin Biography, Buy Desperado