No band captured the transition from breezy country-rock to the heights of stardom quite like the Eagles.
During their peak 1970s run, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Don Felder, Joe Walsh, and Randy Meisner seemed incapable of missing the mark. Yet critics pointed out a rare stumble hidden on one of their greatest full-length efforts, a song that many believe stands out as an absolute misfire on an otherwise excellent album.
Released in 1976, Hotel California was the band’s fifth LP. It was the Eagles’ fifth studio album and their first featuring guitarist Joe Walsh.
The record became a critical and commercial monster, spawning defining hits like “Hotel California,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” and “New Kid in Town.” Yet, nestled on side two lies the song that Rolling Stone ranked as one of its “50 Terrible Songs on Great Albums.”
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Sung and written by Meisner, “Try and Love Again” was intended to give fans a breather from the album’s darker themes. But critics didn’t buy it, dismissing it as forgettable filler that couldn’t compete with the album’s massive hits.
Rolling Stone ranked the song at No. 12 on its list, writing, “Randy Meisner was a man of many talents. He was a gifted bassist, and his achingly tender voice was a critical part of the harmony blend that gave the Eagles such a distinct sound.”
The outlet continued, “His lead vocals on ‘Take It to the Limit’ are simply magnificent, and all attempts to pull off that song without him have fallen flat. But he simply couldn’t compete as a songwriter in a band with Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Joe Walsh. And these guys were operating at their absolute peak when Hotel California came around.”
The review concluded, “This was Meisner’s last album with the group, and they included his country-rock tune ‘Try and Love Again’ on the second side. It’s the only dud on the otherwise perfect album. Vince Gill did his best with it when the remaining Eagles played Hotel California straight through about five years back, but it was a bathroom break for many between “Pretty Maids All in a Row” and “The Last Resort.”
American Songwriter notes that the relatable track captures the struggle of a relationship at a crossroads. It wrestles with a classic dilemma: “Should I stay or go? I really wanna know. Would I lose or win? If I try and love again?”
“Try and Love Again” would mark the end of an era for the band in more ways than one. As the final song founding bassist Randy Meisner wrote and sang lead on for the Eagles, it served as his swan song before his high-profile exit in September 1977.
Reportedly exhausted by intense touring pressure and the anxiety of singing his hit “Take It to the Limit” night after night, Meisner exited the Eagles at the absolute peak of their success.
Years later, Henley told The New York Times of Meisner’s exit, “The band was built around songs, not around personalities, not around a front man, but the music.” Though critics might debate its place on the tracklist, the song remains a bittersweet milestone and proves every member’s musical contribution helped shape one of the greatest records in rock history.
Related: Forgotten 1980 Country Pop Hit Made Vince Gill Famous Before Anyone Knew His Name
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