Don Felder Road to Forever
Remember Don Felder, lately of the Eagles?
Last year he released his first solo album since his break with the Eagles (let's not get into that), Road to Forever. Don has accrued quite a catalog of smooth, expressive playing over his many years in the business and draws on a strong background. After I read his riviting account of his years in the Eagles entitled Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001) I couldn't pass up the opportunity to give the album a spin. I used to say that any album worth its salt required multiple listens before I began to like it. Well here's an album that follows that rule. The first time I heard it I wasn't terribly impressed for some reason, possibly because his voice took some getting used to, seeing how he had never had a lead vocal role with the Eagles.
So I gave it some time and multiple listens and I've begun to latch on. As one would expect from as smooth a player as Don with such a distinguished pedigree, there's not a wasted guitar note on the album. The production and arranging are superb. Don uses his '59 Les Paul, a pair of mid-'50s Strats, and a bunch of Taylors and Collings acoustics to craft some really interesting stuff. He enlists some of the hottest studio cats (the guys from Toto), some really well-known voices (Crosby Still & Nash), and Lee Sklar as well. The music is something between Eagles, Beach Boys, So-Cal, and art rock. There isn't a bunch of guitar posing or extended soloing. Don mostly plays for the song here, though the sounds are really, and I mean really, good. There is one nice little dual between Don and Steve Lukather on the title track. Don trots out the very same '59 Les Paul and mid-'50s Fender Tweed Deluxe amp he used for "Hotel California" to get several of the lead and rhythm sounds and they are yummy!
Don with a reproduction of his '59 Les Paul
There's also some interesting background - the title track was originally an acoustic tribute to his father. However, when his collaborator and producer, Greg Ladanyi, was killed in an accident right as they ramped up to begin work on the album, Don reshaped the song to be a tribute to Greg as well. Old pal Tommy Shaw of Styx helped him finish a song or two and sang some background vocals and Don collaborated with Timothy Dury for most of the others.
Well, anyway, if you are looking for a classic rock style album with some interesting song smithing, guitar playing, and smooth vocal work, check this one out! It's well recorded, nicely mixed, and smoothly mastered. You are going to love the bass on this album as well.
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