Running Down Roots
Author: Stephen Holden
Publication: New York Times
Date: September 14, 1988
Abstract: Glenn discusses topics such how Soul Searchin' goes back to his Detroit roots, and how he is maturing as a rock star.
''I'm realistic enough about my own solo career so that I don't anticipate having the sort of success I achieved with the Eagles,'' said Glenn Frey last week.
The former Eagle has just released ''Soul Searchin' '' (MCA), his first album in four years and his third solo album since the the 1981 breakup of the Eagles, the quintessential California rock band of the 1970's. Although Mr. Frey has remained on good terms with his former writing partner, Don Henley, the two have no current plans to resume their collaboration.
''If we were to get into a room with a couple of guitars and a legal pad it would be intimidating, because anything we did would come in for such scrutiny,'' Mr. Frey said. ''I spent nine years with the Eagles and made a bunch of money, but I didn't have much else. I began to feel there was a whole lot more to life than just making records.''
Mr. Frey's new album, most of whose songs were written with his new writing partner, Jack Tempchin, smoothly integrates polished West Coast rock with echoes of 60's soul that run from Memphis to Motown.
''In a sense I'm working my way back home,'' the Detroit-born singer reflected. ''Though I left Detroit and went to California to cut my teeth on country-rock, I've remained obsessed with the music of my adolescence, the great soul hits of the 60's and early 70's. It's a style that most black musicians have abandoned for dance music and rap. There are a whole lot of people who miss the sound of Sam and Dave, and Wilson Pickett. It's left a gap that is being filled by people like Steve Winwood.''
''I'm part of a group of rock stars who are between 35 and 42 and none of whom thought we would be doing it this long,'' Mr. Frey continued. ''It turns out that a whole group of rock-and-roll fans who are the same age and don't want to stop rocking. They share the same outlook on life as we do, and they still want people from their generation to speak for them. I've decided to hang around. I've got a couple more bullets in my gun left.''
