Eagles – The Long Run (Vinyl LP, 1979) | Catalog #X5E-508
Eagles – The Long Run (1979)
Catalog #: X5E-508
Side A Matrix: 5E 508 A-1 ➃ STERLING TJ "NEVER LET YOUR MONSTER LAY DOWN."
Format: Vinyl LP, 33⅓ RPM
Label: Asylum Records
Year: 1979
About the Artist
The Eagles are one of the best-selling American rock bands of all time, formed in Los Angeles in 1971. The classic lineup — Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, and Don Felder — defined the sound of 1970s California rock with a seamless blend of country, rock, and pop. Their 1976 compilation Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) remains one of the best-selling albums in U.S. history. Known for their impeccable harmonies, polished production, and introspective songwriting, the Eagles set a standard for arena rock that few have matched.
About the Album
The Long Run was the Eagles' sixth studio album, released on September 24, 1979, on Asylum Records. It was the band's final studio album before their 1980 breakup and took over two years to record — a grueling process that reflected the mounting tensions within the group. Despite the difficult sessions, the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and produced three Top 10 singles. It was certified 7× Platinum in the United States and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1980.
Produced by Bill Szymczyk — the longtime Eagles collaborator behind Hotel California — The Long Run showcases a harder, more rock-oriented edge compared to its predecessor, while retaining the band's signature vocal layering and melodic sophistication.
Track Listing
Side A
- The Long Run – A driving, mid-tempo rocker that became a Top 10 hit. Henley and Frey co-wrote this meditation on endurance in relationships and life.
- I Can't Tell You Why – Timothy B. Schmit's silky lead vocal anchors this soulful ballad, which reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. A fan favourite and one of the album's most enduring tracks.
- In the City – Joe Walsh's gritty urban anthem, originally recorded for the The Warriors soundtrack. A hard-rocking standout with Walsh's signature guitar work.
- The Disco Strangler – A tongue-in-cheek rocker with a wiry, new wave-influenced edge — a rare moment of levity on the album.
- King of Hollywood – A slow-burning, sardonic portrait of Tinseltown excess, featuring one of Henley's most cutting vocal performances.
Side B
- Heartache Tonight – Co-written by Henley, Frey, Bob Seger, and J.D. Souther, this rollicking blues-rocker reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance.
- Those Shoes – A funky, synth-driven track with a talk-box guitar riff that stands as one of the album's most distinctive sonic experiments.
- Teenage Jail – A punchy, uptempo rocker with sharp social commentary on conformity and youth culture.
- The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks – A loose, boogie-rock number with a humorous bent, featuring Joe Walsh prominently.
- The Sad Café – A wistful, elegiac closer that reflects on the end of an era — widely interpreted as a farewell to the Troubadour scene that launched the band. A deeply moving album closer.
Record Condition
This copy has been carefully cleaned with a Spin-Clean record washer and stored in a new inner plastic sleeve. The vinyl presents minor surface scuffs visible under direct light, consistent with age and prior play. On playback via a quality turntable, the record played flawlessly with no skips; minor pops and crackles were noted, typical for a record of this vintage.
Jacket: Not included — jacket is missing.
Matrix / Pressing Information
Side A Matrix: 5E 508 A-1 ➃ STERLING TJ "NEVER LET YOUR MONSTER LAY DOWN."
The ➃ indicates a Sterling Sound lacquer cut — Sterling was one of the premier mastering facilities of the era, responsible for some of the finest-sounding pressings of the late 1970s. "Never Let Your Monster Lay Down" is a well-known Sterling Sound motto inscribed in the dead wax by their mastering engineers, a hallmark of quality. This is a desirable early pressing.
A cornerstone of classic rock — a Sterling-cut pressing of the Eagles' swan song, cleaned and ready to spin.
