Glenn Frey got his now-famous start as part of The Eagles, a band he founded with Don Henley. But after Eagles split, Frey went on to have a successful solo career, which he enjoyed while The Eagles were on an extended break. Henley released plenty of great songs on his own, including these three, which might sound even better than his incredible work with Eagles.
“You Belong To The City”
Frey’s first and only No. 1 single as a solo artist, Frey wrote “You Belong To The City” with Jack Tempchin. The song, out in 1985, was written for the hit TV show Miami Vice.
Videos by American Songwriter
The song says, “Nobody knows where you’re going / Nobody cares where you’ve been / ‘Cause you belong to the city / You belong to the night / Living in a river of darkness / Beneath the neon light.”
Frey plays almost all of the instruments on the track. He also appeared in several episodes of Miami Vice, including the one using this song. When The Eagles reunited on their Hell Freezes Over Tour, this song was included on their setlist.
“The Heat Is On”
A Top 5 single, “The Heat Is On” came out in 1984. A Top 5 single, “The Heat Is On” was written by Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey, but it wasn’t written for one of Frey’s records. Instead, the song is part of the soundtrack for the Eddie Murphy film Beverly Hills Cop.
The chorus says, “The heat is on, the heat is on / The heat is on / Oh it’s on the street / The heat is… on.”
Frey earned one Grammy Award as a solo artist, and it is for this song. Frey later includes a version of this song on his 1993 Glenn Frey Live album.
“The One You Love”
Frey’s second single, and first Top 5 hit, Frey and Tempchin also wrote this heartbreaking song about being in love with someone who is in love with someone else. “The One You Love” is part of No Fun Aloud, Frey’s first solo album.
“The One You Love” says, “Are you gonna stay with the one who loves you / Or are you goin’ back to the one you love? / Someone’s gonna cry when they know they’ve lost you. Someone’s gonna thank the stars above.”
“The One You Love” is Frey’s biggest hit single from No Fun Aloud. The record also includes “That Girl”, a song Frey wrote with Bob Seger.
Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/GettyImages
More The List
-
Bruce Springsteen in Los Angeles, California (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) -
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 01: BOTTOMLINE Photo of Carly SIMON (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns) -
Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage -
Pop musicians The Beach Boys holding their guitars, from left: Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson and Mike Love, Finsbury Astoria, London, November 6th 1966. (Photo by Clive Limpkin/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
John Lennon, Beatles associate Alexis Mardas (aka Magic Alex), Paul McCartney, and John's driver Les Anthony at London Airport, 11 May 1968. John and Paul were bound for New York to launch the Beatles company Apple. (Photo by Mirrorpix via Getty Images) -
Spin Doctors; 16/02/1993; American; Amsterdam, The Netherlands -
Michael Jackson performs during the 'Bad' tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 3, 1988. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
