Eagles: The Essential Album-By-Album Guide

DESPERADO (1973)
Key Tracks: "Tequila Sunrise," "Desperado"
Quick Take: Except for all the nods to outlaws and references to booze, poker and cheatin' women, this is one mess of concept album — a requisite for any "serious" rock band in the '70s. But who cares about narrative when you have such seductive melodies? If you could get beyond the embarrassingly romanticized image of the rock star as misunderstood outlaw and the weirdly misogynistic worldview, this collection of banjo-fueled rockers, country-rock weepers and acoustic-based cowboy ballads provided the perfect backdrop to late-night, dorm-room tequila shots and bong hits.