"James Dean" is a song written by Don Henley

Don Henley

Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...

, Glenn Frey

Glenn Frey

Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...

, Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....

, and J. D. Souther

J. D. Souther

John David Souther is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actor. He has written and co-written numerous hits songs recorded by artists such as Linda Ronstadt and Glenn Frey of the Eagles.-Singing career:...

, and recorded by the American rock band Eagles for their 1974 album On the Border

On the Border

On the Border is the third studio album by the Eagles, released in 1974. During the making of the album, the band experienced significant changes. As the band tried to lean towards a more hard rock sound, they felt that producer Glyn Johns emphasized too much on their country sound. After recording...

. It was the second single released from this album, reaching number 77 on the U.S. pop singles chart.

The song is about American actor and cultural icon James Dean

James Dean

James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...

 (1931–1955). He starred in such films as Rebel Without a Cause

Rebel Without a Cause

Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American drama film about emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers. Directed by Nicholas Ray, it offered both social commentary and an alternative to previous films depicting delinquents in urban slum environments...

, Giant and East of Eden before his death in 1955. The lyrics, "too fast to live, too young to die" reflect his mischievous and dangerous lifestyle.

"James Dean" was recorded in the early stages of what would become Desperado in 1973 but was shelved as the project evolved into a wild-west themed album. When recording began for On the Border, the song was immediately pulled off the shelf and completed.

The B-side "Good Day in Hell

Good Day in Hell

"Good Day in Hell" is a song by the Eagles, from their third album, On the Border. It was written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and is about a seductive "devil in disguise"....

" is notable for being the first Eagles track recorded with Don Felder

Don Felder

Donald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...

, who joined the band midway through the sessions for the album.