Lyin' Eyes
Encyclopedia
"Lyin' Eyes" is a song written by Don Henley
and Glenn Frey
and recorded in 1975 by the American rock band Eagles, with Frey singing lead vocals. It was the second single from their One of These Nights
album, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart and #8 on the US Country
chart. (Their only #2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, it was kept off the top spot by Elton John
's single "Island Girl
".) It remained their only top 40 country hit until "How Long
" in 2007–2008.
The record also received a Grammy Award
for Best Pop Performance by a Group
, and was also nominated for Record of the Year
. The single version of the song is shortened quite a bit from the album version, removing the entire second verse, the second chorus and four lines in the middle of the third verse. Top 40 Radio in 1975 didn't usually play songs longer than 4 minutes so the runtime on the 45RPM label was listed as 3:58, but the actual playing time was 4:14.
During the Eagles 2009 concert tour, Glenn Frey talked about the origin for the song stating that he and Don Henley frequented an LA restaurant/bar, Dan Tana's, where the most beautiful of beautiful women frequented. They witnessed a meeting between a man and a woman and made up a scenario of secret love and thus the song arose.
Among the many covers of "Lyin' Eyes" are Lynn Anderson
's 1976 recording and Kenny Rankin
's 1980 version on his After The Roses album. Diamond Rio
also covered the song on the 1993 compilation Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles
. Dolly Parton
has long cited the song as a personal favorite; she performed it on her 1976 variety show Dolly!.
"Lyin' Eyes" is on the Urban Cowboy
soundtrack. It plays in the background in the diner scene when Sissy gets angry at Bud for saying "Hello" to Jerry Hall
's character.
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...
and 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...
and recorded in 1975 by the American rock band Eagles, with Frey singing lead vocals. It was the second single from their One of These Nights
One of These Nights
One of These Nights is the fourth studio album by the Eagles, released in 1975. The record's title song became the group's second #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, in July of that year. The album released three Top 10 singles, "One Of These Nights", "Lyin' Eyes", and "Take It To The Limit". Those...
album, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart and #8 on the US Country
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart. (Their only #2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, it was kept off the top spot by Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's single "Island Girl
Island Girl
"Island Girl" is a song performed by Elton John that went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and number 14 in the UK in 1975.In the U.S. it was certified Gold on 12/4/1975 and Platinum on 9/13/1995 by the R.I.A.A...
".) It remained their only top 40 country hit until "How Long
How Long (J. D. Souther song)
"How Long" is the title of a song, recorded and written in 1972, by rock music artist J. D. Souther. The song was included on his 1972 album John David Souther but not released as a single....
" in 2007–2008.
The record also received a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Pop Performance by a Group
Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
, and was also nominated for Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
. The single version of the song is shortened quite a bit from the album version, removing the entire second verse, the second chorus and four lines in the middle of the third verse. Top 40 Radio in 1975 didn't usually play songs longer than 4 minutes so the runtime on the 45RPM label was listed as 3:58, but the actual playing time was 4:14.
During the Eagles 2009 concert tour, Glenn Frey talked about the origin for the song stating that he and Don Henley frequented an LA restaurant/bar, Dan Tana's, where the most beautiful of beautiful women frequented. They witnessed a meeting between a man and a woman and made up a scenario of secret love and thus the song arose.
Among the many covers of "Lyin' Eyes" are Lynn Anderson
Lynn Anderson
Lynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
's 1976 recording and Kenny Rankin
Kenny Rankin
Kenny Rankin was an American pop and jazz singer and songwriter, originally from the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, New York.-Biography:...
's 1980 version on his After The Roses album. Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio is an American Country music/Christian music band formed in 1984 in Nashville, Tennessee. Since its foundation, the group has comprised the same six members: Gene Johnson , Jimmy Olander , Brian Prout , Marty Roe , Dan Truman , and Dana Williams...
also covered the song on the 1993 compilation Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles
Common Thread: The Songs of The Eagles
- "Take It Easy" :During the music video shoot for his rendition of "Take It Easy", Travis Tritt requested that the 1980 lineup of the Eagles - "Take It Easy" :During the music video shoot for his rendition of "Take It Easy", Travis Tritt requested that the 1980 lineup of the Eagles - "Take It...
. Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
has long cited the song as a personal favorite; she performed it on her 1976 variety show Dolly!.
"Lyin' Eyes" is on the Urban Cowboy
Urban Cowboy
Released as a 2× vinyl record album, re-released on CD in 1995.Side A:#Hello Texas – Jimmy Buffett #All Night Long – Joe Walsh #Times Like These – Dan Fogelberg #Nine Tonight – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band...
soundtrack. It plays in the background in the diner scene when Sissy gets angry at Bud for saying "Hello" to Jerry Hall
Jerry Hall
Jerry Faye Hall is an American model and actress, also known for her long-term relationship with Mick Jagger, with whom she had four children.-Early life:...
's character.
Personnel
- Glenn FreyGlenn FreyGlenn 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...
: Lead vocals, acoustic guitar - Don HenleyDon HenleyDonald 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...
: Drums, percussion, backing vocals - Bernie LeadonBernie LeadonBernard Mathew "Bernie" Leadon, III is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Prior to the Eagles, he was a member of two pioneering and highly influential country rock bands, Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers...
: Lead guitar, backing vocals - Don FelderDon FelderDonald 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:...
: Acoustic guitar, mandolin - Randy MeisnerRandy MeisnerRandy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
: Bass guitar, backing vocals - Jim Ed Norman: Piano
Chart performance
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 8 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 19 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 4 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 20 |
| U.K. Singles Chart | 23 |