Desperado - The Eagles/Linda Ronstadt & More (1973) 4/9/22

Not every "Great Song of the '70s" was a hit single. In fact, Some were album cuts that were never released as singles, and therefore never charted.

And yet, some became so iconic, they didn't need a chart number to prove how popular they were--and still are. As I've said many times before, charts are not the 'be all and end all" of a "Great Song."

Today's "Great Song of 1973" was the title cut from the Eagles album "Desperado," and although it remains one of the group's best known songs, and has been covered by dozens of artists, it only made the Top 10 once--by a somewhat forgotten country artist.

On the surface, the song is about a cowboy who refuses to fall in love, but underneath it all, it's the story of a musician who suffers for his art.

"Desperado" was written by the Eagles' Glen Frey and Don Henley, but according to Don, the most poignant and beautiful version of the song was recorded by Linda Ronstadt. HER version wasn't released as a single either!

Other covers were recorded by The Carpenters, Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Judy Collins, Diana Krall, Chris LeDoux, Miranda Lambert, and even Kristin Chenoweth. No singles. No chart numbers.

Clint Black's excellent version stalled at #54 on the Country Chart in 1993, but the only Top 10 version belongs to Johnny Rodriguez, who reached #5 on the Country Chart in 1976.

No disrespect to Johnny, but his version is rather pedestrian. But a "Great Song" is a "Great Song," and all you have to do is click one--or all--of the links below, and you'll hear what I mean.

"Desperado," a "Great Song of the '70s" by the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, etc..etc...etc... Eagles:

Linda Ronstadt:

Clint Black:

Johnny Rodriguez:

Kristin Chenoweth: