New Kid in Town - Eagles (1977) 10/29/21

Tomorrow, "Great Songs of the '70s" celebrates its second anniversary: Two years of highlighting the best music the decade had to offer. We'll restart year #3 in 1970, and say goodbye to an excellent singer who recently passed.

But first, today's "Great Song!"

It's a classic "movie western" plotline: The aging gunslinger is tracked down by a young buck who claims he's quicker on the draw...and then proves it. "The Shootist," starring John Wayne comes to mind.

Well, according to J.D. Souther, who co-wrote today's "Great Song of 1977" with Glen Frey and Don Henley of the Eagles, the plot also works in the music business: There's always a new band waiting in the wings to knock someone off the charts.

J.D., Glen and Don believed that it was only natural that the Eagles would someday be replaced by a "New Kid in Town."

And Don also felt that it applies to the fickle nature of love and romance--that eventually someone will come a long and replace you in their heart. And that's the plotline they used for the song.

"New Kid in Town" was the first single off the Eagles' "Hotel California" album, and their first release after Joe Walsh joined the group.

It went straight to #1 on the Top 40 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary Charts in both the US and Canada! Up North, it also reached #12 on the Country Chart!

In addition to the "plot" of the song, fans and radio listeners loved the vocal harmonies... and so did the music industry as a whole. The proof? It won the Grammy Award for "Best Vocal Arrangement for Two of More Voices."

"New Kid in Town" by The Eagles: a "Great Song of 1977!