One of These Nights

Frey said the band wanted something with a lot of bite, a nasty track with pretty vocals, and Henley said they wanted to get away from the ballad syndrome, now that Felder could make them rock. Frey started on piano with a descending minor progression and Henley answered with the words one of these nights. Frey said he had been listening to Spinners and Al Green records. Henley said the four-on-the-floor bass drum was a nod to disco, as the band shared a Miami studio with the Bee Gees. Felder wrote the opening bass riff and taught it to Meisner.

The basic track was cut at Criteria Studios in Miami in December, then taken to Los Angeles for the drone guitars and Felder's solo, with vocals added back in Miami in March. Henley sings the verses and Meisner the high harmony on the refrain. The single version is shorter than the album track. It became their second Billboard Hot 100 number one after Best of My Love. The B-side, Visions, is the one Eagles song with Felder singing lead. Frey said it was his favorite Eagles record, and that if he had to pick one it would not be Hotel California or Take It Easy.