Don Felder’s highly anticipated fourth solo album is out now on the Frontiers Music label – The Vault (Fifty Years of Music) marks a unique milestone in his storied career, offering a varied collection of newly recorded versions of songs originally demoed over a span of five decades. From the album opener Move On, a song from 1974, to I Like the Things You Do (written in 2023), The Vault offers a comprehensive look at Felder’s rich musical history. The album’s title reflects this expansive journey through time, blending timeless rock anthems with heartfelt ballads in a way that only Felder can. Fans of Felder’s remarkable career and music lovers alike will find The Vault to be a fascinating listen, it’s the sound-track of a musical journey that spans half a century. What’s more he’s got an up-and-coming US tour with Styx and The Kevin Cronin Band, aptly named “The Brotherhood of Rock”, starting on May 28th in Greenville, South Carolina.
Hailing from Gainesville, Florida, Felder developed an early passion for music after watching Elvis Presley perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. By the age of 13, he had formed his first band, the Continentals, which included future rock legend Stephen Stills. Felder refined his guitar skills through dedicated practice and even received slide guitar lessons from Duane Allman, laying the foundation for his signature style. In 1974, Felder joined the Eagles, helping shift their sound from country-rock to a more guitar-driven rock style. He co-wrote and performed the legendary guitar solo for Hotel California, one of the most celebrated songs in rock history. His contributions also extended to other notable tracks, including Victim Of Love and Those Shoes; and his dual guitar harmonies with Joe Walsh became a defining element of the band’s sound. In recognition of the Eagles’ massive influence on rock music, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, with Felder performing alongside his former bandmates at the induction ceremony.
Following his departure from the Eagles in 2001, Felder pursued a solo career, releasing albums such as Road to Forever (2012), and American Rock ‘n’ Roll (2019). Over the years, Felder has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Stevie Nicks, Barbra Streisand, and Michael Jackson, further solidifying his legacy as a versatile and influential guitarist in rock music. The multi-talented Felder is also a best-selling New York Times author (Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles), a TV host (the MTV spoof FTV), and a soundtrack composer, having contributed two tracks to Heavy Metal and the score for the 1986 CBS cartoon series Galaxy High. Over the course of his career, he has collaborated with artists such as the Bee Gees, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, and Andy Gibb, as well as contributing guitars to Stevie Nicks’ first two solo albums.
What sets The Vault apart is the incredible roster of musicians that have come together to lend their talents to the project. It is undeniably very American, very AOR, but eminently skilfully put together, Felder being joined by a positive host of US rock giants. The list includes David Paich, Steve Lukather, Joseph “Joe” Williams, and Greg Phillinganes of Toto, renowned drummers such as Greg Bissonette, Brian Tichy, Todd Sucherman, plus Timothy Drury, Nathan East, Nina Winter and Lenny Castro, among others. Their contributions bring a fresh, dynamic energy to the music, enhancing Felder’s signature sound and bringing new life to these songs. In addition to the previously unreleased material, The Vault also includes a newly re-recorded version of Heavy Metal, Felder’s classic hit from his 1983 debut album Airborne and the soundtrack of the 1981 animated film of the same name.
The album, his first in five years, is a career-spanning collection featuring re-recorded demos and unreleased gems drawn from Felder’s extensive musical journey, including songs originally crafted for Eagles albums. Blending a broad range of styles, The Vault showcases an all-star line-up, performing soaring rock anthems through to deeply personal ballads.
I should point out at the outset that I mostly have no idea who is contributing to which track – so for instance the opener Move On, written as mentioned in 1974 and still carrying that classic Eagles touch to it, could easily be taken for having Joe Walsh involved – even though he’s NOT on the credits list! And maybe that serves to underline just how good Don was as a guitarist – this has some tasty slide, a raunchy riff, and those Oh-So-West Coast vocals. A good start. Free At Last continues that sense of swirling guitar, relentless beat, smooth vocals (albeit with the merest hint of Old Father Time in his honeyed voice – but still largely undiminished). The ongoing lead licks are as sharp as ever.
Hollywood Victim brings the mood down a little, it’s another slick production, very redolent of the One Of These Nights era. Beyond stating it has that same assured heartbeat rhythm, its hard to describe further, except to say it is hugely listenable – this guy can write massive melodies in his sleep! Last All Night ploughs the same funky furrow, albeit with huge harmonies, timeless party-time AOR with his guitar work still adding that bit of bite. I’m not sure about the reggae work-out that is Digital World, it’s certainly different and still packed with smooth harmonies but doesn’t quite work for me. I Like The Things You Do is the newest song on here (see video below), written in 2023, back to that silky but up-beat chugging rhythm – make no mistake, Don and crew are a real set of crooners!
All Girls Love To Dance features more of an 80’s electro-beat, reminding me strongly of Don Henley’s album Building The Perfect Beast. That poppy, synthesiser sound is forever linked to that era. Not sure about the “chorus responses”, a bit cheesy, but nothing dodgy about the lead licks. Together Forever is a tender slow ballad, a gentle arrangement for a classic love song. Don’s vocals here are as beguilingly smooth as ever, this is clearly designed for some late night hanky-panky!
Heavy Metal dates from 1983, a big hit single at that time as the title track from the soundtrack to the 1981 film of the same title. This is a reworked version, again released as a single, it’s a simple riff but a real earworm, with Don’s spiralling solos swooping above and around. Let Me Down Easy is another slow tale of a relationship on the rocks, great female vocals from Nina Winter. Don lends his “stratocastric” touch to a tender song. And then lastly, we have Blue Skies, written as a heartfelt tribute to Felder’s late Eagles bandmate, Glenn Frey who sadly died in 2016, at the age of 67, from complications of rheumatoid arthritis, acute colitis and pneumonia whilst still a performing member of The Eagles. Essentially a short acoustic instrumental with a brief and tender “sign-off” (“I’ll be forever wishing you Blue Skies”) added again by Nina Winter, it’s a touching elegy, a bit of a downer at the end of an upbeat album but no less impressive as a composition for all that….
This album lives up to its title – a nice blend of AOR rockers and introspective, emotional ballads, The Vault (Fifty Years of Music) showcases Don Felder’s enduring legacy as an influential and skilled American guitarist, hugely respected by his peers. To celebrate, starting 28th May, Felder will hit the road across the US as part of the Brotherhood of Rock tour alongside Styx and Kevin Cronin. The nationwide trek spans more than 30 dates, wrapping up on 24th August in Milwaukee.
xxx
