The Eagles, "What a Crazy Feeling" c/w "I Told Myself," Mercury 70524X45 (rel. 11/1954)

 

If mentioned at all, the Washington DC-based Black vocal group The Eagles turn up in “hey, I didn’t know there was another band with this name!” threads or for their first recording of “Tryin’ to Get to You,” which Elvis Presley recorded at Sun Studios with producer Sam Phillips in 1955; unissued on Sun, it was released by his new label, RCA-Victor, as part of a salvo of seven consecutive singles issued in August 1956.

None of the hordes of screaming teens who ate up these new releases knew from The Eagles, whose original, issued on Mercury Records in 1954, had some success in the r&b world but wasn’t considered for mainstream exposure. Elvis’ version was a financial windfall for Rose Marie McCoy and Charlie Singleton, the song’s composers; its revenue, over the years, might make it their most successful effort.

None of this rubbed off on The Eagles, who are so obscure no publicity photo of them seems to exist. When Bear Family Records issued an LP of all known recordings in 1989, they couldn’t scare up a photograph. Colin Escott, who penned the liner notes on the rear sleeve, lamented: “…the identity of the group members is unknown.”

The group was discovered by Nashville stalwart Fred Foster, who worked for Mercury Records as an A&R man (talent scout and promoter). He founded Monument Records in the later 1950s. Foster caught their act in a DC nightclub. Impressed, he called Bobby Shad, fellow Mercury employee, and asked him to get a tape recorder to make a demo. The label heads in New York agreed the group had something, and Foster got them to the city to make some sides.

The Eagles had no prepared material of their own, and Foster plied local songwriters for potential hit material. “Tryin’ to Get to You” was the B side of the group’s debut disc, but it kicked up enough dust for Mercury to keep them on. Their second 45, “Such a Fool,” was excellent but went nowhere. Which leads us to their third and rarest single—a record I never thought I’d find. The Canby Record Extravaganza delivered a beautiful copy to me for a most reasonable sum. I was grateful to complete my collection of The Eagles’ three 45s and it’s another corker, so I’m glad to share it with you today.

Again, The B side is the best in show. “What a Crazy Feeling” is a Latin-flavored mambo mover penned by Clyde Otis and Leroy Kirkland under the pen name ‘C. Styles.’ With manic piano, grunting woodwinds and excitable percussion, this rocker captivates right out of the gate and never lets go.

The unknown lead singer delivers a solid performance, with the other Eagles in earthy harmony support. It’s refreshing to hear a Black vocal group not modeled on any of the obvious contemporary stars. They did their own thing and did it well. A year or two later, they might have made the big time. Their sound anticipates a lot of Black music yet to come.

Cash Box reviewed today's record four months after its estimated release,

but that's about it. They liked it!

“I Told Myself” is a pop-flavored ballad that is made better than it seems by the group’s committed performance. It’s credited to Clyde Otis, ? Taylor and ? Price. Colin Escott theorizes that these unknown names may be two members of The Eagles, but that’s an educated guess. There’s little of the sensual appeal of “Crazy Feeling,” but the performance can’t be faulted, and it does down easy enough. “Crazy Feeling” was the obvious jukebox hit and this wasn’t the first or last time a record label made the wrong decision.

Foster and Mercury let the group go after this single and their vague spot in history fades into the ether. These Eagles deserved better and it’s a pity we have only nine confirmed performances by them. The Bear Family LP includes one song that may be by the group, though it doesn’t quite sound like the rest of their work. Incredible that something so recent-ish is so undocumented, but that’s popular culture—here today, gone tomorrow has always been part of the business plan.

Tomorrow: the return of Werly Fairburn and The Delta Boys on a joyous slice of rockabilly via a 1957 Savoy Records 45.