Jim Ed Norman has spent a lifetime within the music enterprise, working as a producer and A&R man, finally discovering his method to the highest the place he turned president of Warner Music Nashville.
So what’s he doing out on the street with the Eagles, conducting the 70 piece orchestra and choir on the present Resort California tour?
Effectively, it’s the fruits of a 50-year relationship with the California band, one which took root in Texas just a few years previous to that. It was a heat day as Norman walked the campus of North Texas State College. He heard the sounds of Led Zeppelin filtering out of one of many residence doorways. Inside, he held out an album by the Dillards and stated, “Hey, you must test this out.” The recipient was Don Henley and as Norman laughs, “The remaining was geography.”
Henley and Norman wound up in the identical band, Shiloh. They issued a single self-titled album in 1970, produced by Kenny Rogers, then break up in 1971 as Eagles started to take form. Henley wouldn’t neglect his former bandmate. As shared within the following interview, Norman obtained a telephone name simply a few years later that might alter the course of his future profession in a giant means.
Beginning with the Desperado album in 1973 and culminating in his work on Resort California in 1976, Norman turned the arranger and piano participant for the Eagles. He stayed within the fold within the years that adopted, serving to to provide and organize Glenn Frey’s No Enjoyable Aloud in 1981.
Norman’s newest tour of obligation brings his historical past with Henley and the Eagles full circle. He just lately spoke with UCR by way of Zoom throughout a day without work on the street.
How did you find yourself again within the Eagles combine for this Resort California tour?
It was actually Don – as a result of Don and Glenn, fairly frankly, gave me [my first shot. There were many] conversations I had with folks about [how] I’m an arranger and need to be an arranger, and I need to be concerned on this portion of the enterprise. It wasn’t till Don and Glenn gave me that shot on “Desperado” [that it finally happened]. So “Desperado” turned the very first thing that I ever did. That imprimatur, if you’ll, made it potential. All of these individuals who I had been making an attempt to persuade [to] let me do some arranging, they had been calling saying, “Oh, Jim Ed, we didn’t know you had been an arranger. It was simply that stamp of approval. [Then] Don known as and stated, “We will mount a Resort California tour. We’re going to carry out the album in its entirety.” Due to the function the orchestra performed on that report, [they wanted to feature that element as part of the tour].
That’s nice.
Since you’re a vinyl aficionado, when you bear in mind, the report first got here out and Facet 1 ends with “Wasted Time.” You flip it over and I have been in a position to make use of the orchestral reprise of “Wasted Time” [that starts the second side] repeatedly in dialog with college students by means of the years at universities throughout the international locations after I’ve spoken, as a reminder, all the time do greater than you’re requested to do. I used to be solely anticipated to return in that day with what it’s they’d requested me to do, however I had been so moved by “Wasted Time” and the melody and the great thing about it that I sat down and wrote this piece. Because the fates would have it, there was time left over after we bought completed with what we wanted to do this day for the opposite songs. I stated, “Hey guys, I’ve this piece. Would you be fascinated with listening to it?” After all, they wished to listen to it. Lo and behold, as an entire shock to me, it ended up on the report because the reprise.
Take heed to ‘Wasted Time’ by Eagles
It’s a signature a part of the album.
Effectively, thanks for saying that. When that’s your ilk and your life and what it’s that you just take pleasure in doing, you by no means actually understand how folks will reply to it. It’s been great to listen to the roar that comes from folks after they hear it. Typically, it’s fairly energetic; different occasions, it’s extra sedate. I don’t need to overstate it by saying there’s an awe, but it surely’s like, “Oh my gosh, pay attention!” The orchestra has a second. When first introduced with the concept that they had been going to do that [tour], basically, it got here all the way down to, “Effectively, you are able to do all of it or none of it. You possibly can redo the charts.” Right here in Nashville on the Nation Music Corridor of Fame, they’re doing a tribute to Southern California nation rock and interviewing tons of people who had been part of that interval in Southern California historical past and time. As they interviewed me, they requested, “Do you’ve got any memorabilia?” I stated, “Yeah, I’ve bought a few issues” – considered one of which finally ends up being the unique rating, as an illustration, on “Desperado.” I’ve different unique scores that go all the way in which again to 1973. Little did I do know in 1973 that there could be a use for an previous rating, however as I pulled it out, it had hen scratch and all types of notes.
That historic stuff is all the time so enjoyable.
There could be one that might say “MSG,” Madison Sq. Backyard. The blokes had made a change in the way in which they had been doing the tip, let’s say. There was one which had Wembley on there, one which stated the Discussion board. There have been all of those notes all through the rating which might be related to a specific time or recording. That occurred from ‘73 till Resort California bought [played] stay after which that was the tip of it. So it was, “Jim Ed, you’ll be able to assist get charts collectively after which come conduct it, if you would like” – as a result of on the time, I used to be working right here within the enterprise, again within the report business, working A&R and producing and what have you ever. The very fact is, my fiancee inspired me and stated, “You really want to do that.” I demurred on the entrance finish. Someone just lately once we had been on the street, one of many orchestras, we had been speaking about conducting [and] having written the entire elements, that’s additionally one thing – as a result of after they see “organized by,” numerous occasions, they don’t know that I’m the man who organized or wrote the half initially.
That’s comprehensible, I assume.
There’s [also] those who grew up at occasions, with the Eagles. There’s respect that comes [with being a conductor] and I all the time should apologize. I used to be telling them that I turned a conductor the day we recorded “Desperado,” the very first thing I ever did. Going into the studio, Glyn Johns and I am going again into the report room. I stated to him, “Hey Glyn, I discover they’ve bought the chairs on the market for the orchestra and two microphones. No one has any headphones.” All the dates I’d seen on tv or been to stay in Los Angeles, the orchestra had on headphones they usually had been recording. Glyn, in his inimitable means, says: “Effectively, sure, you’re going to conduct, aren’t you, mate?” I stated, “Effectively, I assume I’m.” I turned a conductor in that second, as nicely. I bought the credit score for arranging and conducting because of this. As I inform the orchestra that story often once we chat, I say, that is such a second that I can experience – as a result of it’s the music now that closes out the present, as a part of the encore.
Take heed to ‘Desperado’ by Eagles
I’d think about the entire thing is an actual expertise.
I get to really hear elements that I wrote that I don’t hear as strongly or possibly even adequately in my thoughts, on the report. Glyn had two microphones and it was my job because the conductor to ensure I bought out of the orchestra what wanted to occur. Now, as a result of I do know these issues, I’m in a position to conduct appropriately. I went from demurring about happening the street to being inspired, and I noticed [that it was something I needed to do]. I get up one night time and I can’t sleep and I’m sitting there going, “I’m by no means going to get to face in entrance of a giant orchestra conducting once more.” It simply doesn’t occur the identical means. I imply, I don’t need to low cost the chance, but it surely was simply unlikely that one thing like this was going to occur once more. Initially, it was to go to Vegas. Then, just a few dates [were added]. COVID shut every little thing down, prefer it did for all of us. We began again up once more within the fall and proceed on all the way down to the tip of Might.
I don’t know to what extent there shall be a choice to even proceed additional, however what it’s like is superb for me – to face in entrance of the orchestra. There are moments as I’m sitting there conducting, for a second, I’m completely exterior no matter it’s I’m doing. There’s no considering happening. I’m simply absorbing. I’m truly a listener, versus somebody making an attempt to ensure that issues keep within the cracks, and that we sustain with the band and all of these duties that one has. I’m lucky additionally that I’ve bought some nice people who journey. The concertmaster, Erica Swindell; Kristine Kruta, the lead cellist; and Diane Louie, who’s the librarian. Diane, fairly frankly is a significantly better conductor than I’m. I imply, she’s a official conductor. She’s given her entire life to that, and is encouraging and so useful. Then, we’ve bought an incredible contractor, Marci Skolnick, who places the musicians collectively in all places we go.
Why do you assume folks maintain the Resort California album in such excessive regard?
Nice songs. You already know, I feel possibly its commentary on the state of affairs on the time. It resonated. However I feel it’s in regards to the nice songs. There is a famous quote now with [Jack] Nicholson being with Jackson [Browne] at a live performance, and Jackson’s taking it in and he turns to him and says, “Repertoire.” [Laughs.] It runs all through the gamut of what they’re about as artistic folks. However I feel that [the LP] simply superb – and [it has] nice performances. All the things on there’s great performances. There’s a music that Vince [Gill] sings within the present, “Try and Love Again.” I discover at occasions that I’m sitting there grooving on that, possibly greater than anything simply due to the pocket that it hits and what occurs with it. It’s actually good and but it didn’t develop into a single. They moved on to different issues.
Take heed to ‘Attempt to Love Once more’ by Eagles
The Finest (and Worst) Music From Each Eagles Album
Which of them go the gap?
Six Little-Recognized Eagles ‘Resort California’ Details
