“ Joe, I want you to do me a favor, don’ t ever bring this up again until you can walk into my house with that song on the Eagles album”. I know how those things go, they go in with a bunch of songs, and then a lot of songs don’ t make the cut. I told him,“ If the Eagles record‘ In the City’ and it doesn’ t make the album I’ ll kill myself, so I’ m going to try to not think about it until you walk into my house with‘ In the City’ on that album”. And that is exactly what happened( laughing). One day the bell rang at my gates and it was Joe. He came in and said,“ Here you are!” We sat down and I listened to the“ Long Run” album before it was released right here in my office.
[ GTR ] What did that feel like?
[ Barry ] It was fantastic! The Eagles are legendary and for the most part they write their own songs. There are not many outsiders that get in, only a few, and I happened to be one of them. I get to be part of the legend and I owe it all to Joe. I saw them in L. A., and here in Santa Barbara. They appeared at the Santa Barbara Bowl on a warm beautiful moonlight night and the Eagles were killin’ it. Then Joe, in front of everyone I know in town, including my family says,“ This next song I wrote with my good friend Barry Devorzon. I hope you like it”. And then they nailed it! It was a wonderful moment. Whenever I go to Eagles concerts and they play“ In the City”, it’ s always a thrill.
[ GTR ] Was the song changed or altered in the Eagles version compared to yours and Joe’ s original song?
[ Barry ] Only a little bit. It was pretty close, but that made a big difference. When I recorded the original version with Joe I felt something was missing in the chorus so I called in some background singers. The Eagles just replaced the background singers with their own vocals and they have a great sound, I couldn’ t have asked for more.
[ GTR ] Are you surprised that“ The Warriors” and“ In the City” have become cult classics?
[ Barry ] Yeah, I must say I am. When something you do has lasting quality, it always comes as a pleasant surprise.“ The Warriors” is probably the biggest surprise. It was a good little movie, but I didn’ t necessarily think it would have a lot of legs. Today, they have Warrior Conferences in Coney Island every year, and thousands of people come for it. It’ s become a cult movie and it’ s amazing how young kids that weren’ t even around when that movie was made know about it and relate to it.
[ GTR ] Do you feel that a rock song like“ In the City” is much different than your instrumental award-winning song“ Nadia’ s Theme?”
[ Barry ] Very different, at opposite ends of the spectrum. I think it just points out that a songwriter can have a lot of different sensibilities, I think people try to put you in a box. They say,“ He did this, and that’ s his style, he can’ t do this”. In some cases it’ s true, but not in every case. I had an honest feeling for the more pop oriented and beautiful melodies, but I also had the same love and appreciation for Rock and Roll. So, the same guy that wrote,“ Bless the Beast and Children” and“ Nadia’ s Theme” also wrote“ Theme from Swat” and“ In the City”, I think that says it all.
[ GTR ] The“ Theme from Swat” always brings
Joe Walsh & Barry DeVorzon back memories from that time period.
[ Barry ] There’ s another long-lived song. The series was only on TV for a season and a half, but that theme just seems to go on. Since the original TV series it was used in the movie, video games, and now they are bringing it back in a new S. W. A. T. TV series in November.
[ GTR ] As the Eagles integrate fill-in members like Vince Gill and Glenn Frey’ s son, how do you see“ In the City” enduring in 2017?
[ Barry ] It’ s hard to tell. It’ s just great being part of their song list. I have so many Platinum records on my wall for that one song, it should be against the law. The Eagles sell a lot of records, and they keep selling them. They are one of the legendary groups of all time.
[ GTR ] What else has surprised you with the longevity of this one song?
[ Barry ] It served the movie, and that is what I was paid to do, but in 2006 they did a video game for“ The Warriors” and they insisted on using the original music. I was impressed that after 27 years they still thought it was current enough to want it.
[ GTR ] How many Platinum records do you
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