Desperado (song)

This article is about the Eagles song. For other songs with the same title, see Desperado.

"Desperado"
Song

"Desperado" is a ballad by the Eagles, an American rock band, written by group members Glenn Frey and Don Henley. The song featured The London Symphony Orchestra. It first appeared on the 1973 album Desperado, and has later appeared on numerous compilation albums, although it was not issued as a single. "Desperado" was ranked #494 on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

The song was featured in Season 8, Episode 7 of the show Seinfeld when Elaine's boyfriend was deeply moved when it came on the radio. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

Cover versions

• Linda Ronstadt on her 1973 album Don't Cry Now.
• Dottie West on her 1973 album Country Sunshine
• The Carpenters on their 1975 album Horizon.
• Johnny Rodriguez on his 1976 album Reflecting.
• Kenny Rogers on his 1977 album Daytime Friends.
• The Langley Schools Music Project in 1977 and released in 2001.
• Judy Collins on her 1979 album Hard Times for Lovers
• ChrisLeDoux "The Singing Bronc Rider" on his "western Tunesmith" album, 1980. Jet Records Nivram Industries Ltd. Montreal Quebec
• Clint Black on the Eagles tribute album Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles. His rendition peaked at number 54 on Hot Country Songs in 1993.
• Johnny Cash on his 2002 album American IV: The Man Comes Around.
• Sarah Bolger in the 2002 movie In America.
• Kokia in 2004, used in the Japanese film The Hotel Venus.
• Westlife on their 2005 album Face to Face
• Rex Allen Jr. on his album The New West on BPR Records in 2006
• Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their 2006 album Love Their Country
• Andy Williams in 2007 on his album, I Don't Remember Ever Growing Up.
• Hagen Rether on his 2007 album Liebe Zwei.
• Celtic Thunder's Ryan Kelly covered the song for their 2009 album "Take Me Home".
• Neil Diamond on his 2010 album Dreams.
• Superfly in 2010 on the band's single and cover compilation album Wildflower & Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3'.
• Lynda Carter on her 2011 album Crazy Little Things.
• Chihiro Onitsuka on her 2012 album Famous Microphone.
• David Garrett, as an instrumental version on his 2012 album Music.
• Diana Krall on her 2015 album Wallflower.
• Miranda Lambert performed the song at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors as a tribute to the Eagles, who had been scheduled to receive the award but had to postpone until the next year.