Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
The “beautiful” song Glenn Frey needed to sound perfect: “Such a great player”
The article examines Glenn Frey’s approach to recording ‘For Sentimental Reasons’ for his 2012 standards album, After Hours. It argues that Frey aimed to honour Nat King Cole’s original without impersonating him, illustrating his move beyond the Eagles’ rock sound into more traditional material.
Frey described the song as beautiful and said he wanted to remain close to Cole’s “perfect” recording, praising Cole as both an accomplished pianist and an effortless singer. The article places the cover alongside Frey’s other reinterpretations, including the Eagles’ version of Tom Waits’s ‘Ol’ 55’, and portrays After Hours as a comparatively successful standards record by a rock musician.
In short
- Frey covered ‘For Sentimental Reasons’ with respect for Nat King Cole.
- He sought authenticity without copying Cole’s performance.
- The song featured on Frey’s 2012 album After Hours.
Explained simply
Glenn Frey was a founding member and guitarist of The Eagles, one of the most successful rock bands of all time. In 2012, he released After Hours, an album of classic popular songs from past decades – music that rock musicians rarely record.
The article examines Frey's recording of 'For Sentimental Reasons', a song made famous by Nat King Cole, a legendary singer and pianist. Frey wanted to honour Cole's original version without simply imitating it, seeking instead to bring his own interpretation to the song.
The album represented a major shift from the rock music that made Frey famous, showing his interest in exploring different musical styles. The piece suggests Frey succeeded in creating a credible recording of classic popular songs, which is often challenging for musicians known primarily for rock.