The Eagles Don Felder produced this 1983 effort, and he has friends galore pack the proceedings with lots of musicianship, the late
Carlos Vega is on drums, as are
Joe Vitale,
Russ Kunkel and
Tris Imboden; fellow latter-day
Eagle Timothy B. Schmit provides backing vocals, and there are appearances by
Jeff Lorber,
Joe Lala,
Kenny Loggins,
Dave Mason, and
Albhy Galuten. The record sounds like "The Heat Is On,"
Glenn Frey's very '80s-sounding 1984 hit from Beverly Hills Cop.
Kenny Loggins co-writes "Never Surrender" with the guitarist, and melodies abound on tracks like "Who Tonight," which has some of the feel of
Danny Kirwan and
Bob Welch's post-
Fleetwood Mac solo work. "Never Surrender" could be "Life in the Fast Lane" redux.
Airborne plays like an album that was given to the artist out of respect for his work in the trenches. ~ Joe Viglione