Desperados - The Eagles team up with Wal-Mart. How dare they.

OpinionJournal.com ^ | November 25, 2007 | The Editors

[gpapa]

One of the most popular rock bands of all time has finally managed to offend--not for its songs, but for how it sells them. There's a lesson here in technology, new business models, and hidebound "progressives."

The first new album from the Eagles in over a decade, "Long Road Out of Eden," has already sold more than a million copies, hitting Billboard's #1 in its first week. It's the kind of blockbuster that used to pay Christmas bonuses at the big record companies, only this album wasn't produced by a big record company. The Eagles released it themselves and are selling it exclusively through Wal-Mart.

This isn't going down well in certain elite precincts. Music blogs accused the group of selling out, while a review in Rolling Stone opined that there is an "inevitable contradiction in buying a record that attacks corporate greed . . . from a superchain with a bleak record on employee rights and health care." A piece in the Boston Herald noted that "The deal will make the Eagles richer. But it could cost them cool points (if the aging rockers have any left)."

[barker]

That, and every time I’ve been to any Walmart I fee like I have to shower when I get home – rid myself of the stench of stale popcorn and 300 pound welfare mothers and their unwashed screaming spawn. (And yes, I know, I’m a snob.)

Yes, you and some others here as well. I shop at Wal Marts a lot. One is right on my way home so I just pull in and get what I need. I sometimes run into my pastor, my doctor and the plant manager from where I work.

One of my sons works at a different Wal Mart. He is paid a decent wage, never been asked to work off the clock, and has good working conditions and benefits.

[wizr]

I wonder if that was what caused John Fogerty to become a Democommunist. Or maybe, he was one first, and just got what he deserved. Too bad. The man had so much talent.

[Alright_on_the_LeftCoast]

Who the heck are you? The Hall Monitor? Seems to me after reading this thread, you are the obnoxious ass on it.

[burroak]

“I’m not anti-Walmart, I just hate going there.”

That speaks volumes about you. I doubt if you meant to expose that much about yourself.

[Sue Perkick]

Breathtakingly vile.

[gpapa]

Good morning Allegra from foggy California. How are things going over there in Iraq.

Eagles up!

[Allegra]

Who the heck are you?

Somebody who has better manners than you do.

I'd ask who the hell you are, but I'm just not that interested.

[Allegra]

Good morning Allegra from foggy California. How are things going over there in Iraq.

Good evening, gpapa! After a couple of noisy days, we went back to mostly quiet today. I pray it stays this way.

I hope you and yours had a great Thanksgiving.

[karnage]

You should. Allegra has a lot of respect on this forum. You can dislike the Eagles without screaming.

[Sue Perkick]

LOL. So would I. These guys have probably reached an age where they could care less about being "cool". People like them or they don't. Whatteva. I will say this. For 60-ish they look pretty good. Sound great. And if I wasn't married I'd still chase after them. Good thing is they probably run slower than they used to so they would be easier to catch.

The album isn't their best work. Didn't expect it to be. I just skip the stuff I don't like. But there's plenty there that's good.

[Old Student]

“YES! It really is time the “progressives” realize that Walmart is the largest employer in the country and, to date, I’ve heard none of the employees here complain. If it were so bad, do they really think Walmart would be the biggest employer in the country? Employees can always quit.”

I’m a former Sam’s Club employee. Thought it would be cheaper than going to the gym...

Turned out not so, but I didn’t quit because it was a bad place to work. It was time to go back to college full-time during the day, and I knew there wouldn’t be any time for homework if I kept working at Sam’s. Nobody HAS to work for Walmart. Lots of people like to work for them, however.

And just to prove the point of this article, I do buy most of the pre-recorded music I buy at Walmart or Sam’s Club. It doesn’t make sense to pay $20 for a cd anymore.

[Sue Perkick]

WalMart still has it for $11.88. But I just checked Amazon. If it makes anyone feel any better someone there is offering it for $39.99 (less shipping & handling of course)

[Old Student]

“WalMart still has it for $11.88. But I just checked Amazon. If it makes anyone feel any better someone there is offering it for $39.99 (less shipping & handling of course)”

One of the reasons I like Walmart/Sam’s Club is that I’m a cheap bastrich. ;) I also shop Amazon.com, but I SHOP. I did pay for Amazon’s Prime deal, where you get 2nd day delivery for $80 a year. I’ve had it for about 3 months, and paid for it already, but it doesn’t cover everything I want or need from them. I’ve almost given up on EBay, though. Don’t think I’ve made a purchase there in nearly a year...

[Old Student]

Allegra is good people. You can disagree with her, and still be polite. Try it, as it’s part of the FR rules, and you can get bounced for forgetting that.

Henley isn’t worth getting bounced from FR.

[Old Student]

See my post #74 this thread.

[thefactor]

i have a feeling that when some people who support this move read some of the lyrics from this album, they might change their tune.

blatant anti-american sentiment.

[Sue Perkick]

Wow. That’s not bad. I should have looked into that. I’ve put an easy $80 in shipping charges in the last few months. When I can make it work I like the Super Saver Shipping. I’m cheap too ;)

[Old Student]

“i have a feeling that when some people who support this move read some of the lyrics from this album, they might change their tune.
blatant anti-american sentiment.”

I doubt that people will change their minds about this being a good thing, even if the lyrics are anti-American. A conservative is a liberal who got mugged, after all. Wouldn’t surprise me to find that Henley starts toning it down, at least, and possibly dropping it entirely here in a few years.

[MarkL]

I just bought a "Walmart Edition" of a Big & Rich CD that included a live "sessions" DVD. It doesn't seem to be available anywhere else...

BTW, I am not particularly a country fan, but I do like Big and Rich.

Mark

[Old Student]

Next time you sign in to Amazon, scroll down on the left in the Features and Services box, and click on Amazon Prime. There is a Learn More button, which will tell you all about it. Doesn’t work for stuff from individual sellers, but anything you buy from Amazon proper is covered. Can get Next-business day shipping for $3.99, too. Sometimes it’s worth the extra $4.

I’m an elementary special ed teacher, and I’ve gotten a lot of stuff for my classroom, and for the classes I’m taking for my master’s degree from them. Not to mention some Christmas presents.