About The Song
“Born to Boogie” is a previously unreleased outtake by the Eagles, recorded during the sessions for their sixth studio album *The Long Run*, which was released on September 24, 1979. The track first appeared officially on the four-CD compilation box set *Selected Works: 1972–1999*, released on November 2, 2000, by Elektra Records. It is positioned as track six on Disc Three and has a runtime of 2:16. The song is a cover of a track written by Hank Williams Jr.; the Eagles’ recording predates Hank Williams Jr.’s own studio version, which was released in 1987 on his album of the same name and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
The box set *Selected Works: 1972–1999* debuted at No. 109 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA in the United States for over 1 million units shipped and received Platinum certification in Australia and Gold in New Zealand. The set also reached No. 8 on the ARIA Albums Chart in Australia, No. 2 on the RMNZ Albums Chart in New Zealand, and No. 28 on the UK Albums Chart during later reissues in 2013–2014 and 2019. The compilation spans the band’s career with 53 tracks across four discs, including greatest hits, album cuts, live performances from the 1980 *Eagles Live* album, and several previously unreleased studio recordings, plus material from the 1999 reunion concerts. It includes a 44-page booklet with photographs, recording notes, and full personnel listings.
Production for “Born to Boogie” was handled by Bill Szymczyk, the same producer who oversaw *The Long Run*. Personnel credits list Don Henley on lead vocals, drums, and background vocals; Don Felder on background vocals and electric guitar; and background vocals from Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit, consistent with the band’s lineup during the 1978–1979 recording period. The track features a simple boogie-rock arrangement with repetitive lyrics and a driving rhythm. It was not issued as a standalone single and therefore did not enter any Billboard singles charts, including the Hot 100 or Hot Country Songs.
The song is one of several unreleased studio outtakes included in the 2000 box set to offer fans rare material from the *The Long Run* era. *The Long Run* marked the Eagles’ final studio album before their breakup in 1980 and the subsequent 14-year hiatus until the 1994 reunion. The 2000 box set was later reissued in remastered form in 2013, with “Born to Boogie” carried over in its original mix. No alternate versions, remixes, or official live recordings of the Eagles’ take have been released. All details are confirmed through Wikipedia, Genius Lyrics, AllMusic, Billboard chart archives, Official Charts Company data, and official Eagles discography sources.
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Lyric
Well, I was born… I was born to boogie
People, I was born… said I was born to boogie
Come on boogie now
Everybody born to boogie
Every little person born to boogie
Even our old people should boogie
I’m gonna boogie
Every roadie should boogie
Every grandmother should boogie
I think the Pope could boogie… he got soul
I said the Pope’s got soul
The Pope got soul