Eagles Album: “Very Best Of”

After years of putting out "Greatest Hits" and "Best of..." packages, the record companies are now having to resort to greater hyperbole to sell the collections. The current trend of "The Very Best of..." sets is, in most cases, just another issue of the same old stuff that has, at least usually, been remastered. That is not the case with this set.

The Eagles are as much of an emblem of the American '70's as the Beatles were of the '60's. Each album that was released showed a band that was changing and maturing, both as musicians and as songwriters. By the time they got to the end of their run with "The Long Run" (no pun intended), they moved as far from their roots as the Beatles had in 1969. And like the Beatles, it was all good.

This collection manages to showcase this transformation in elegant style, taking the best from every album. There are at least 3 songs from each of their studio albums with "On the Border", "Hotel California", and "The Long Run" each contributing 6. The lone selection from their 1980 live album is also the only reason to own it, "Seven Bridges Road". Also included are the two best new songs from "Hell Freezes Over" and their post 9-11 tune, "Hole In The World".

Greatest Hits collections are seldom satisfying to the more than casual fan, leaving those of us who delve deep into back catalogs the desire to go and get more. The remarkable thing about this set is that over the course of two discs, a great band's career is effectively and satisfyingly summarized, leaving very little for further investigation that is truly of note. Which is not to say that this is all that the Eagles were. It is to say, however, that for everyone from the curious to the hardcore fan, this is a collection worth having.

This is the best and most comprehensive greatest hits album available for the Eagles. It includes all of their big hits like "Take It Easy", "Best of My Love", "Lyin' Eyes", "One of These Nights", "Hotel California", "Heartache Tonight", and the more recent "Love Will Keep Us Alive". It also includes several classic album cuts that received airplay including "Desperado", "On the Border", "Victim of Love", and "In the City". It covers everything from their 1970's heyday right on through their 1990's reunion. To get a more comprehensive collection, you would have to buy a box set.

The only complaint I have about this set is that they left off one of their minor hits, "Outlaw Man" from 1973's "Desperado" album. But that is a relatively minor omission. This is still a great set!

Awful cover. I really hate that cover.

Anyway, this is a really great compilation, bringing together 33 Eagles songs, and there is little reason to complain about the compilers' choices. (They should have included the beautiful "Doolin-Dalton/Desperado Reprise", though, and chucked "Those Shoes".)

All the Eagles' best-known songs are here, including all but one of their singles ("Outlaw Man" has been omitted), and several of the lesser-known album tracks are almost as good as platinum-selling hits like "Hotel California" and "New Kid In Town". "Doolin-Dalton" is a great western-style ballad with Don Henley and Glenn Frey trading off lines, "Victim Of Love" is a tough rocker, and "Already Gone" sees Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon doing the Allman Brothers thing with the twin lead guitars.

I'm not convinced that this album is better than the original "Greatest Hits" and "Greatest Hits II" CDs, though, especially not if you're a casual fan and just want the best of the best. But if you're looking for a little more, "The Very Best Of The Eagles" is a fine choice, and the Eagles don't try to lure people who already own all of their original albums into buying this one as well by adding a couple of new tracks. Kudos for that.

In my opinion the greatest singing song writing duo of my time. Sorry Paul and John i was only a gleam in my daddy's eye in your prime. I have a brother that is 8 years my elder, my parents made him drive me everywhere. He had a black 68 mustang with an 8-track player. Foghat, steely dan, steve miller,areosmith all the greats. But there was one band i couldn't get enough of, The Eagles. The Long Run Had just been released, his girlfriend at the time got 2 as birthday gifts and gave me one. My first album, i played it everyday. Unfortunatly they broke up soon after, but the release of their greatest hits both volumes, the double cd live with seven bridges made me love them even more. The Hell freezes over album was o.k. but it was great to know the band knew why people loved them: hotel cal,tequela sunrise, etc, and they didn't dissapoint when i was fortunate enough to see them live at the rose bowl. i was blown away. Than again in 2002 i believe they played the forum. They opened with the 4 of them walking to the front of the stage and opening with seven bridges, incredible.

To sum this up thats exactly how to describe this album incredible. All the greatest hits on 2 cd's with a little mini diary of thoughts from both don and glen about each song.

An awesome gift for anybody who loves good old fashion rock and roll with people who can sing and play an instrument.

Thanks amazon for giving me the opportunity to let people know how great this double cd is.

If there was one band who could successfully mix rock with country, it was the Eagles. Throughout their 30 year career in music, they have made some of the greatest and most memorable rock songs. From "Hotel California" to "Tequila Sunrise" each song is great. If you're an old fan of the Eagles or just a beginner, this is a must-have in your collection. Easily a 5-star album! I would have preferred songs such as "Life's Been Good" or "Dirty Laundry" (Don Healy) in place of either "James Dean" or "Doolin-Dalton" but overall it's a great compilation.

Disk One

1. Take it Easy- 10/10

2. Witchy Woman- 10/10

3. Peaceful Easy Feeling- 9/10

4. Desperado- 10/10

5. Tequila Sunrise- 10/10

6. Doolin-Dalton- 6/10

7. Already Gone- 10/10

8. The Best of My Love- 8/10

9. James Dean- 7/10

10. Ol' 55- 8/10

11. Midnight Flyer- 4/10

12. On the Border- 8/10

13. Lyin' Eyes- 10/10

14. One of These Nights- 10/10

15. Take it To the Limit- 7/10

16. After the Thrill is Gone- 8/10

17. Hotel California- 11/10

Disk Two

1. Life in the Fast Lane- 10/10

2. Wasted Time- 10/10

3. Victim of Love- 9/10

4. The Last Resort- 11/10

5. The New Kid in Town- 9/10

6. Please Come Home for Christmas- 8/10

7. Heartache Tonight- 10/10

8. The Sad Cafe- 10/10

9. I Can't Tell You Why- 10/10

10. The Long Run- 10/10

11. In The City- 10/10

12. Those Shoes- 10/10

13. The Seven Bridges Road (Live)- 8/10

14. Love Will Keep Us Alive- 10/10

15. Get Over It- 9/10

16. Hole in the World- 8/10