Disco de Eagles: “The Very Best Of The Eagles”

In terms of coverage of the Eagles' principal hit singles and other best known songs, this compilation (actually only a slightly rehashed version of that issued some five years ago) can't be faulted. It epitomises the band's trademark country-rock sound of harmonious vocals and guitar backing, and will be ideal for the interested, although not dedicated fan. It's archetypal West Coast rock, with many memorable songs which have stood the test of time and become minor classics - and which even brightened up the west coast of Lancashire throughout the mid 70s, courtesy of the bands I and my friends played in!

However, as with most artists their greatest hits are not their very best records, and the Eagles are no exception. This collection probably just about manages to prevent the band being stereotyped as the epitome of every country rock cliché. Thus for every track that veers towards C&W (such as Tequila sunrise, Peaceful easy feeling, Take it easy or Lyin' eyes) there is another which is an orchestrated ballad or hints at R&B, soul, or even reggae (try Take it to the limit, One of these nights, I can't tell you why, or Hotel California). Overall, therefore, a reasonable balance is achieved and the result is very pleasant listening, although chronologically the tracks are all over the place and do not show the band's stylistic development over time. I'm also mystified as to how the rather jarring and forgettable James Dean made it into this collection.

For this to have truly been a Very Best compilation, however, a second CD would be needed, including more obscure but indispensable songs selected from all six original albums (Make your own list but don't hold your breath - such a compilation will never be issued). Instead, we committed fans will have to keep playing all the original albums to really hear the very best of the Eagles.

Hard imagining anyone but wealthy, space-strapped Eagles fans taking this one-disc, price-prohibitive collection over "Greatest Hits 1971-75" and "Greatest Hits Vol.2," among music's top sellers and essential 1970s collections.

Choosing "The Very Best of The Eagles" over those shortchanges vintage classics as "Sad Cafe'," "Already Gone," "After The Thrill Is Gone," and others. But the sequencing here is refreshingly out of chronological order, dropping Tim Schmitt's honest, aching vocal on "I Can't Tell You Why" above "Lyin' Eyes" chrome polished country. Sprinkling less familiar songs ("Doolin' Dalton," "James Dean") among Eagle standards shows creativity those hits sets lacked. Praising a mythical gunfighter and the "just too cool for school" film star allowed lead songwriters Glenn Frey and Don Henley to tap the musician-as-renegade image rock and country stars (Paul McCartney's "Band On The Run," Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings "Outlaws" projects) cultivated throughout the decade.

Other than that, the same California timepieces ("Life In The Fast Lane," "Hotel California," "Take It To The Limit") show up on both collections, here providing a more concentrated shot of what made this country-turned-rock band one of music's richest, most enduring supergroups: lyrics charting personal and political cynicism that defined the 1970s, set to melodies consistently straddling reflective country ("Best of My Love," "Peaceful Easy Feeling") and wailing, immaculately crafted hard rock ("Life In The Fast Lane"). If you need the room and have the money, "The Very Best of The Eagles" covers the hits nicely, but the two hits collections covers more ground for about the same price.

The Eagles are well known for their hit singles more than classic albums except for Hotel California (the album) Most of their first Greatest Hits album is here, 9 out of 10 tracks, plus their later hits like the classic Hotel California, I can't tell you why, Life in the fast lane, New kid in town and Heartache Tonight. Is the most complete compilation, since it cover their whole carreer from 1972 to 1980. It's a jewel of Country Rock and probably the only disc to buy instead of buying "Their Greatest hits 1972-75" and "Greatest Hits Volume 2".

Its unfair to call this "The Very Best" of because that to me implies tracks which were their very best regardless of whether they were singles or even charted. This album misses so many of their very best such as "Wasted Time" and "The Last Resort"

This compilation fails in other ways too. It ignores Eagles classics including "In the City" and "Already Gone", and instead fills vaulable space with the lesser known and dull "James Dean" and "Doolin-Dalton".

This 1994 CD has since been digitally remastered which is one reason to buy it. It's also an acceptable CD for the casual fan. However, as many have stated, the Eagles "Greatest Hits 71-75" is the one to buy. Even with its minimal 10 track listing, "Greatest Hits 71-75" shows how great the Eagles were pre-Hotel California. By the way, it too has been digitally remastered in recent times. It is also in chronological order unlike this "all over the place" compilation.

My advice is to buy Greatest Hits 71-75, then Hotel California, then The Long Run. You would then have a pretty mean Eagles collection!

it came fast- secure- now i cant find it- but im sure its in

a stack of cd's in the car-- anxious to hear it