Customer Reviews

Eagles Catalog Box Set

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a 9-CD limited edition (only 20,000 copies) of The Eagles' entire Asylum recordings from 1972's self-titled debut through 1980's EAGLES LIVE (on 2CDs) plus a bonus CD containing their 1978 holiday single "Please Come Home for Christmas" and "Funky New Year." [Because this box set only covers the Asylum years, it does not include the 1994 Geffen album HELL FREEZES OVER or their 2003 single "Hole in the World."]

The CDs are housed in replicas of the original vinyl albums and include the original artwork. Serious Eagles fans will eagerly make the purchase, but casual fans will be content with 2003's 2-disc THE VERY BEST OF. After all, there is no bonus material here--even though none of these CDs are longer than 45 minutes (and the CD single is barely 7 minutes!).

There's no denying, however, the group's popularity. They have sold more than 83 million albums. [GREATEST HITS alone has sold more than 27 million!] Only the Beatles and Led Zeppelin have sold more records. Throughout the seventies, Don Henley and Glenn Frey were the Lennon and McCartney of the era, penning virtually all of their hits, including classics like "Best of My Love," "One of These Nights," "Lyin' Eyes," "Take It to the Limit" (with Randy Meisner) and "Hotel California" (with Don Felder).

This box set is a little pricey, but the music it contains is priceless. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

So many acts have come and gone in the 70's. While most of those performers have tried to withstand that test of time, it hasn't really worked out all the way for them. Nevertheless, there was just so music acts that so many people don't get tired of. Out of all of them from the U.S., The Eagles have really been one of those groups that keeps coming back again, and again. The songs they've made since the 70's have made them one of the greatest acts of all time, and scored them the biggest-selling album of all time with Greatest Hits 1971-1975. They have came back in the 90's and proved so many that theiir love has kept them alive, and so does the music.

The 2005 Eagles: Limited edition box set is a real wonder, as all of their Elektra records have fully been restored to the best quality possible. It is just the second box set the group has conjured that reflects this legendary group. The music keeps shining better than ever with great classics like Hotel California, The Long Run, Take It To The Limit, one of their first classics Desperado, and the deep Witchy Woman. It really is a deep feel for anybody who wants to have the full Eagles experience.

Yet, where there is so much great music, there happens to be a few disadvantages that are highlighted here. One of them is that box set overlooks the 1994 live reunion record Hell Freezes Over, where so many people got to relook at the magic Don Henley, Glenn Frey & company made. It also overlooks their recent comeback single, Hole In The World, which is just a great track. Another disadvantage is that others might want to consider another hits package because of the price, like their other box set Selected Works, or the 2003 well-showcased Very Best Of The Eagles compilation instead.

The Eagles haev kept the music shining for well over 30 years, and that is still being played all over the radio today. The Eagles Box Set is a absolute delight for anybody who loves to hear them, beyond extremes. I honestly suggest this as one of the very few well-placed box sets out there for anybody to own.

Album Cover: A-

Songs: A

Mastering: A

Price: C+

Overall: B

This limited edition box set is a must have for any Eagles fanatic. There's nothing new here musically in the way of outtakes or remastering, but the presentation is amazing. Rhino has recreated the artwork for all the band's original 70's albums (and 1980's Live release) down to the smallest detail. From poster inserts to dust sleeves, each cd is meticulously crafted to mirror its record counterpart. Even the feel of the cd case are authentic from the unusual texture of On The Border to the raised artwork or One Of These Nights. This set is pricey, so casual fans will not be interested. As is the norm, Rhino Records has risen to the occasion with another superb reissue that is well worth the price tag.

I've been an Eagles Fan since I plunked down the five bucks it cost me to purchase their debut album, back in the early '70's. In my opinion, there was never a "bad" Eagles album. Although I now own all the Eagles releases on individual CD's, I purchased this box set for a friend. The packaging is excellent, and the collection includes every album the Eagles have released, except "Hell Freezes Over", which is mysteriously absent from this collection. The sound quality is excellent.

If you don't own any Eagles CD's, and you want the works, purchase this collection, plus the addition of "Hell Freezes Over". That'll give you every Eagle's album released, plus a couple of holiday tunes, and you'll be about thirty bucks ahead of the game, in comparison to purchasing them seperately.

If you already own all the Eagles CD's, there's little here that's worth $103.00.

And here's an observation, for what it's worth: The Eagles have done a remarkable job of keeping the prices of their CD's elevated, even though their debut album CD, which now costs $18.99 new, was released in 1972. It is a bit annoying when I go through Amazons' Eagle's catalog, and I find that the Eagles have no less than EIGHT Greatest Hits collections. This is a band that only released EIGHT albums TOTAL, and that's counting their double live set!

Regardless, this is a great set, and for anyone who wants to obtain the Eagles stuff quickly, this is the way to do it. And it does make a great gift.

The people who should pick this up are the ones who want to get the Eagles catalog remastered in one shot and want the original style packaging. The songs are classics and there's a lot of stuff that you won't get on the greatest hits package (although "Very Best of" manages to cover a lot).

But for a very limited edition that has a higher pricetag, Don, Glenn, Joe and Tim should have autographed each set (because it is their devoted fans likely buying the set), even if it meant raising the price on the set even higher.

I also think that the entire set should've been a CD/DVD collection, as a lot of rare footage exists from this era as well, some of which has been shown on VH1 Classic. I just think it's far more fun to just watch the archive footage with its flaws than the flawless "Hell Freezes Over" concert.

The "bonus" CD should've had the "Get You In The Mood" B-side from "Take It Easy" that they have never put out on CD.

The only other thing I can think of is that "Eagles Live" should include more songs as the original 2 LP release had time constraints. Hopefully one day they can do a proper "Eagles Live" box set to cover the original Eagles with Leadon/Meisner as well as the Felder/Walsh/Schmidt lineup, because a lot of great songs they'd done live were left off.

I think that because they have been putting out more repackages than new material (they really don't need to put anything out to justify touring), I don't see it appealing to anyone who already has all their CDs to begin with.

Bottom line: The Eagles have repackaged themselves one too many times (the DVD-Audio version of "Hotel California" probably the only repackage worth its weight) , yet they have a lot of live material in the vaults that are far worth exploring than yet another repackage of what we've all heard many times over as well as concerts they've recorded for TV and have on film.

But DO watch out for the Eagles "Farewell I" DVD to be released sometime in June 2005 and shown on network TV.

This lil' box houses the first six Eagles albums {"Eagles" through to: "The Long Run"} with the two disc: "Eagles Live" and a single: "Please Come Home For Christmas/Funky New Year". It is a limited edition set at 20,000 produced. There are no extras included herein, no outtakes, no demos, no newly discovered live tracks. These are reproduced versions of the albums {and gatefolds} in paper sleeves.

For folks that only own Greatests Hits Collections, this is the proper way to fill in all the gaps between 1972-1980. This set is indeed a bit pricey when compared to buying these CD's separately, but with a bit of shopping knowledge, this can be found for a reasonably price. I purchased mine at a record collectors show, brand new and sparkling in the shrink rap for $60.00.

These CD's sound great, and are packaged as LP reproductions, {mini sleeves} with all the original graphics intact {smaller, wear glasses!} As I have never been a fan of CD hardcases that break so easily, for me this is the way to keep this music together in one spot, and in the correct format.

If you want to take pokes at the band for their music, their dramas, their political beliefs or even their haircuts...That is indeed your business.
But for me, the peak of country-rock and or folk-rock or even California-rock, is all right here on these albums. The Eagles didn't kill the dream that started in 1965 with the first record by The Byrds. This band lived that dream like nobody else could. Just check out history between 1972-1980, so much changed during those years, just about everything changed within that brief time span, as did The Eagles.
Great band, great production, great packaging....great price? Yes, if you shop around.
Four Stars !!!

You're probably already an Eagles fan if you're reading this. This review is about the construction of this boxed set edition, not the music. If amazon allowed half stars I'd give it a 3.5.

It's a good looking collection, with each CD sleeve duplicating the original vinyl album in great detail. The gatefold album covers are well made, but the inner and outer sleeves of the other discs are far too fragile. I'm sure they will start tearing, even though I take immaculate care of my music collection. Also, the textured white cover of _On the Border_ sits in between the dark _Desperado_ and textured dark _One of These Nights_, and the covers are rubbing off on each other.

The other drawback is that the text is mostly illegible because of the small size and the variety of fonts. But that's always an issue with these "vinyl replica" type CD sleeves.

I had put off buying the Eagles on CD for a long time, so since I found this set at a good price I'm glad I finally have it. Just be aware that you'll need to be very careful with it.

(For quality comparison, the Doors box set from 1999 and Queen's The Crown Jewels box set have very nice, well made miniature album sleeves.)

I have had my eye on this box set for a while.
During this time, I have read numerous reviews which have been mixed.
Having been an Eagles fan for 35 years, I decided that how could I go wrong with this purchase, and so I bought it.

To say that I was impressed would be an understatement!
Any Eagles fans, younger or older would have to consider this boxed set an absolute MUST HAVE.
I LOVE IT!

Regards
Phil Western Australia

I got this for a present for a friend who is a huge Eagles fan. The original art, the multitude of CDs, and the limited edition made it perfect for him.

Being a BIG Eagles fan, I just had to buy this set. I think it has all their music. If you're an Eagles fan, or know anyone who is, there's not much I can say. It would also make an excellent gift!