33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
I really wanted to love this box set...., July 4, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Selected Works: 1972-1999 (Audio CD)
but overall it is good rather than great.
First what is great is the sound quality of the digital remastering (far superior to originally released cds). Some reviewers complained about the non-chronological ordering of the songs but in my opinion this works really well, gives the set a sort of Eagles concert feel, and for long-time fans who are very familiar with the original albums, the sequencing is fresh and sheds new perspective on certain songs. The booklet of essays and photos are wonderful, as is the inclusion of previously unreleased live material on disc four (great versions of Peaceful Easy Feeling, Victim of Love and Best of My Love). And the set wisely ignores the relatively weak debut album, culling just the three "hits" plus Train Left Here This Morning.
However, what is bad about this set is that each disc runs 50-60 minutes (who's brilliant idea was that in an age of 80 minute capacity). This only serves to point out what is NOT included such as Seven Bridges Road, You Never Cry Like A Lover, I Wish You Peace, etc. The Millenium concert disc was particularly disappointing in this regard, since there was room for additional live versions of One of These Nights, Already Gone, Sad Cafe, Witchy Woman (none of which have ever been released whereas Hotel California is on every live release and could have been dropped) and at least one Frey solo song to help balance out the Henley material. Some reviewers complained about the inclusion of Dirty Laundry and other solo numbers, but I personally enjoyed hearing the Eagles play those tunes. Those fans are also forgetting that Walsh and Schmitt both orignally played on Don's first album (and maybe even on Dirty Laundry).
Casual fans should stick to the digitally remastered greatest hits volumes, hardcore fans should pick this up, and those in-between should find a used copy at a cheaper price.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
38 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Form Over Substance, November 17, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Selected Works: 1972-1999 (Audio CD)
This boxed set is a monument to greed. The Eagles WERE a class act, until this travesty. The "selected" music, 53 tracks, is spread over 4 CDs, with many notable omissions. This would have very easily made an excellent 2 CD set. Apparently the Holiday "fast buck" mentality prevailed. The remastering is fine, but what you are really paying for is a fancy cardboard box. The CDs themselves aren't even in regular jewel boxes, but open cardboard sleeves that insure maximum exposure to dust. The enclosed booklet is dominated by pictures, with little meaningful information or insight. If you are looking at boxed sets for gifts, there are many others far more worthy of your consideration. If you need prime Eagles, wait for their remastered individual albums. All of them won't cost much more than this turkey. "Selected Works" is only for those with a lot more money than sense.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Is it really worth it?, November 19, 2000
This review is from: Selected Works: 1972-1999 (Audio CD)
Unless you need the millenium concert, this offers very little to anyone who already has the previously available releases. The Millenium Concert features yet another version of Hotel California (do we need this?) and several Don Henley solo tunes (not the time or the place...please) but also features a nicely updated version of Ol' 55. Also notable are Take It To The Limit and Best Of My Love. By and large, most people probably won't find this collection worth the money. All of the original CD's were recently remastered. As far as unreleased material goes, maybe it just doesn't exist...what does exist are some stellar songs from the Hell Freezes Over video that were left off the CD version (Heart Of The Matter, Help Me Through The Night) and Seven Bridges Road...none of which were included here. If you don't own any Eagles CD's, this is a good collection...(but if you don't own most of them by now, what kind of fan are you anyway?)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No