Customer Reviews

The Very Best of the Eagles

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The original Eagles (Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner, Glen Frey, Don Henley) were former members of Lind Ronstadt's backing group. Linda's career hadn't really got going at that stage but both she and the Eagles achieved greater success after they went their separate ways. Apart from their work with Linda, Bernie had also worked with the Flying Burrito Brothers and (earlier) Dillard and Clark, while Randy had worked with Rick Nelson and also been a member of Poco.

The history of the Eagles, already complex at the time of their formation, became ever more complex as the line-up changed down the years. Don Felder (an additional member), Joe Walsh (a replacement for Bernie Leadon) and Timothy B Schmidt (a replacement for Randy Meisner) all made their presence felt as the group's sound evolved from its early country-rock to a more conventional rock sound without any hint of country. Nevertheless, even country fans and singers appreciate the Eagles' later music, as evidenced by the track selection on the country tribute album (Common thread) released in the nineties.

All the famous songs are here including Desperado, Take it to the limit, Lying eyes, Hotel California, Take it easy Tequila sunrise, New kid in town and Best of my love to name just a few.

If you just want a single CD of Eagles music, this one contains all the essentials.

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.

I would not go calling any of the Eagles' songs a dud. Yes, of course there are songs of theirs that stand out than others, but if you look at their works one by one, one should know that they are all in a class by themselves. Eagles' hotel california has always been one of my favorite tracks, though the rendition i enjoyed the most does not appear here. (referring to hell freezes over's version) Eagles has been one of the longest running bands of this and the last century. whether an avid eagles fan or not, one should definitely add this to there collection.

I wore out the record, 8 track and cassette as a kid. I had to have this work or perfection in my music library once again.

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!

This CD was purchased for my father's Christmas gift. The music is great, but the case arrived crushed. I have to replace the case on my own as it is less hassle than returning it.

This is a great CD & I really do enjoy it. It's in great condition.

I got the earlier compilation four years ago - The Very Best Of The Eagles, because at the time none of their stuff had been remastered, and I was glad I did, though the absence of more tracks from On The Border is a disappointment. Indeed, this is the album from which less songs were selected for this compilation, while it's one of the best.

Heard this new one, shows some improvement on both volume and sound quality, but they've screwed up by messing with the chronological order of the songs. The one compilation I have is sequenced by year, except by the song I Can't Tell you Why, that is among James Dean and Lyin' Eyes, but somehow makes sense.

Since The Eagles will never make a new album, no matter how many greedy tours may come, this new compilation will not be the last, it's easy to predict. These guys must not be wealthy enough when they still keep touring from time to time and 'only' charge their fans 100 dollars per ticket, let alone if their songs continue to be repackaged in compilations over and over again - their record company is not a sister of mercy either!!!! This is called Jumping Jack Cash.