Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Eagles Release Yet Another Greatest Hits - But It's the Best One Yet

First posted 2/11/2011; last updated 10/17/2020.

A Retrospective: 1971-2003

Eagles

A Brief History:

The Eagles formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1971. Don Henley and Glenn Frey from Michigan had come to Los Angeles in 1970 and were recruited by Linda Ronstadt for her band. That troupe also consisted of Randy Meisner, who’d worked with Ricky Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band, and Bernie Leadon, who’d formerly been with the Flying Burrito Brothers.

The four joined efforts to form the Eagles, releasing their self-titled debut in 1972. Initially a rock band with a country-tinged sound, they evolved into a more guitar-driven, classic-rock format by decade’s end in which only Henley and Frey were constants. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have sold more than 150 million records, with two of those – Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 and Hotel California – ranked in the top 3 in the United States when it comes to official certifcations.

The group broke up in 1980, swearing they wouldn’t reunite unless hell froze over. In 1994, they came back together with a mostly live album called, appropriately enough, Hell Freezes Over. After that, they embarked on a series of tours, but didn’t record again until 2003 when they added a new song to their Very Best of compilation.

  • Glenn Frey (vocals, guitar: 1971-80, 1994)
  • Don Henley (vocals, drums: 1971-80, 1994)
  • Bernie Leadon (guitar, vocals: 1971-75)
  • Randy Meisner (bass, vocals: 1971-77)
  • Don Felder (guitar, vocals: 1974-80, 1994)
  • Joe Walsh (guitar, vocals: 1975-80, 1994)
  • Timothy B. Schmit (bass, vocals: 1977-80, 1994)
This page covers the six studio albums released in the 1970s, their 1980 live album, and 1994’s mostly live Hell Freezes Over. Each has its own devoted DMDB page, but have brief snapshots here on this page.

The Studio Albums:

Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies below are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to singles charts.

The Compilations:


Eagles (1972):

The Eagles’ debut sported three top-40 hits, including the top-10 hit “Witchy Woman.” “Take It Easy” became somewhat of the group’s signature song, probably only behind 1976’s “Hotel California” in popularity.

  • Take It Easy (Glenn Frey/Jackson Browne) [3:29] (5/20/72, 12 US, 9 CB, 12 AC, 12 UK, 8 CN, 49 AU) G1,94,03
  • Witchy Woman (Don Henley/Bernie Leadon) [4:10] (8/26/72, 9 US, 11 CB, 8 CN, 81 AU) G1,94,03
  • Peaceful, Easy Feeling (Jack Tempchin) [4:16] (12/23/72, 22 US, 20 CB, 20 AC, 35 CN) G1,94,03


Desperado (1973):

With a theme centered around Old West outlaws, the Eagles’ sophomore outing saw the development of Don Henley and Glenn Frey as a writing force. They wrote eight of the album’s eleven songs, including the title cut which was never a single, but became one of the group’s most popular songs.

  • Tequila Sunrise (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [2:52] (6/9/73, 64 US, 40 CB, 26 AC, 68 CN) G1,94,03
  • Desperado (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [3:33] G1,94,03
  • Doolin-Dalton (Jackson Browne/Glenn Frey/Don Henley/J.D. Souther) [3:30] 94,03


On the Border (1974):

Henley and Frey continued their dominance of the Eagles with the third album. Interested in developing a harder edge, they recruited Don Helder as a guitarist. They also went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Best of My Love,” a feat they’d achieve four more times in their career.

  • Already Gone (Robb Strandland/Jack Temphcin) [4:13] (5/4/74, 32 US, 17 CB, 12 CN) G1,03
  • James Dean (Jackson Browne/Glenn Frey/Don Henley/J.D. Souther) [3:40] (9/7/74, 77 US, 49 CB, 56 CN) 94,03
  • Best of My Love (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/J.D. Souther) [4:35] (11/30/74, 11 US, 4 CB, 11 AC, 11 CN) G1,94,03
  • Ol’ ‘55 (Tom Waits) [4:22] 03
  • Midnight Flyer (Paul Craft) [3:58] 03
  • On the Border (Don Henley/Bernie Leadon/Glenn Frey) [4:28] 03


One of These Nights (1975):

The group’s fifth album saw them take an even bigger leap forward commercially, landing their first #1 album on the strength of three top-ten hits. “Take It to the Limit” featured Randy Meisner’s only lead vocal on an Eagles’ single and the title song, which Frey has said is his favorite Eagles’ tune, became their second chart-topper. One of These Nights marked Bernie Leadon’s departure from the group as he preferred their earlier, country-rock sound.

  • One of These Nights (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [4:51] (5/30/75, 11 US, 11 CB, 20 AC, 23 UK, 13 CN, 33 AU) G1,94,03
  • Lyin’ Eyes (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [6:21] (9/13/75, 2 US, 3 CB, 3 AC, 8 CW, 23 UK, 19 CN, 34 AU) G1,94,03
  • Take It to the Limit (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/Randy Meisner) [4:48] (12/20/75, 4 US, 5 CB, 4 AC, 12 UK, 16 CN, 30 AU) G1,94,03
  • After the Thrill Is Gone (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [3:56] G2,03

Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975

Eagles


Rating:

4.467 out of 5.00
(average of 19 ratings)


Released: February 17, 1976


Recorded: 1971-1975


Peak: 15 US, 2 UK, 12 CN, 3 AU


Sales (in millions): 38.0 US, 0.3 UK, 42.9 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: California country rock


Tracks: (1) Take It Easy (2) Witchy Woman (3) Lyin’ Eyes (4) Already Gone (5) Desperado (6) One of These Nights (7) Tequila Sunrise (8) Take It to the Limit (9) Peaceful Easy Feeling (10) Best of My Love


Total Running Time: 43:08

Awards:

About the Album:

This album wasn’t just the “first album ever certified platinum;” WR1 it was the best-selling album in the U.S. in the 20th century. WK1 It lost the title to Michael Jackson’s Thriller after the artist’s death in 2009, but regained it in August 2018. WK1 “There may be no explaining that, really, except to note that this was the pervasive music of the first half of the 1970s, and somehow it never went away.” WR1

“On their first four albums, the Eagles were at pains to demonstrate that they were a group of at least near-equals, each getting a share of the songwriting credits and lead vocals. But this compilation…demonstrates that this evenhandedness did not extend to singles – as far as those go, the Eagles belong to Glenn Frey and Don Henley.” WR1 They wrote or co-wrote eight of the collection’s songs and one or the other sang lead on every song but Take It to the Limit.

Of the ten songs that comprise this collection, nine were released as singles (Desperado is the sole exception). Eight were top 40 hits on the Billboard pop chart (only Tequila Sunrise missed the top 40), five went top ten, and two of them (One of These Nights and Best of My Love) topped the charts.

The band, however, didn’t have any say in putting together the album and complained it was “nothing more than a ploy by the record company to sell product without having to pay additional production costs.” WK1 Don Henley didn’t like that songs like “Tequila Sunrise” and “Desperado” were taken out of the context of their original albums. WK1 The album did, however, buy the band time while they worked on what would become their best-selling studio album, 1977’s Hotel California.

Despite Henley’s frustration that songs were taken out of context, “these songs make up a collection consistent in mood and identity” WK “unlike the albums from which they come.” WK1 Thre result is that this compilation “works so much better than the band’s previous discs [that it] practically makes them redundant.” WR1

“The tunes are melodic, and the arrangements – full of strummed acoustic guitars over a rock rhythm section often playing a shuffle beat, topped by tenor-dominated harmonies – are immediately engaging. There is also a lyrical consistency to the songs, which often concern romantic uncertainties in an atmosphere soaked in intoxicants. The narrators of the songs usually seem exhausted, if not satiated, and the loping rhythms are appropriate to these impressions.” WR1

In addition to phenomenal sales, this was the rare compilation that topped the Billboard album charts. It debuted at #4 in its first week and then went to #1 the next week, where it stayed for five non-consecutive weeks. Over the years, the album has logged the equivalent of five years on the album chart.


Hotel California (1976):

After the overwhelming success of their first compilation, the Eagles returned with their most successful studio album. The album sported two #1 hits, the more country-oriented “New Kid in Town” and the title track, which became an album rock staple and the group’s signature song. It also won a Grammy for Record of the Year. The album marked the introduction of Joe Walsh, who came with an already established career with the James Gang and as a solo artist.

  • New Kid in Town (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/J.D. Souther) [5:04] (12/11/76, 11 US, 2 CB, 2 AC, 43 CW, 20 UK, 11 CN, 16 AU) G2,94,03
  • Hotel California (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/Don Felder) [6:29] (2/22/77, 11 US, 11 CB, 10 AC, 8 UK, 12 CN, 60 AU) G2,94,03
  • Life in the Fast Lane (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/Joe Walsh) [4:45] (5/13/77, 11 US, 11 CB, 12 CN, 96 AU) G2,94,03
  • Victim of Love (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/Don Felder/J.D. Souther) [4:10] G2,03
  • Wasted Time (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [4:55] 03
  • The Last Resort (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [7:25] 03


Christmas single (1978):

  • Please Come Home for Christmas (Charlie Brown/Gene Redd) [2:58] (12/9/78, 18 US, 29 CB, 15 AC, 30 UK, 63 CN, 46 AU) 03


The Long Run (1979):

As the ‘70s came to a close, so did the Eagles. They wouldn’t record another studio album for 28 years. Randy Meisner had left the group after their 1977 tour and was replaced by Timothy B. Schmit, who also replaced Meisner after his departure from Poco. Schmit sings lead on top-10 single “I Can’t Tell You Why.” The album, another #1 for the Eagles, also sported top-ten hits with the title cut and the #1 “Heartache Tonight.”

  • Heartache Tonight (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/Bob Seger/J.D. Southern) [4:25] (9/28/79, 11 US, 11 CB, 38 AC, 40 UK, 12 CN, 13 AU) G2,94,03
  • The Long Run (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [3:42] (11/30/79, 8 US, 10 CB, 34 AC, 66 UK, 9 CN) G2,94,03
  • I Can’t Tell You Why (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/Timothy B. Schmit) [4:54] (2/3/80, 8 US, 9 CB, 3 AC, 5 CN) G2,94,03
  • The Sad Café (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/Joe Walsh/J.D. Souther) [5:32] G2,03
  • In the City (Joe Walsh/Barrry DeVorzon) [3:46] 03
  • Those Shoes (Don Felder/Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [4:56] 03


Eagles Live (1980):

Infighting between the band while on tour supporting The Long Run would signal the end. They were contractually obligated to release a live album, which came in 1980. “Seven Bridges Road,” written by Steve Young, had been a concert staple and was featured on the album and became its only single.

  • Seven Bridges Road (live) (Steve Young) [2:58] (12/2/80, 21 US, 27 CB, 17 AC, 55 CW) G2,03

Greatest Hits Volume 2

Eagles


Rating:

3.890 out of 5.00
(average of 18 ratings)


Charted: October 22, 1982


Recorded: 1975-1980


Peak: 52 US, 63 CN, 5 AU


Sales (in millions): 11.0 US, 15.0 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: classic rock


Tracks: (1) Hotel California (2) Heartache Tonight (3) Seven Bridges Road (live) (4) Victim of Love (5) The Sad Café (6) Life in the Fast Lane (7) I Can’t Tell You Why (8) New Kid in Town (9) The Long Run (10) After the Thrill Is Gone


Total Running Time: 46:40

Awards:

About the Album:

Considering the monstrous success of Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, it was a no-brainer to release a second collection. The band officially disbanded in May 1982 and this set, collecting seven Top 40 hits as well as three album cuts, followed that fall. While not as huge as its predecessor (what could be?), this album still achieved multi-platinum status and outsold all the band’s studio albums except Hotel California.

While that album should be a staple of anyone’s catalog, this collection spared casual listeners from buying “mediocre albums like The Long Run and Eagles Live just to have copies of the best-known songs from those releases.” WR2 This set “was perfect for listeners who knew the band through number one radio hits like New Kid in Town, Hotel California, and Heartache Tonight.” WR2

The Very Best of (1994)

Eagles


Rating:

4.667 out of 5.00
(average of 3 ratings)


Released: July 11, 1994


Recorded: 1971-1979


Peak: 4 UK, 28 CN, 2 AU


Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.6 UK, 1.87 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: classic rock


Tracks: (1) Take It Easy (2) Witchy Woman (3) Peaceful Easy Feeling (4) Doolin-Dalton (5) Desperado (6) Tequila Sunrise (7) Best of My Love (8) James Dean (9) I Can’t Tell You Why (10) Lyin’ Eyes (11) Take It to the Limit (12) One of These Nights (13) Hotel California (14) New Kid in Town (15) Life in the Fast Lane (16) Heartache Tonight (17) The Long Run


Total Running Time: 75:40

About the Album:

1982’s Greatest Hits Volume II was seemingly the last anyone would hear of the Eagles, but they surprised the world in 1994 with their Hell Freezes Over reunion tour. That same year, a single-disc retrospective of the band’s seventies’ output was released in Europe, Australia, and New England. The collection included 9 of the 10 songs from Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, inexplicably opting to substitute the album cut Doolin’ Dalton instead of the hit single Already Gone, and also adding the minor hit James Dean from that era.

The other six cuts from the Eagles’ latter two albums were all hit singles featured on Greatest Hits Volume 2. This collection jettisons the three album cuts that rounded out that collection, but unfortunately also omits Seven Bridges Road, a top 25 hit from the band’s 1980 live album.


Hell Freezes Over (1994):

After a 15-year layoff, the Eagles reunited for a tour and this albums, which was primarily comprised of live cuts but also included four new studio cuts.

  • Get Over It (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [3:29] (10/21/94, 31 US, 35 CB, 21 AC, 4 AR, 4 CN, 74 AU) 03
  • Love Will Keep Us Alive (Pete Vale/Jim Capaldi/Paul Carrack) [4:00] (11/20/94, 22 US, 13 AC, 52 UK, 10 CN) 03

The Very Best of (aka “The Complete Greatest Hits”) (2003)

Eagles


Rating:

4.314 out of 5.00
(average of 12 ratings)


Released: October 21, 2003


Recorded: 1971-2003


Peak: 3 US, 9 UK, 43 AU


Sales (in millions): 5.0 US, 0.6 UK, 10.8 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: classic rock


Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Take It Easy (2) Witchy Woman (3) Peaceful Easy Feeling (4) Desperado (5) Tequila Sunrise (6) Doolin-Dalton (7) Already Gone (8) Best of My Love (9) James Dean (10) Ol’ ’55 (11) Midnight Flyer (12) On the Order (13) Lyin’ Eyes (14) One of These Nights (15) Take It to the Limit (16) After the Thrill Is Gone (17) Hotel California


Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Life in the Fast Lane (2) Wasted Time (3) Victim of Love (4) The Last Resort (5) New Kid in Town (6) Please Come Home for Christmas (7) Heartache Tonight (8) The Sad Café (9) I Can’t Tell You Why (10) The Long Run (11) In the City (12) Those Shoes (13) Seven Bridges Road (live) (14) Love Will Keep Us Alive (15) Get Over It (16) Hole in the World


Total Running Time: 140:33

Awards:

About the Album:

In 2003, the Eagles were anthologized yet again – this time with a double-disc collection. This seemed especially unnecessary, given that roughly two-thirds of their entire studio catalog of six albums would fit on two CDs. However, this set completely replicated Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, Greatest Hits Volume 2, and the 1994 Very Best of sets, rendering all three of them unnecessary. This compilation added Get Over It and Love Will Keep Us Alive, studio cuts from Hell Freezes Over, and a new song, Hole in the World. In addition, the 1978 Christmas single Please Come Home for Christmas finally earned a spot on an Eagles’ greatest-hits package.

The collection does start feeling bloated when another seven album cuts are slapped on. Songs like Midnight Flyer really don’t belong here, but other cuts, like The Last Resort and Ol’ ‘55, seem just as worthy as some of the better-known material.

This set also does something none of its three predecessors did – presents the material in chronological order. This allows for a nice progression from the country rock of the band’s early days through the more guitar-driven album rock of the latter half of the ‘70s.

  • Hole in the World (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [4:19] (69 US, 5 AC, 69 UK, 11 CN) 03


Resources and Related Links:

The Shins Chutes Too Narrow released

Chutes Too Narrow

The Shins


Released: October 21, 2003


Peak: 86 US, 82 UK


Sales (in millions): 0.5 US


Genre: post-punk revival


Tracks:

Song Title [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts.

  1. Kissing the Lipless [3:19]
  2. Mine’s Not a High Horse [3:20]
  3. So Says I [2:48] (9/21/03, 73 UK)
  4. Young Pilgrims [2:47]
  5. Saint Simon [4:25]
  6. Fighting in a Sack [2;26] (7/13/04, 94 UK)
  7. Pink Bullets [3:53] (5/5/05, --)
  8. Turn a Square [3:11]
  9. Gone for Good [3:13]
  10. Those to Come [4:24]
All songs by James Mercer.


Total Running Time: 33:50


The Players:

  • James Mercer (vocals, guitar, harmonica)
  • Dave Hernandez (bass)
  • Marty Crandall (keyboards)
  • Jesse Sandoval (drums)

Rating:

3.977 out of 5.00 (average of 31 ratings)


Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album:

The Shins are a post-punk revival indie rock band which formed in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1996. They released six albums from 2001 to 2017 with lead singer/multi-instrumentalist James Mercer as the only constant. It took five years before the release of their debut album, Oh, Inverted World, in 2001, but then just two years passed before the release of sophomore effort Chutes Too Narrow.

While the first album had a “lo-fi” sound, the second album featured cleaner production thanks to being mixed by producer Phil Ek, who also worked with Built to Spill and Modest Mouse. Even so, the recording facility was nothing fancy. The band recorded the album in the basement of James Mercer’s former home because it was cheaper than using a real studio. WK

The New Yorker said the album showcased “better writing, better playing and better singing.” WK It was also a more guitar-driven album compared to the more keyboard-heavy sound of the first album. Magnet said it was “a better record than the Shins’ first – a sonically bolder production with fewer effects and more hooks.” WK

Rolling Stone called it “a study in old-school pop songwriting, full of Sixties-style psychedelic folk rock, abundant pop hooks and James Mercer’s inimitable high-pitched croon.” WK Pitchfork’s Matt LeMay called it “a powerful testament to pop music’s capacity for depth, beauty, and expansiveness.” WK

Resources and Related Links:


First posted 3/10/2022.

Sunday, October 19, 2003

In Concert: Lyle Lovett

image from musicalbox.bloginky.com

Venue: Midland Theater; Kansas City, MO


The Set List:

1. Instrumental
2. Election Day *
3. The Truck Song *
4. Cute As a Bug *
5. My Baby Don't Tolerate *
6. In My Own Mind *
7. Big Dog *
8. Working Too Hard *
9. Nothing But a Good Ride *
10. You Were Always There *
11. Pontiac
12. Her First Mistake

13. If I Had a Boat
14. Give Back My Heart
15. Walk Through the Bottomlands
16. I've Been to Memphis
17. That's Right, You're Not from Texas
18. Good Intentions
19. San Antonio Girl *
20. Wallisville Road *
21. I'm Going to Wait *
22. I'm Going to the Place *
23. Church (encore)

* From the album My Baby Don't Tolerate (2003). "On Saturday Night" was the only song from the album that wasn't played.