The Very Best of the Eagles (2003)
Encyclopedia
The Very Best of Eagles (released as The Complete Greatest Hits in the UK
and Australia
) is a two-disc compilation album by the American
band The Eagles, released in 2003
.
This album combines tracks that all previously appeared on the two previously released Eagles greatest hits albums (Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
& Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
) plus album tracks and the new track "Hole in the World".
The Very Best of Eagles was also released as a limited-edition three-disc set with the third disc being a bonus DVD containing the video for the new song "Hole in the World
," as well as a making of the video featurette and "Backstage Pass to Farewell 1."
The album debuted on the Billboard 200
on November 8, 2003 at number 3, with 162,000 copies sold. It spent 62 weeks on the chart. The album was certified and awarded gold, platinum, and double platinum records by the RIAA on December 17, 2003, and on December 13, 2004, it achieved triple platinum status. As of December 2007, it has spent over 325 weeks in the Irish Album Charts, effectively not having left the chart since its release. In the UK
the album (as The Complete Greatest Hits) entered the charts on November 1, 2003 at its initial number 27 peak position, the album did however re-enter the charts in June 2006 when it peaked at number 9 on the UK Albums Chart
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) is a two-disc compilation album by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
band The Eagles, released in 2003
2003 in music
-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
.
This album combines tracks that all previously appeared on the two previously released Eagles greatest hits albums (Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
Their Greatest Hits is a singles compilation album by the American rock band the Eagles, released in 1976. As of November 2009, 29 million copies have been shipped in the domestic market, making it tied with Michael Jackson's Thriller as the best-selling album in the United States...
& Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
-Charts:Album - Billboard...
) plus album tracks and the new track "Hole in the World".
The Very Best of Eagles was also released as a limited-edition three-disc set with the third disc being a bonus DVD containing the video for the new song "Hole in the World
Hole in the World
"Hole in the World" is a song by the Eagles, written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, released in 2003....
," as well as a making of the video featurette and "Backstage Pass to Farewell 1."
The album debuted on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
on November 8, 2003 at number 3, with 162,000 copies sold. It spent 62 weeks on the chart. The album was certified and awarded gold, platinum, and double platinum records by the RIAA on December 17, 2003, and on December 13, 2004, it achieved triple platinum status. As of December 2007, it has spent over 325 weeks in the Irish Album Charts, effectively not having left the chart since its release. In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
the album (as The Complete Greatest Hits) entered the charts on November 1, 2003 at its initial number 27 peak position, the album did however re-enter the charts in June 2006 when it peaked at number 9 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
.
Disc one
- "Take It EasyTake It Easy"Take It Easy" is the title of a song written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, and most famously recorded by the Eagles . It was the band's first single, released on May 1, 1972. It also was the opening track on the band's debut album Eagles and it has become one of their signature songs, included...
" (Jackson BrowneJackson BrowneJackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, Glenn FreyGlenn FreyGlenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
) – 3:29 - "Witchy WomanWitchy Woman"Witchy Woman" is a song written by Don Henley and Bernie Leadon, and recorded by the American rock band Eagles. Released as the second single from the band's debut album Eagles, it reached #9 on the Billboard Pop singles chart and is the only single from the album to feature Henley on lead...
" (Don HenleyDon HenleyDonald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
, Bernie LeadonBernie LeadonBernard Mathew "Bernie" Leadon, III is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Prior to the Eagles, he was a member of two pioneering and highly influential country rock bands, Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers...
) – 4:10 - "Peaceful Easy FeelingPeaceful Easy Feeling"Peaceful Easy Feeling" is a song written by Jack Tempchin and recorded by the American rock band Eagles. It was the third single from the band's 1972 debut album Eagles. The single reached #22 on the charts and is one of the band's most popular songs...
" (Jack TempchinJack TempchinJack Tempchin is an American musician and singer-songwriter, best known for writing the Eagles classic "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and co-writing their hits "Already Gone", "The Girl From Yesterday," "Somebody," and "It's Your World Now."...
) – 4:16 - "DesperadoDesperado (song)"Desperado" is a soft rock song by the Eagles, an American rock band, written by group members Glenn Frey and Don Henley. It first appeared on the 1973 album Desperado, and has later appeared on numerous compilation albums although it was not a single....
" (Henley, Frey) – 3:33 - "Tequila SunriseTequila Sunrise (song)"Tequila Sunrise" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, and recorded by the Eagles. It was the first single from the band's second album Desperado...
" (Henley, Frey) – 2:42 - "Doolin-Dalton" (Browne, Frey, Henley, J.D. Souther) – 3:26
- "Already GoneAlready Gone (Eagles song)"Already Gone" is a song written by Jack Tempchin and Robert Arnold Strandlund and recorded by the American rock band Eagles for their 1974 album On the Border...
" (Tempchin, Robb Strandlund) – 4:13 - "Best of My LoveBest of My Love (Eagles song)"Best of My Love" is a song written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther. It was originally recorded by the Eagles , and included on their 1974 album On the Border. The band's first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single in March 1975, the song also topped the easy listening chart for one week...
" (Henley, Frey, Souther) – 4:35 - "James DeanJames Dean (song)"James Dean" is a song written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Jackson Browne, and J. D. Souther, and recorded by the American rock band Eagles for their 1974 album On the Border. It was the second single released from this album, reaching number 77 on the U.S. pop singles chart.The song is about...
" (Browne, Frey, Souther, Henley) – 3:36 - "Ol' '55Ol' '55"Ol' '55" is a song written and recorded by Tom Waits. It is the opening track on Waits' 1973 debut album, Closing Time. The song was covered by the Eagles on their 1974 album On the Border....
" (Tom WaitsTom WaitsThomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
) – 4:22 - "Midnight Flyer" (Paul Craft) – 3:58
- "On the BorderOn the BorderOn the Border is the third studio album by the Eagles, released in 1974. During the making of the album, the band experienced significant changes. As the band tried to lean towards a more hard rock sound, they felt that producer Glyn Johns emphasized too much on their country sound. After recording...
" (Henley, Leadon, Frey) – 4:28 - "Lyin' EyesLyin' Eyes"Lyin' Eyes" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and recorded in 1975 by the American rock band Eagles, with Frey singing lead vocals. It was the second single from their One of These Nights album, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #8 on the US Country chart...
" (Henley, Frey) – 6:21 - "One of These NightsOne of These Nights (song)"One of These Nights" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and recorded by the American rock band Eagles. The title track from their One of These Nights album, the song became their second single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart after Best of My Love and also helped propel the album to...
" (Henley, Frey) – 4:51 - "Take It to the Limit" (Randy MeisnerRandy MeisnerRandy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
, Henley, Frey) – 4:48 - "After the Thrill Is Gone" (Henley, Frey) - 3:56
- "Hotel CaliforniaHotel California (song)"Hotel California" is the title song from the Eagles' album of the same name and was released as a single in February 1977. It is one of the best-known songs of the album-oriented rock era. Writing credits for the song are shared by Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey...
" (Don FelderDon FelderDonald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...
, Henley, Frey) – 6:30
-
- Tracks 1–3 from EaglesEagles (album)Eagles is the debut album by the rock band of the same name, released in 1972. The album was recorded at London's Olympic Studios with producer Glyn Johns. The album was an immediate success for the young band reaching #22 on the charts and going platinum. The album also released three Top 40...
(1972) - Tracks 4–6 from Desperado (1973)
- Tracks 7–12 from On the BorderOn the BorderOn the Border is the third studio album by the Eagles, released in 1974. During the making of the album, the band experienced significant changes. As the band tried to lean towards a more hard rock sound, they felt that producer Glyn Johns emphasized too much on their country sound. After recording...
(1974) - Tracks 13–16 from One of These NightsOne of These NightsOne of These Nights is the fourth studio album by the Eagles, released in 1975. The record's title song became the group's second #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, in July of that year. The album released three Top 10 singles, "One Of These Nights", "Lyin' Eyes", and "Take It To The Limit". Those...
(1975) - Track 17 from Hotel CaliforniaHotel CaliforniaHotel California is the fifth studio album released by the American rock band the Eagles, in late 1976. It is the first Eagles album without founding member Bernie Leadon and the first album with Joe Walsh. It is also the last album featuring original bass player and singer Randy Meisner...
(1976)
- Tracks 1–3 from Eagles
Disc two
- "Life in the Fast LaneLife in the Fast Lane"Life in the Fast Lane" is a song written by Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey and Don Henley and recorded by the American rock band Eagles on their 1976 studio album Hotel California...
" (Joe WalshJoe WalshJoseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
, Henley, Frey) – 4:46 - "Wasted Time" (Henley, Frey) – 4:55
- "Victim of Love" (Felder, Souther, Henley, Frey) – 4:11
- "The Last Resort" (Henley, Frey) – 7:25
- "New Kid in TownNew Kid in Town"New Kid in Town", written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther, is a song by the Eagles, from their 1976 album Hotel California. Released as the first single from the album, the song became a #1 hit in the USA, and #20 in the UK. The single version has an earlier fade-out than the album...
" (Souther, Henley, Frey) – 5:04 - "Please Come Home for ChristmasPlease Come Home for Christmas"Please Come Home for Christmas" is a Christmas song, released in 1960, by the American blues singer and pianist Charles Brown. Hitting Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in December 1961, the tune Brown co-wrote with Gene Redd peaked at position #76. It appeared on the Christmas Singles chart for nine...
" (Charlie Brown) – 2:58 - "Heartache TonightHeartache Tonight"Heartache Tonight" was revived four years later in a cover version by country music artist Conway Twitty. Released as the second single from his Lost in the Feeling album, Twitty's version reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the fall of 1983.Twitty's version featured the...
" (Henley, Frey, Bob SegerBob SegerRobert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
, Souther) – 4:26 - "The Sad Café" (Henley, Frey, Walsh, Souther) – 5:35
- "I Can't Tell You WhyI Can't Tell You Why"I Can't Tell You Why" is a song from the Eagles which appeared on their 1979 album The Long Run. The song was written by Timothy B. Schmit, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley, and was the first Eagles song to feature Schmit on lead vocals....
" (Timothy B. SchmitTimothy B. SchmitTimothy Bruce Schmit is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as bass guitar player and singer for Poco and the Eagles. Schmit has also worked for decades as a session musician and solo artist.-Early career:Raised in Sacramento, Schmit began playing in the folk music group...
, Henley, Frey) – 4:56 - "The Long RunThe Long Run (song)"The Long Run" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and recorded by the Eagles. The sound of the song is viewed as a tribute to the Stax / Memphis R&B sound...
" (Henley, Frey) – 3:42 - "In the City" (Walsh, Barry De VorzonBarry De VorzonBarry De Vorzon is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and composer. His first composing big hit was the rock song "Dreamin'," sung by Johnny Burnette in 1960, although he had a number-one hit previously called "Just Married," which he wrote for Marty Robbins in 1958...
) – 3:46 - "Those Shoes" (Felder, Henley, Frey) – 4:56
- "Seven Bridges RoadSeven Bridges Road"Seven Bridges Road" is the title of a song written by Steve Young that he recorded in 1969 for his Rock Salt & Nails album. A popular version was recorded by the Eagles in 1980 which still receives significant airplay on classic rock stations....
(Live)" (Steve YoungSteve Young (musician)Steve Young is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist, known for his song "Seven Bridges Road"...
) – 3:25 - "Love Will Keep Us AliveLove Will Keep Us Alive"Love Will Keep Us Alive", is the title of a song written by Jim Capaldi, Paul Carrack, and Peter Vale. It was performed first by the Eagles in 1994, during their "Hell Freezes Over" reunion tour. It was sung by bassist Timothy B...
" (Pete Vale, Jim CapaldiJim CapaldiNicola James "Jim" Capaldi was an English musician and songwriter. His musical career lasted more than four decades. He co-founded Traffic in Birmingham with Steve Winwood, and the band's psychedelic rock was influential in Britain and the United States...
, Paul Carrack) – 4:00 - "Get Over ItGet over It (Eagles song)"Get Over It" is a song by the Eagles, released as a single after a fourteen year breakup. It was also the first song written by bandmates Glenn Frey and Don Henley when the band reunited. "Get Over It" was played live for the first time during their Hell Freezes Over tour in 1994, with Henley...
" (Henley, Frey) – 3:29 - "Hole in the WorldHole in the World"Hole in the World" is a song by the Eagles, written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, released in 2003....
" (Henley, Frey) – 4:13
-
- Tracks 1-5 from Hotel California (1976)
- Track 6 was a non-album single (1978)
- Tracks 7-12 from The Long RunThe Long Run (album)The Long Run is the sixth studio album by the Eagles, released in 1979 . This was the first Eagles album not to feature founding member Randy Meisner, who was replaced by Timothy B. Schmit....
(1979) - Track 13 from Eagles LiveEagles LiveEagles Live is the first live album by the American rock band Eagles, a two-LP set released in 1980. The Eagles unofficially disbanded on July 31, 1980 after their concert at Long Beach. However, the band still owed Elektra/Asylum a live record from the tour...
(1980) - Tracks 14 and 15 from Hell Freezes OverHell Freezes OverHell Freezes Over is a live album by the Eagles, released in 1994. The album contains four new studio tracks and eleven tracks recorded live for an MTV special. It went to #1 on the Billboard album chart upon its release where it stayed for two weeks. It is the band's second live album behind their...
(1994) - Track 16 is a new track (2003)
Personnel
- Don FelderDon FelderDonald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...
: Guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, vocals (songs 7, 13-17 on disc one and songs 1-15 on disc two). - Glenn FreyGlenn FreyGlenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
: Guitars, piano, keyboards, percussion, vocals. - Don HenleyDon HenleyDonald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
: Drums, percussion, guitars, vocals. - Bernie LeadonBernie LeadonBernard Mathew "Bernie" Leadon, III is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Prior to the Eagles, he was a member of two pioneering and highly influential country rock bands, Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers...
: Guitars, Lap Steel, banjo, mandolin, vocals. (songs 1-16 on disc one) - Randy MeisnerRandy MeisnerRandy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
: Bass guitar, guitars, guitarrone, vocals. (disc one and songs 1-5 on disc two) - Timothy B. SchmitTimothy B. SchmitTimothy Bruce Schmit is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as bass guitar player and singer for Poco and the Eagles. Schmit has also worked for decades as a session musician and solo artist.-Early career:Raised in Sacramento, Schmit began playing in the folk music group...
: Bass guitar, vocals. (songs 6-16 on disc two) - Joe WalshJoe WalshJoseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
: Guitars, Slide Guitar, keyboards, organ, synthesizer, vocals. ("Hotel CaliforniaHotel California (song)"Hotel California" is the title song from the Eagles' album of the same name and was released as a single in February 1977. It is one of the best-known songs of the album-oriented rock era. Writing credits for the song are shared by Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey...
" and all of disc two) - Steuart SmithSteuart SmithSteuart Smith is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, writer and producer currently working with American rock band the Eagles. Smith is from Arlington, VA.]].-Current work:...
: Guitars. (song 16, disc 2) - Scott Crago: Drums, percussion. (songs 14-16 on disc 2)
- Willie Hollis: Piano. (songs 14-16 disc 2)
- Jim Ed Norman: Piano, keyboards, arrangements.
- David SanbornDavid SanbornDavid Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
: Tenor Saxophone.
Production
- Producers: Glyn Johns, Bill Szymczyk, Eagles, Elliot Schiner and Rob Jacobs
- Engineers: Allan Blazek, Michael Braunstein, Glyn Johns, Ed Mashal, Bill Szymczyk, Michael Verdick, Don Wood
- Assistant engineers: Allan Blazek, Howard Kilgour
- Remastering: Ted JensenTed JensenTed Jensen is an American recording engineer. Jensen is the chief mastering engineer at Sterling Sound. He started his career as a mastering engineer in 1976 and is currently the most active Mastering Engineer in the industry...
- String arrangements: Jim Ed Norman
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Top 75 Albums | 43 |
| German Albums | 56 |
| Netherlands Top 100 Albums | 29 |
| Norwegian Top 40 Albums | 29 |
| Swedish Top 60 Albums | 8 |
| Swiss Top 100 Albums | 71 |
| US Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
3 |
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Top 50 Albums | 17 |
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
9 |
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Top 50 Albums | 5 |
| US Catalog Albums Top Pop Catalog Albums Top Pop Catalog Albums is a fifty-position weekly albums chart produced by Billboard magazine which ranks the best selling catalog titles, regardless of genre. Billboard defines a catalog title as one that is more than eighteen months old and that has fallen below position 100 on the Billboard 200... |
1 |