There have been so many signature statement albums prevalentin the history of the classic rockmusicgenre. We’ve seen LPs so iconic they’re still remembered fondlyeven as they turn five decades old this year, as well as the debut records that were so good they’re still classifiedas 10/10 no-skip startsfor their respective bands.
Given there are so many standout, original classic rock creations, it’s strange to know the best-selling classic rock album of all timeis a greatest hits compilation.The Eaglesmanaged to make this happen, though, with the bandselling 38 million certified unitsofTheir Greatest Hits (1971-1975)since its 1976 release.
While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why this record-high sales mark occurred, a great deal was due to the Eagles' management/record label team capitalizing on the popular success of their first four albums, whichTheir Greatest Hits (1971-1975)draws from. The band was reportedly upsetto have had no input in assembling the compilation.
Despite the Eagles' dissatisfaction,Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)is a high-quality snapshotof what made the group such a standout in the first half of the ’70s. Primarily made up of their singles from then, the LP serves as a reminder of what the Eagles were like in their prime, a country-folk-rock juggernaut of impressive songwriting.
10One Of These Nights
A Dark-Shaded Rocker Of Anticipation
Written by the band’s lead vocalists Don Henley and Glenn Frey for the Eagles as the title track of their 1975 albumOne of These Nights, this song was the group’s attempt to create somethingoutside their usual country-rock and ballad-based specialties. The result was much more blues-oriented, spurred on by the uptempo lead guitar efforts of Don Felder.
That experimentation ultimately paid off well for the Eagles, as “One of These Nights” became the group’ssecond single at the time to top the charts. This came after the success of the prior year’s “Best of My Love” from their LPOn the Border, which was in the more traditional ballad vein the Eagles were so well-known to ace.
Lyrically, the song is about the idea ofdelaying important things or putting them off until “one of these nights.“While not quite as emotionally stirring or stabbing a commentary as some of the Eagles' other works, “One of These Nights” has a relevant aspiration/frustration many of us have had at one time or another about chasing down dreams.
9Best Of My Love
A Beauty Of Balladry
“Best of My Love” was another track written by Henley and Frey, but with assistancefrom the late great singer-songwriter JD Southerin this case. While the sound is a classic Eagles-style ballad, there’s a certain gossamer-light wordplay to the love song that hints at Souther’s sorely underrated talents being involved in the final creation.
Much like “One of These Nights”, this was also a track with Henley on lead vocals that went to number one on the charts (in 1974 from the albumOn The Border),the first number one the Eagles had in their career. While it might come across as cheesy at first listen, there’s also a lot of appeal here.
Reportedly (at least in part) inspired byHenley’s breakup with his girlfriend at the time, “Best of My Love” reflects on the splintering of a relationship with an earnest weightiness. Never does the emotion of the moment feel artificially put upon or forced; there’s true pain within the eye of the storm.
8Already Gone
A Rock-Edged Kiss-Off
Another cut from 1974’sOn The Border, “Already Gone” was an Eagles track that didn’t find life within the Frey and Henley duo, instead being written and sent to Freyby singer-songwriters Jack Tempchin and Robb Strandlund. It was one of the first songs recorded forOn The Borderafter the band returned from London to Los Angeles.
They’d also switched producers at that point after the group found themselves at odds in the creative process with famed producer Glyn Johns. One of those disagreementsrevolved around sound style, with the Eagles wanting to move to a heavier rock-oriented approach, while Johns felt like they were solely lighter country rock.
“Already Gone” feels like a bit of a nod to this issue, both in the track’s heavier, jangly sound and its lyrics referencing leaving behind someone who wants to “put me on a shelf.” While this is likely Tempchin making a broader reference to a relationship, there are still interestingparallels to the Eagles pushing away from Johns.
7Peaceful Easy Feeling
West Coast-Flavored Zen Philosophy
Another track written by Tempchin, “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” wound up on the Eagles' self-titled 1972 debut after Frey heard the song and asked Tempchin if he could develop it further. The Eagleshad only existed a handful of days at this point, but quickly created a demo that Tempchin found impressive.
Even though it wasn’t written by the band, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” has a quintessential Eagles sound with references to the desert and a country-folk croon that alreadyfeels wearied by the sands and sun of the West Coast. There’s such a gentle, loving nature to this song, both personally and descriptively.
“Peaceful Easy Feeling” has such an at-peace sense of smoothness that the track leans intothe sensibilities of pop music without becoming overproduced. This country-folk standout will make you feel the sand between your toes, the sun in the sky, and every beautiful person around you.
6Take It To The Limit
A Country Folk Waltz Wailer
“Take It to the Limit” was the brainchildof founding Eagles bassist Randy Meisner, who’d begun creating the song solo but couldn’t fully finish it by the time the band was ready to record their fourth album,One of These Nights. As a result, Meisner asked Frey and Henley for assistance, and they took the track to the finish line.
With Meisner on lead vocals, “Take It to the Limit” wasthe only Eagles A-side to have Meisner singing leadand the first Eagles A-side single not to have Frey or Henley on lead. The track was also unique in that it was the final band single to feature founding Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon before being replaced by Joe Walsh.
Despite Meisner only havinga handful of main contributions to the Eagles' catalog, “Take It to the Limit” was one of his best fits for the band, as it’s both lyrically strong and has that familiar sense of descriptive longing. You feel the narrator’s sense of struggle trying to balance life within the swaying glow of fortune and fame.
5Witchy Woman
The Bewitching Enchantress Of Song
Released as the second single from the Eagles' 1972 self-titled debut LP, “Witchy Woman” is everything the title hints it to be, from the lyrical setting to the song’s soulful, moody, almost ominous musical backbeat. Henley came up with the track along with Leadon, Henley’sonly writing credit on the band’s first album.
According to Henley, the basis of “Witchy Woman” was built from a variety of women, most prominentlywriter F. Scott Fitzgerald’s eccentric wife Zelda. Henley was reading a biography about Fitzgerald’s spouse (and muse) while writing the song, and would reportedly come in and out of a flu-induced, semi-hallucinogenic fever to read further.
The character within “Witchy Woman” would build out as a result of that, along with other women Henley had encountered at music clubs, a girl he’d known who was interested in the occult, and another book he’d read about shamanism. The almost voodoo-like mystery is palpable within the track, and leads toan almost unexpected Eagles song.
4Lyin' Eyes
The Country’s Cheating Heart
“Lyin' Eyes” was the second single released from the Eagles' fourth album (1975’sOne of These Nights), a song that not only ranked well on multiple charts butalso eventually took home a Grammy Award. The track’s writing was credited to Henley and Frey, though Henley stated that Frey was the main voice behind the song.
The duo came up with the idea for “Lyin' Eyes” while in their favorite restaurant/bar, where they saw many beautiful women and began to speculateon the ones cheating on their husbands. The story developed from there about a hypothetical person cheating with her “lyin' eyes,” unhappy to have married for wealth/status, with no way out.
3Tequila Sunrise
The Longing Of Lost Love
The first single from the Eagles' 1973 second studio album,Desperado, “Tequila Sunrise” feels very similarly geared to the meditative sunshine found within the track “Peaceful Easy Feeling.” However, instead of anything peaceful or easy, “Tequila Sunrise” has the cowboy saloon sensation of losing love.
While the titlerefers to an alcoholic cocktail, there’s also an ambivalence within the wording that also feels like the narrator has been drinking all night until the sun comes up. The brief story within feels earnest, but is lost within the ache of a bad relationship experience, and feeling burned out by the end of it.
2Desperado
An Old West Tale Of Balladry
“Desperado"was one of the first songs written by Henley and Freyas part of their songwriting partnership within the Eagles, which began on their second album (1973’sDesperado). Despite never being released as a single, the track has evolved into arguably one of the most iconic from the band’s catalog, and for good reason.
A group already known for their ballads, “Desperado” has this heavy, capturing beauty within its descriptive nature that calls to mindthe traditional stylings of the cowboy Old West. Though the song also relates more broadly in its calls to advise someone who’s been beaten up and battered by the storms of life.
Existence is so universal in the ways we win and lose, escape pain through things that ultimately hurt too, and sort through what we can and cannot trust. “Desperado” taps into these very human feelingswithout making them saccharine, and that’s why it works so well.
1Take It Easy
Keeping The Stress At Bay
Utilized by the Eagles as their debut single from their self-titled 1972 first album, “Take It Easy” was writtenby Frey in collaboration with fellow singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. Browne had the beginning pieces of the song, but was having trouble finishing it until Frey heard it and got involved.
Frey was able to complete “Take It Easy,” andwhile Browne recorded his own version in 1973, that wouldn’t get anywhere near the famed heights the Eagles were able to take the song to over the years. The country-folk-rocker flows fast even as the lyrics advise taking things slowly and not overthinking, and it is effortlessly catchy.
