The Very Best of the Eagles
Greatest hits album by
Eagles
ReleasedJuly 11, 1994 (1994-07-11)[1]
Recorded1972–1979
GenreRock
Length75:40
LabelElektra
ProducerGlyn Johns, Bill Szymczyk
Eagles chronology
Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
(1982) 		The Very Best of the Eagles
(1994) 		Hell Freezes Over
(1994)

The Very Best of the Eagles is the fifth compilation album by the Eagles. It was originally released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand on July 11, 1994, by Elektra Records.[1]

Europe and New Zealand received a standard release whereas in Australia it was also available as a numbered, limited edition Australian tour version that was pressed on a Gold CD.

The album was remastered and reissued in May 2001 with all the same songs that were on the original release but in a different sequence.

The compilation album was not released in the United States, although it was successful in other parts of the world, appearing in the top 10 of the albums charts in nine countries and becoming certified gold in seven countries and platinum in three.

Compilation and artwork

The Very Best of the Eagles is composed of seventeen songs, fifteen of which were released as singles and two songs—"Desperado" and "Doolin-Dalton"—that were album tracks from Desperado. The 2001 reissue's track listing is more loosely compiled.

Both issues of the album feature desert-themed photography. The first release featured art direction and design by Gabrielle Raumberger. The reissue had its art direction handled by Jeri Heiden with design by Barrie Goshko, who also did photo manipulation for the release.[2][3]

Both the original and the reissue erroneously credit Glyn Johns as producer on the track “James Dean” from the “On The Border” album. It was produced by Bill Szymczyk.

Track listing

Original release

No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Take It Easy"Jackson Browne, Glenn FreyEagles, 19723:32
2."Witchy Woman"Don Henley, Bernie LeadonEagles4:15
3."Peaceful Easy Feeling"Jack TempchinEagles4:21
4."Doolin-Dalton"Browne, Frey, Henley, J. D. SoutherDesperado, 19733:30
5."Desperado"Frey, HenleyDesperado3:35
6."Tequila Sunrise"Frey, HenleyDesperado2:55
7."Best of My Love"Frey, Henley, SoutherOn the Border, 19744:36
8."James Dean"Browne, Frey, Henley, SoutherOn the Border3:40
9."I Can't Tell You Why"Frey, Henley, Timothy B. SchmitThe Long Run, 19794:56
10."Lyin' Eyes"Frey, HenleyOne of These Nights, 19756:24
11."Take It to the Limit"Frey, Henley, Randy MeisnerOne of These Nights4:49
12."One of These Nights"Frey, HenleyOne of These Nights4:53
13."Hotel California"Don Felder, Frey, HenleyHotel California, 19766:31
14."New Kid in Town"Frey, Henley, SoutherHotel California5:04
15."Life in the Fast Lane"Frey, Henley, Joe WalshHotel California4:47
16."Heartache Tonight"Frey, Henley, Bob Seger, SoutherThe Long Run4:27
17."The Long Run"Frey, HenleyThe Long Run3:42

2001 reissue

No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."One of These Nights"Frey, HenleyOne of These Nights4:53
2."Take It Easy"Browne, FreyEagles3:32
3."Hotel California"Felder, Frey, HenleyHotel California6:31
4."New Kid in Town"Frey, Henley, SoutherHotel California5:04
5."Heartache Tonight"Frey, Henley, Seger, SoutherThe Long Run4:27
6."Tequila Sunrise"Frey, HenleyDesperado2:55
7."Desperado"Frey, HenleyDesperado3:35
8."Best of My Love"Frey, Henley, SoutherOn the Border4:36
9."Lyin' Eyes"Frey, HenleyOne of These Nights6:24
10."Take It to the Limit"Frey, Henley, MeisnerOne of These Nights4:49
11."I Can't Tell You Why"Frey, Henley, SchmitThe Long Run4:56
12."Peaceful Easy Feeling"TempchinEagles4:21
13."James Dean"Browne, Frey, Henley, SoutherOn the Border3:40
14."Doolin-Dalton"Browne, Frey, Henley, SoutherDesperado3:30
15."Witchy Woman"Henley, LeadonEagles4:15
16."The Long Run"Frey, HenleyThe Long Run3:42
17."Life in the Fast Lane"Frey, Henley, WalshHotel California4:47

Personnel

Production

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[20] Platinum 40,000^
Australia (ARIA)[22] 9× Platinum 850,000[21]
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[23] Gold 23,307[23]
France (SNEP)[24] 2× Gold 200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[25] Gold 250,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[26] Platinum 200,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[27] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] 8× Platinum 120,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[29] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[30] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[31] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] 2× Platinum 600,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (ASPX) on September 24, 2009. Set Search by to "Artist" and search for "Eagles" to see results.
  2. ^ The Very Best of the Eagles (CD liner). Eagles. Elektra Records. 1994. 9548-32375-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ The Very Best of the Eagles (CD liner). Eagles. Elektra Records. 2001. 7559-62680-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (Album)" (ASP). Australian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  5. ^ "100 Albums (CD's & Cassettes)" (PHP). RPM. 60 (3). August 8, 1994. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  6. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  7. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (Album)" (ASP). Swiss Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  8. ^ "Chart Archive: Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive – 30th July 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  9. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (Album)" (ASP). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  10. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (Album)" (ASP). Swedish Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  11. ^ "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé". InfoDisc (in French). Archived from the original (PHP) on August 20, 2008. Find "The EAGLES" under the drop-down menu to see statistics.
  12. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (2001) (Album)" (ASP). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  13. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (2001) (Album)" (ASP). Danish Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  14. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (2001) (Album)" (ASP). Finnish Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  15. ^ "Chartverfolgung / EAGLES / Longplay". Music Line (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  16. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (Album)" (ASP). Italian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  17. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (Album)" (ASP). Dutch Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  18. ^ "Eagles – The Very Best of the Eagles (Album)" (ASP). Norwegian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  19. ^ "Chart Archive: Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive – 23rd June 2001". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  20. ^ "Gold & Platinum Certifications". CAPIF (in Spanish). Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  21. ^ "The Music Australia Loved". Sydney Morning Herald. January 1, 2013. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  22. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Eagles" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "French album certifications – Eagles – The Very Best of Eagles" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 26, 2021. Select EAGLES and click OK. 
  25. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eagles; 'The Very Best Of...')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  26. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Eagles – Very Best of Eagles" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 8, 2020. Select 1997年5月 on the drop-down menu
  27. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Eagles – Very Best of Eagles" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved December 8, 2020. Enter Very Best of Eagles in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1995 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  28. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Eagles – The Very Best of Eagles". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  29. ^ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. p. 935. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  30. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  31. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Very Best of the Eagles')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  32. ^ "British album certifications – Eagles – The Very Best of Eagles". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
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