Complete Greatest Hits (2003)


 

Disc One
  1. Take it Easy
  2. Witchy Woman
  3. Peaceful Easy Feeling
  4. Desperado
  5. Tequilla Sunrise
  6. Doolin-Dalton
  7. Already Gone
  8. The Best of My Love
  9. James Dean
  10.Ol' 55
  11.Midnight Flyer
  12.On the Border
  13.Lyin' Eyes
  14.One of These Nights
  15.Take it to the Limit
  16.After the Thrill is Gone
  17.Hotel California
  
Disc Two
  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 Cafe
  9. I Can't Tell You Why
  10.The Long Run
  11.In the City
  12.Those Shoes
  13.Seven Bridges Road
  14.Love Will Keep Us Alive
  15.Get Over It
  16.Hole in the World

 

Here’s a little trivia slash math problem for you: how many studio songs did the Eagles record between 1971 and 1994? The answer is 65. Yes, just 65 — and that number includes their Christmas single plus the four new tracks from Hell Freezes Over. Now, this two-disc Complete Greatest Hits package contains 33 of those songs. Toss in the live-only staple Seven Bridges Road (never issued in a studio version) for good measure, and suddenly you realize that this collection represents exactly half of the band’s recorded output.

Fifty percent. That’s a hefty chunk. And it’s delivered with none of the usual stinginess you might expect from a “best of” package. Every track from their first two greatest hits compilations is here. Plus, the minor hits, fan favorites, and a smattering of other notable tracks — including the seasonal perennial Please Come Home for Christmas — are all given their due. Even a couple of the Hell Freezes Over songs make the cut.

In other words, this isn’t just a rehash of old compilations slapped together to squeeze another buck. It’s a sprawling, definitive anthology that takes full advantage of the CD era’s expanded capacity, packing in far more than the usual “hits only” fare. The result is a package that offers value, breadth, and depth — the sort of collection both casual listeners and die-hard fans can appreciate.

As for new material, Hole in the World appears here as the sole fresh addition. It’s a decent enough song, carrying the band’s signature harmonies and thoughtful lyricism, but it doesn’t reach the heights of their classic material. Still, it’s welcome as a nod to the band’s continuing vitality, even if it doesn’t quite capture magic.

Ultimately, Complete Greatest Hits stands as a near-flawless encapsulation of the Eagles’ recorded legacy. Half their catalogue, presented without compromise, and with no obvious omissions or disappointments. For anyone seeking a one-stop distillation of the band’s remarkable career, it’s hard to imagine a better place to start.


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