Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

Performer: Eagles
Producer: Bill Szymcyzk
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: The Eagles: Glenn Frey (vocals, guitar, piano); Don Felder, Joe Walsh (vocals, guitar); Randy Meisner, Timothy B. Schmidt (vocals, bass); Don Henley (vocals, drums). They perhaps took themselves too seriously sometimes (and maybe at other times should have been a little bit more serious), but the fact remains that the Eagles were one of the most memorable singles bands of the 1970s, and their influence, particularly on several new country acts, continues to grow with the passing of time and trends. This brief ten-track collection hits the obvious high points from the late-period albums Hotel California and The Long Run and includes such classics as the haunting and mysterious "Hotel California," the bristling and kinetic "Life in the Fast Lane," and the pop gem "New Kid in Town." ~ Steve Leggett With the Eagles having officially disbanded in May 1982, leaving behind eight Top 40 hits that followed the release of the spectacularly successful Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, Asylum Records naturally compiled a second hits collection for fall 1982 release. Seven of those hits were included (the exception being the seasonal "Please Come Home for Christmas"), along with three LP tracks, one each from One of These Nights, Hotel California, and The Long Run. Disdained by longtime fans and by the Eagles themselves, the collection was perfect for listeners who knew the band through number one radio hits like "New Kid in Town," "Hotel California," and "Heartache Tonight." It also spared them having to buy mediocre albums like The Long Run and Eagles Live just to have copies of the best-known songs from those releases. No wonder, then, that over the years Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 achieved multi-platinum status. ~ William Ruhlmann The Eagles have been referred to as the American Beatles for their mastery of pop songcraft and their exacting way with production and arrangements. While the L.A. group's country/rock/pop sound bore little in common with the Fab Four's British invasion style, the California boys certainly achieved a (temporarily) comparable iconic status in the mainstream music world. The first volume of the Eagles' GREATEST HITS is one of the best-selling albums of all time, and its successor is just as full of songs that are forever embedded in the consciousness of anyone who heard American pop radio in the '70s and/or '80s. From the twin-guitar assault and druggy narrative of the epic "Hotel California" (essentially the Eagles' "Stairway to Heaven") to the bluesy rock of the Joe Walsh-powered hedonist's tale "Life in the Fast Lane," this compilation presents the band at it's best, in all their multi-tracked, radio-friendly glory.

Q (4/01, p.117) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Draws heavily on '76s HOTEL CALIFORNIA, the definitive Eagles album, and concludes, tellingly if not chronologically, with the weary lament of 'After The Thrill Is Gone'."

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