First what is great is the sound quality of the digital remastering (far superior to originally released cds). Some reviewers complained about the non-chronological ordering of the songs but in my opinion this works really well, gives the set a sort of Eagles concert feel, and for long-time fans who are very familiar with the original albums, the sequencing is fresh and sheds new perspective on certain songs. The booklet of essays and photos are wonderful, as is the inclusion of previously unreleased live material on disc four (great versions of Peaceful Easy Feeling, Victim of Love and Best of My Love). And the set wisely ignores the relatively weak debut album, culling just the three "hits" plus Train Left Here This Morning.

However, what is bad about this set is that each disc runs 50-60 minutes (who's brilliant idea was that in an age of 80 minute capacity). This only serves to point out what is NOT included such as Seven Bridges Road, You Never Cry Like A Lover, I Wish You Peace, etc. The Millenium concert disc was particularly disappointing in this regard, since there was room for additional live versions of One of These Nights, Already Gone, Sad Cafe, Witchy Woman (none of which have ever been released whereas Hotel California is on every live release and could have been dropped) and at least one Frey solo song to help balance out the Henley material. Some reviewers complained about the inclusion of Dirty Laundry and other solo numbers, but I personally enjoyed hearing the Eagles play those tunes. Those fans are also forgetting that Walsh and Schmitt both orignally played on Don's first album (and maybe even on Dirty Laundry).

Casual fans should stick to the digitally remastered greatest hits volumes, hardcore fans should pick this up, and those in-between should find a used copy at a cheaper price.


Form Over Substance   November 17, 2000
33 out of 36 found this review helpful

This boxed set is a monument to greed. The Eagles WERE a class act, until this travesty. The "selected" music, 53 tracks, is spread over 4 CDs, with many notable omissions. This would have very easily made an excellent 2 CD set. Apparently the Holiday "fast buck" mentality prevailed. The remastering is fine, but what you are really paying for is a fancy cardboard box. The CDs themselves aren't even in regular jewel boxes, but open cardboard sleeves that insure maximum exposure to dust. The enclosed booklet is dominated by pictures, with little meaningful information or insight. If you are looking at boxed sets for gifts, there are many others far more worthy of your consideration. If you need prime Eagles, wait for their remastered individual albums. All of them won't cost much more than this turkey. "Selected Works" is only for those with a lot more money than sense.


Is it really worth it?   November 19, 2000
rocdoc (United States)
23 out of 25 found this review helpful

Unless you need the millenium concert, this offers very little to anyone who already has the previously available releases. The Millenium Concert features yet another version of Hotel California (do we need this?) and several Don Henley solo tunes (not the time or the place...please) but also features a nicely updated version of Ol' 55. Also notable are Take It To The Limit and Best Of My Love. By and large, most people probably won't find this collection worth the money. All of the original CD's were recently remastered. As far as unreleased material goes, maybe it just doesn't exist...what does exist are some stellar songs from the Hell Freezes Over video that were left off the CD version (Heart Of The Matter, Help Me Through The Night) and Seven Bridges Road...none of which were included here. If you don't own any Eagles CD's, this is a good collection...(but if you don't own most of them by now, what kind of fan are you anyway?)


Eagles Box Set - Not Bad - Could Be Better   November 20, 2000
Randall L. Schimka (San Diego, CA USA)
28 out of 32 found this review helpful

I pre-ordered this box set because I wanted to make sure that I received it as soon as it was released (Big Eagles Fan!)...Now I've had it a few days and have listened to it a little bit. The live disc is a treat, the other three discs collect greatest hits on a Ballads CD, The Fast Lane CD, and the Early Years CD. These other three CDs collect the songs in a different order that I may not have selected in my changer, but I could do that with their other CDs I already have. I saw the track list before I bought it, so I can't complain too much about the lack of bonus tracks or alternate cuts (there's only a couple included). Like I said, the Live Disc makes up for that a bit...The sound quality? Certainly not worse than previous releases, but is it better? Maybe a tad, but I'm having a hard time telling much difference. The enclosed booklet is great; I really enjoyed the essays and the photos. My disappointment? The chintzy carboard digipak cases that each of the four CDs comes in. They are stacked in the box 2 on top of 2, with a little thumb indentation so you can get them out. But I see this as a setup that won't leave the packaging in very good shape after some use. I'll probably take the CDs out and place them in jewel boxes or something....So to sum up, great booklet, decent track choice (a few left off, but you can't have everything), great live disc,cheap cardboard CD packaging...I suppose this probably won't matter for the hard-core Eagles fan, but a casual fan may want to invest in the cheaper greatest hits package....Who knows, after I listen for a week or two longer, maybe I'll think more of the collection...


Everything & Then Some   December 8, 2000
MPA (Omaha, NE United States)
23 out of 26 found this review helpful

It seems that everybody owns at least one copy of "Eagles: Their Greatest Hits, '71-'75", but the band itself was a lot more than that compilation. This set shows it all. Every song from their landmark album "Hotel Californai" (an album which, incidentally, did not come out until after the Greatest Hits album) are included in this set. Even if you own every Eagles Album, this set is important because it includes one disc of selected songs from the Eagles Millennium Concert, including the never before on CD tunes "Please Come Home for Christmas" and "Funky New Year." The concert also contains a wonderful re-worked rendition of "The Best of My Love" (don't worry, you also get the original version of that classic ballad in this set) as well as Joe Walsh's "Funk #49" and Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry" and "All She Wants to do is Dance." All of the music is separated per disc perfectly, with early works, the ballads and the fast lane for the edgier tracks. Only two glaring ommissions here: "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks", which is the most dancable Eagles tune ever; and the live concert staple, "Seven Bridges Road". But there is an out-take from "The Long Run" sessions entitled "Born to Boogie" with an unrecognizable Glenn Frey on lead vocals. This set covers the entire musically history of the band from their country roots to the evolution of one of the best rock bands of the seventies. A must have for anyone with any interest in the Eagles. And as far as the price is concerned, take a look at other box sets--this one is one of the least expensive ones available.