Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)

Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)
Greatest hits album by Eagles
Released February 17, 1976
Recorded 1971–75
Genre Rock
Length 43:08
Label Asylum
Producer Glyn Johns, Bill Szymczyk
Eagles chronology

One of These Nights
(1975)		 Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)
(1976)		 Hotel California
(1976)

Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) is a compilation album by the Eagles, released in 1976. It was the best selling album of the 20th century in the U.S.[1] and is tied with Michael Jackson's Thriller as the highest-certified album in the U.S. at 29x platinum.[2][3]

History

Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) comprises nine singles released between 1972 and 1975, plus the album track "Desperado." All of these singles except "Tequila Sunrise" charted in the top 40, with five in the top ten, and "One of These Nights" and "Best of My Love" both topping the singles chart. With such airplay success in the span of a little over four years, the band became a formidable presence on American commercial radio in the 1970s, and Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 album chart upon its release and later reached number one.[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic link
Robert Christgau (B) link

Chart performance

On February 24, 1976, the album achieved the distinction of being the first to receive the RIAA platinum award, which was introduced in 1976, in recognition of one million shipments in the United States.[2][4] In August 1990 it was certified 12×platinum, and on November 10, 1999, it became the all-time best-selling album in the United States when it was certified 26× multi-platinum. In a 2001 radio interview, Randy Meisner revealed neither he nor Bernie Leadon were even notified of the record-breaking award presented to them in 1999, and "...had to call and we finally received it."[5] It was certified at 29×platinum on 30 January 2006,[6] and has sold over 42 million copies worldwide to date.[7] Thriller by Michael Jackson is the only other album certified 29×multi-platinum by the RIAA. Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) is listed at #1 on the RIAA's "Top 100 Albums".[6] The album hit its peak on the charts in 1976 when it was ranked #1 on the Billboard 200.[8]

Critical reception and promotion

The album was described in iTunes reviews as having an element of "sunshine and comfort", being "solidly written", and "selling the fantasy of a golden lifestyle in sunny California".[9]

Track listing

Side one
No. TitleWriter(s)Album Length
1. "Take It Easy"  Jackson Browne, Glenn FreyEagles 3:29
2. "Witchy Woman"  Don Henley, Bernie LeadonEagles 4:10
3. "Lyin' Eyes"  Henley, FreyOne of These Nights 6:21
4. "Already Gone"  Jack Tempchin, Robb StrandlundOn the Border 4:13
5. "Desperado"  Henley, FreyDesperado 3:33
Side two
No. TitleWriter(s)Album Length
6. "One of These Nights"  Henley, FreyOne of These Nights 4:51
7. "Tequila Sunrise"  Henley, FreyDesperado 2:52
8. "Take It to the Limit"  Randy Meisner, Henley, FreyOne of These Nights 4:48
9. "Peaceful Easy Feeling"  TempchinEagles 4:16
10. "Best of My Love"  Henley, Frey, J.D. SoutherOn the Border 4:35

Personnel

Production

Name Credit
Irving Azoff Direction
Allan Blazek Assistant engineer, engineer
Michael Braunstein Engineer
Jackson Browne Composer
Glen Christensen Art direction, design
Henry Diltz Lettering
Eagles Primary artist
Boyd Elder Art direction, design
Don Felder Guitar, vocals, composer
Glenn Frey Composer, guitar, piano, vocals
Don Henley Composer, drums, vocals
Steve Hoffman Remastering
Ted Jensen Digital remastering
Glyn Johns Engineer, producer
Howard Kilgour Assistant engineer
Bernie Leadon Banjo, composer, guitar, pedal steel, vocals
Ed Mashal Engineer
Randy Meisner Bass, composer, vocals
Jim Ed Norman String arrangements
J.D. Souther Composer
Robb Strandlund Composer
Bill Szymczyk Engineer, producer
Jack Tempchin Composer
Michael Verdick Engineer
Don Wood Engineer

[10]

Charts and certifications

Chart positions

Chart (1976) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums (RPM)[11] 1
New Zealand (Official New Zealand Music Chart)[12] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[13] 8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 31
UK Albums Chart (Official Charts Company)[15] 2
US Billboard 200[16] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[17] 8× Platinum 560,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[18] 2× Diamond 2,000,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[19] Platinum 15,000*[20]
United Kingdom (BPI)[21] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[22] 29× Platinum 29,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. ↑ Liscu, Jenny (January 20, 2000). "The Eagles: Twenty-Six Million Served". Rolling Stone.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Paul Grein (Nov 30, 2012). "Chart Watch Extra: Where "Thriller" Ranks". Chart Watch. Yahoo Music. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  3. ↑ "RIAA Chart "Top 100 Albums"". RIAA. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Recording Industry Association of America - March 04, 2014". RIAA. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  5. ↑ "Randy Meisner of the Eagles Interview : Smooth Jazz Now Radio Streaming Live". Smoothjazznow.com. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - March 04, 2014". RIAA. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  7. ↑ - 56k "Soccer and music fans sound off". Find Articles. 2005-06-20. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
  8. ↑ "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 - Eagles | Awards". AllMusic. 1976-02-17. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  9. ↑ "Connecting to the iTunes Store". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  10. ↑ "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 - Eagles | Credits". AllMusic. 1976-02-17. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  11. ↑ "RPM Top Albums" (PDF). RPM 25 (5). May 1976. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  12. ↑ "charts.org.nz - Eagles - Their Greatest Hits". Mega Album Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  13. ↑ "norwegiancharts.com - Ealges - Their Greatest Hits". VG-lista. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  14. ↑ "swedishcharts.com - Eagles - Their Greatest Hits". Albums Top 60. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Chart Stats - Eagles - Their Greatest Hits 1971-75". Chart Stats. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  16. ↑ "allmusic ((( Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 - Eagles > Charts & Awards > Bilboard Albums )))". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  17. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – EAGLES – THEIR GREATEST HITS 1971-1975". Music Canada. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Gold Disc Award 1979". IFPI. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  20. ↑ "Gold Disc Award Criteria". IFPI. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-15. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  21. ↑ "British album certifications – Eagles – Their Greatest Hits 1971 - 1975". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 4, 2011. Enter Their Greatest Hits 1971 - 1975 in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  22. ↑ "American album certifications – Eagles – Eagles/Their Greatest Hits 1971 - 1975". Recording Industry Association of America. February 1, 1976. Retrieved July 4, 2011. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
Preceded by
Desire by Bob Dylan		 Billboard 200 number-one album
March 13, 1976 - April 9, 1976
April 17, 1976 - April 23, 1976 		Succeeded by
Frampton Comes Alive! by Peter Frampton