Eagles – Selected Works 1972–1999
First issued in 2000, Selected Works 1972–1999 is the Eagles’ first boxset —a four-CD extravaganza full of the early days, rockers, ballads, oddities and live tracks from the millennium concert held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. This is an essential must-have for any Eagles fan looking for something slightly different and new. Even though every song from the band’s best-selling Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 and Greatest Hits Volume 2 is here (the lone hold-out is the harmonically sweet, “Seven Bridges Road”), there’s enough off-the-cuff material to satisfy any fan who can’t get enough of one of the most popular bands of all time. If you’re really cheap, you have the previous compilations, and you can forsake the unreleased outtakes, you have the option of downloading a bulk of the live tunes recorded on New Year’s Eve in L.A. that appear on the fourth disc. Even Glenn Frey was quoted as saying it’s “nice to have the opportunity to get these songs without buying the box.”
That said, one might ponder why this would be a worthwhile purchase. Perhaps the holiday season necessitates the extra packaging. On that count, Selected Works 1972–1999 is bursting at the seams. Encased in a sturdy cardboard case that resembles a thick book, here’s a box set with a 42-page booklet supported by various band photos and a rambling essay courtesy of Rolling Stone’s David Wild. The real meat and potatoes, of course, is the music. Despite repeated appearances, any box set by the Eagles would be at a loss if it didn’t include such hits as “Take It Easy,” “Tequila Sunrise,” “Desperado,” “One Of These Nights” and “Life In The Fast Lane.” It comes with the territory.
Amidst the hits, there are sprinkles of newer songs like “Love Will Keep Us Alive” and “Get Over It” as well as random exercises like “Born To Boogie,” “Long Run Leftovers” and “Random Victims Part 3.” Every once in awhile, something odd like “Too Many Hands” pops up just to keep things interesting. The fourth disc that features 12 tracks culled from the Eagles’ final concert of the 90s contains some sprite gems that wouldn’t ordinarily appear on slimmer Best-Of discs. Don Henley shines with two numbers from his solo albums, “Dirty Laundry” and All She Wants To Do Is Dance,” while Joe Walsh reaches deep into his bag of goodies and pulls out a surprising “Funk 49” from his James Gang days. MP3s may pacify the cheapskate, but a full-blown CD from this memorable night is the icing on the cake. All these years later, Selected Works 1972–1999 is still in print and readily available.
~ Shawn Perry
