This packed double-disc is the slim option for fans who find the Eagles' vaunted greatest hits sets too little and the boxed set too hefty. Hit singles large and medium are here, often ("One of These Nights," "Hotel California") still sounding definitive and even tough. Large helpings of favorite album cuts are also included, along with a taster from a promised 2004 Eagles studio reunion. Unfortunately, "Hole in the World," Don Henley's response to September 11, feels just as empty and entitled as "Get Over It," the band's previous state-of-the-union message (from which the newer song represents a philosophical 180-degree turn). But for those seeking an overview of this Southern California juggernaut's successes, as well as telling comments from band members--mostly Henley and Frey--in a well-designed booklet, Very Best will more than do. --Rickey Wright

Any 2 disc Eagles 'best of' that fails to include 'Try and Love Again,' 'I Wish You Peace,' 'Hollywood Waltz,' 'My Man,' 'Saturday Night,' and 'Twenty-One' is highly questionable. That goes double when something like 'Those Shoes' gets included. This collection over-emphasizes the final period of the Eagles and thus neglects the first four albums. I have no idea what the purpose was in so doing, but I do know that such steers casual listeners to see the band as being exactly what Henley and Frey made it, rather than what is was in the early days, which is what made it great and wildly successful.

Anybody who likes the Eagles enough to purchase a 2 disc 'best of' needs to own the first five albums. The Eagles should do fans a favor by creating a special 'best of' that includes everything on this disc 2 beginning with 'Please Come Home for Christmas.' It could add another song from The Long Run so that no one ever feels any need to purchase that disjointed mess, and it could add 'How Long' and the title cut from the new double album.

Then we would know that Henley and Frey both care about the fans and have fine critical discernment.

This two CD set is truly a 'very best of' collection.

The Eagles were clearly the supergroup of the 1970s. If any other band was bigger during that decade, I can't think of who it would be. This album has all of their biggest hits and lots of others as well. It includes the following: Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Desperado, Already Gone, The Best of My Love, Lyin' Eyes, One of These Nights, Hotel California, and many more.

This is a must have for any classic rock fan who does not already have several other Eagles' albums.

The Eagles have been awesome, to my mind, since at least 1974 when I picked up their then "Greatest Hits" album on my way to start college. The band's smooth harmonies, desert themes and edgy country-rock style attracted me then and still keeps me interested. This 2-CD set includes all the great, early FM radio hits: "Lyin' Eyes," "Peacfeul Easy Feeling," and "Tequila Sunrise" among many others. The later hits are here as well, like "Hotel California" and "In the Long Run," showcasing the group's continued prowess, musical evolution and harder edge. But there's plenty more to the Eagles than their hits -- just like there's more to a taco than the hot sauce. This compilation includes plenty of tunes that didn't make the radio hit list, but are terrific listening -- "Doolin'Dalton," "Hole in the World," and "Sad Café" for a few.

Originally reluctant to pick up this collection, I have grown to love it. It's a wonderful and not at all musty memento of a band whose great work is as timeless as a desert night

The Eagles were a perfect pop rock band in the sense that they possessed a sound that was radio friendly, non offensive and melodic. It was a sound that appealed to a wide range of people. For these reason's also, many people see them as 'stiff' and their songs were more of a 'product' lacking 'soul'. The truth of the matter is that the Eagles had a gift for writing some real memorable pop rock tunes and were master's at producing a hot single. Their albums, however, tended to suffer from inconsistencies with those hit songs often being the only real songs worth hearing on that particular recording. The Eagles were a SINGLES band and this collection is the best representation of their work.

By containing 33 songs this collection outdoes the previous 20 songs that could be found on their first two single disc greatest hits albums. This collection has all of those songs plus 13 other album tracks to give you the most complete overview of their work, other than the boxset. You get the classics "Take it Easy", Witchy Woman" and "Lyin Eyes" alongside the few great album tracks like "Doolin' Dalton", the Tom Waits penned "Ol' 55" and "James Dean". The set also contains 6 songs from what was probably their best album "Hotel California" including "Wasted Time", "Life in the Fast Lane", "New Kid in Town", and the title track and also the best 6 songs from the dismal "The Long Run" including the title track, "I Can't Tell You Why", Joe Walsh's "In the City" and "Heartache Tonight".

The two bad points about this collection are that the 3 songs tacked on at the end of disc 2 after the Eagles reconciled just aren't up to snuff with the rest of the material and the inclusion of their Christmas song "Please Come Home For Christmas" is unnecessary on a hits collection and again disrupts the flow of the second disc. The first disc, however, is flawless.

Unless you're a die-hard Eagles fan, this has all that you will ever need.

I BOUGHT THESE CD'S BEFORE FOR MY HUSBAND A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND HE RECENTLY BROKE THE 2ND ONE. SO I PURCHASED HIM ANOTHER SET....HE LISTENS TO IT EVERY NIGHT.........