This seems to demonstrate that, at their most commercial, the Eagles exercise a conservative, formula-following streak. They do make music occasionally that isn't this homogenized and/or predigested, but that's on "normal" albums, not on juke boxes or in places like this. Here there are competent treatments of mostly pleasant-sounding songs that you don't have to follow very closely; you get the idea very early that the main thing is you won't be offended -- the Eagles, in making hits, don't simultaneously make enemies the way some people do by being arch about one thing or another. A few other bands would have breathed more excitement into the better songs (say "Take It Easy"), but then a lot of other bands would have sunk miserably with such mundane ones as "Best of My Love." Matter of fact, the Eagles almost managed to offend me with that one. But not quite. An Eagles hit proceeds according to plan, gets The Treatment, and the treatment always works reasonably well; an Eagles hit has a sound of its own... except that it shares it with all the other Eagles hits.

- Noel Coppage, Stereo Review, 8/76.

Original album advertising art. Click image for larger view.

Bonus Reviews!

Hum 'em high -- ten poptunes from the Four Lads of I'm-okay I'm-okay are probably a must for those who've concluded they're geniuses by listening to the radio. I happen to remember that what makes On the Border a decent album isn't their "victory song" (over guess what kind of person) but the songs to, about, and by other men, and that the only other decent cut on last year's breakthrough was the one that told a hard truth about the artists. B

- Robert Christgau, Christgau's Record Guide, 1981.

- Bill Shapiro, Rock & Roll Review: A Guide to Good Rock on CD, 1991.

The reason this is such a great greatest-hits album is that it includes almost all the best tracks from the Eagles' first four albums, eight Top 40 hits including the #1s "Best of My Love" and "One of These Nights," plus the favorites "Tequila Sunrise" and "Desperado." This is the essential Eagles for the period. (As of mid-1995, Their Greatest Hits [1971-1975] was the second-best-selling album of all time in the U.S., with certified sales of 22 million copies.) * * * * *

- William Ruhlmann, The All-Music Guide to Rock, 1995.

A little inconsistent during their early years, the Eagles are best served by Their Greatest Hits, 1971-75, an awesome collection of singles -- from "Take it Easy" to "One of These Nights" -- that established the Eagles as one of rock's top groups of the time. * * * * *

- Gary Graff, Musichound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, 1996.

On deservedly one of the best-selling discs of all time, every song is an ingrained part of popular culture. Hey girls, have you ever cheated on your boyfriend? Then you know "Lyin' Eyes," and if you never made out in the backseat while listening to "Take It to the Limit," then you've never made out...and you know, it's hard not to press the accelerator when "Already Gone comes on. Yeah, this '70s flashback makes you long for adventure and a time when you had no commitments. * * * * *

- Zagat Survey Music Guide - 1,000 Top Albums of All Time, 2003.

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