Legacy is a massive 12-CD collection spotlighting the Eagles’ entire recorded, seven disc studio catalog, three live albums and two concert films: Hell Freezes Over and Farewell Tour: Live From Melbourne (on blu-ray).
I know, I know. It's not vinyl. But the vinyl box - it contains 15 LPs - costs almost $500 and I simply couldn't justify the expenditure. I tried and tried and tried to justify it but couldn't. The CD set, on the other hand, cost a lot less. And the vinyl box doesn't include the concert DVDs, so that's an incentive to get the CD version.
And it sounds really good, too. Digital, yes, but …
The collection is put out by Rhino Entertainment and also includes the newly compiled Singles and B-Sides collection featuring the single versions of several of the band's hits, including Take It Easy, One of These Nights and Lyin’ Eyes, as well as such non-album B-sides as Get You In The Mood. The CDs are housed in separate slipcases, along with a 54-page hardbound book full of photos, memorabilia replications and artwork from throughout the band’s storied 45-year career.
I didn't - still don't - have any Eagles vinyl for some inexplicable reason, so this seemed like a no-brainer purchase. And it's excellent. The remastering is exceptionally well done - digital can sound good - and the packaging is beautifully presented. The studio CDs are enclosed in one slipcase and the live ones in another. The slipcases tuck into into an inner drawer, which in turn slides into the larger outer case.
Engineer Bob Ludwig remastered Hell Freezes Over and Millennium Concert, as well as several tracks from the Singles and B-Sides compilation, especially for Legacy. In Europe, there was a vinyl edition of Hell Freezes Over issued in 1994, which I used to own. It was a very small pressing and is now worth a lot of money - almost $500 in mint condition. I traded my copy a couple of years ago for about $300. It wasn't something I was listening to all that much, although I am glad I now have a version of the concert on CD and also Blu-ray, especially remastered like this.
The passing of one of the band's founding members, Glen Frey, in 2016 might have brought an end to the band. But The Eagles were able to carry on without becoming a cartoonish representation of what they once were (like, say, Kiss did). This collection is so much better than any of the previous Eagles' compilations. It really is as good as it gets, or probably ever will get.
It's no surprise the remaining members (survivors?) decided to keep on holding the torch up high. Frey's son, Deacon, along with Vince Gill, have joined the touring version of The Eagles. This configuration of the band might try to record something new in the future, but I doubt it will be anything like what they've already accomplished. And really, there's nothing left to prove. They might be touring, but it's only to spread the magic dust that already exists a little further out. And given the band's consistently sold-out tours of recent years there's no doubt a lot of people - a new generation of listeners - want to hear them.
This set is all The Eagles you'll ever need. In fact, it's literally all The Eagles. The presentation of this set is flawless - even on CD - and I expect it will find a home in many collections. It is, absolutely …
Legacy is a massive 12-CD collection spotlighting the Eagles’ entire recorded, seven disc studio catalog, three live albums and two concert films: Hell Freezes Over and Farewell Tour: Live From Melbourne (on blu-ray).
I know, I know. It's not vinyl. But the vinyl box - it contains 15 LPs - costs almost $500 and I simply couldn't justify the expenditure. I tried and tried and tried to justify it but couldn't. The CD set, on the other hand, cost a lot less. And the vinyl box doesn't include the concert DVDs, so that's an incentive to get the CD version.
And it sounds really good, too. Digital, yes, but …
The collection is put out by Rhino Entertainment and also includes the newly compiled Singles and B-Sides collection featuring the single versions of several of the band's hits, including Take It Easy, One of These Nights and Lyin’ Eyes, as well as such non-album B-sides as Get You In The Mood. The CDs are housed in separate slipcases, along with a 54-page hardbound book full of photos, memorabilia replications and artwork from throughout the band’s storied 45-year career.
I didn't - still don't - have any Eagles vinyl for some inexplicable reason, so this seemed like a no-brainer purchase. And it's excellent. The remastering is exceptionally well done - digital can sound good - and the packaging is beautifully presented. The studio CDs are enclosed in one slipcase and the live ones in another. The slipcases tuck into into an inner drawer, which in turn slides into the larger outer case.
Engineer Bob Ludwig remastered Hell Freezes Over and Millennium Concert, as well as several tracks from the Singles and B-Sides compilation, especially for Legacy. In Europe, there was a vinyl edition of Hell Freezes Over issued in 1994, which I used to own. It was a very small pressing and is now worth a lot of money - almost $500 in mint condition. I traded my copy a couple of years ago for about $300. It wasn't something I was listening to all that much, although I am glad I now have a version of the concert on CD and also Blu-ray, especially remastered like this.
The passing of one of the band's founding members, Glen Frey, in 2016 might have brought an end to the band. But The Eagles were able to carry on without becoming a cartoonish representation of what they once were (like, say, Kiss did). This collection is so much better than any of the previous Eagles' compilations. It really is as good as it gets, or probably ever will get.
It's no surprise the remaining members (survivors?) decided to keep on holding the torch up high. Frey's son, Deacon, along with Vince Gill, have joined the touring version of The Eagles. This configuration of the band might try to record something new in the future, but I doubt it will be anything like what they've already accomplished. And really, there's nothing left to prove. They might be touring, but it's only to spread the magic dust that already exists a little further out. And given the band's consistently sold-out tours of recent years there's no doubt a lot of people - a new generation of listeners - want to hear them.
This set is all The Eagles you'll ever need. In fact, it's literally all The Eagles. The presentation of this set is flawless - even on CD - and I expect it will find a home in many collections. It is, absolutely …
BONUS TRACK
It wasn't always peaceful, easy feelings between the members of The Eagles. The low point occurred on July 31, 1980, when the band played a benefit show in support of California Senator Alan Cranston. During a meet-and-greet, an exchange between Cranston and Don Felder proved too much for Glenn Frey.
According to Frey, when Cranston thanked each member of the band for doing the show, Felder responded with "You're welcome, Senator - I guess." Frey was embarrassed, and the resulting tension unwound on stage.
"Felder looks back at me and says, 'Only three more songs till I kick your ass, pal.' And I'm saying, 'Great. I can't wait. We're out there singing Best of My Love, but inside both of us are thinking, 'As soon as this is over, I'm gonna kill him.'"
The breakup was, perhaps, inevitable, and for years the ex-Eagles all maintained the band had run its course. As Frey put it, "I can't see myself at age 41, up onstage with a beer belly singing Take It Easy'.
But calls for a reunion of the band never stopped and they finally found their way back together, recording Hell Freezes Over in 1994.
Although they toured for many years following the initial reunion, the relationships between band members still weren't always as harmonious as their vocals and by 2001 Felder left again.
It wasn't always peaceful, easy feelings between the members of The Eagles. The low point occurred on July 31, 1980, when the band played a benefit show in support of California Senator Alan Cranston. During a meet-and-greet, an exchange between Cranston and Don Felder proved too much for Glenn Frey.
According to Frey, when Cranston thanked each member of the band for doing the show, Felder responded with "You're welcome, Senator - I guess." Frey was embarrassed, and the resulting tension unwound on stage.
"Felder looks back at me and says, 'Only three more songs till I kick your ass, pal.' And I'm saying, 'Great. I can't wait. We're out there singing Best of My Love, but inside both of us are thinking, 'As soon as this is over, I'm gonna kill him.'"
The breakup was, perhaps, inevitable, and for years the ex-Eagles all maintained the band had run its course. As Frey put it, "I can't see myself at age 41, up onstage with a beer belly singing Take It Easy'.
But calls for a reunion of the band never stopped and they finally found their way back together, recording Hell Freezes Over in 1994.
Although they toured for many years following the initial reunion, the relationships between band members still weren't always as harmonious as their vocals and by 2001 Felder left again.
