BY THE NUMBERS: The Eagles’ ‘Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)’
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 16: Timothy B. Schmit, Glen Frey and Don Henley of the Eagles perform during "History Of The Eagles Live In Concert" at the Bridgestone Arena on October 16, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
The Eagles changed the game 43 years ago today (February 17) with Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975).
Meant as a way to boost record label revenue while the band was making Hotel California, Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) was a monster and was the first release to be Platinum certified (1 million copies sold) by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Of course, this set would go on to sell far more than 1 million copies. In honor of its release anniversary, here’s Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) by the numbers.
- Copies sold: 38 Million
- Place Held On RIAA’s Highest-Certified Albums List: 1st (Their Greatest Hits dethroned Michael Jackson’s Thriller in August 2018 as the biggest selling album of all time.)
- Copies sold difference between Their Greatest Hits and Thriller: 5 Million
- Tracks Included On Their Greatest Hits: 10
- “Take It Easy”
- “Witchy Woman”
- “Lyin’ Eyes”
- “Already Gone”
- “Desperado”
- “One of These Nights”
- “Tequila Sunrise”
- “Take It to the Limit”
- “Peaceful Easy Feeling”
- “Best of My Love”
- Tracks That Went #1 On Billboard’s Hot 100: 2
- “Best Of My Love”
- “One Of These Nights”
- Tracks That Hit Top 10 On Billboard’s Hot 100: 3
- “Witchy Woman” (#9)
- “Lyin’ Eyes” (#2)
- “Take It To The Limit” (#4)
- Other tracks that made the Billboard Hot 100: 4
- “Take It Easy” (#12)
- “Already Gone” (#32)
- “Tequila Sunrise” (#64)
- “Peaceful Easy Feeling” (#22)
- Only song not to chart on the Billboard Hot 100: 1
- “Desperado,” only because the Eagles didn’t release the song as a single, but it was covered by many artists notably Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond and Johnny Cash.
Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.
Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights
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