Eagles formed in Los Angeles in 1971 out of Linda Ronstadt's backing band and turned Southern California country rock into a mainstream phenomenon. Hotel California (1976) is the essential album, and Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975 remains among the best-selling records ever made. Shop Eagles vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Eagles formed in Los Angeles in 1971 around Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner, all of whom had previously been members of Linda Ronstadt's backing band. The classic lineup developed across several configurations: Leadon was replaced by Joe Walsh in 1975, and Meisner by Timothy B. Schmit in 1977. The band's Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (1976) is among the best-selling albums in history. The band dissolved acrimoniously in 1980 and reunited in 1994 (their famous Hell Freezes Over reunion). Glenn Frey died from complications of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia on January 18, 2016, at age 67. Deacon Frey (Glenn's son) joined the band on tour, alongside Vince Gill, allowing the band to continue.
Eagles' sound combines rock, country rock, soft rock, and roots rock with intricate vocal harmonies, dual lead guitar work, and country-influenced songwriting. Their work essentially defined Southern California country rock as a mainstream genre and shaped multiple subsequent waves of pop rock and country crossover.
Original Asylum pressings of Hotel California and the 1970s catalog are foundational items in classic rock collecting. Multiple anniversary editions, audiophile reissues (Mobile Fidelity, Acoustic Sounds), and the Legacy box set have been released.
Listeners new to Eagles typically start with Hotel California (1976) or Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (1976).
