The Eagles bandThe Eagles Archive / SHOWTIME
By
Sarah Polonsky
Updated
38 minutes ago
Senior Music Editor at Screen Rant, Sarah's love of sound and story drive the beat. A globetrotting brand whisperer and award-winning journalist, she’s built cross-cultural narratives around the world—but music has always been her true north. She launched DJ Mag North America, successfully introducing the iconic UK brand to the U.S. market. Previously, she carved a space for EDM inside the pages of VIBE, blending electronic and hip-hop culture long before it was trendy.
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Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
Some classic rock musicians aspired to tour the world and become the biggest superstars possible. Others enjoyed the art of creating music, taking every opportunity to play. Then there were those who truly sought to cement their legacy by dominating the genre and owning the time period, much like Michael Jackson defined pop in the '80s. Of course, this was not easy to do, as every musician has always faced stiff competition.
Specifically, classic rock spanned from the mid-1960s to the early 1990s. Some of the biggest bands to ever exist were around during this time. They spent years topping charts, writing hits, and becoming global phenoms. Therefore, it would only make sense that a studio album by one of these acts would serve as the best-selling classic rock album ever, but that's not the case. Under most guidelines, that distinction goes to a greatest hits collection.
The Eagles' Greatest Hits Collection Is The Best-Selling Classic Rock Album Ever
Artists Never Know What Might Sell
Beginning in 1971, the Eagles wasted no time getting to work in the studio. By 1972, the band was ready to release their self-titled debut album. Then, instead of slowing down, they stayed on the grind, releasing one in 1973 and another in 1974. With their fourth studio album, One of These Nights, in 1975, the band quickly rose in popularity as it became their first number one album on the US Billboard 200. It also landed them three Top 10 singles and won them their first Grammy Award.
To capitalize on all they had accomplished, the Eagles released a greatest hits collection. The band's first compilation, titled Their Greatest Hits, debuted in February 1976. The record included 10 tracks from across their first four albums. Initially, the album performed as well as they had hoped, spending five weeks as the number one spot on the US Billboard 200 chart.
The band's first compilation, titled Their Greatest Hits, debuted in February 1976.
By the end of the year, Their Greatest Hits continued to hold strong momentum as it ranked as Billboard's fourth-best album of 1976. Then, as time went on, the numbers kept growing. Along with spending over 450 weeks on the US Billboard 200, the album has been certified an astonishing 38x platinum in the United States, ranking it as the best-selling classic rock album of all time. The band's gamble of releasing this album less than a decade into their career paid off.
I Can't Believe No Other Classic Rock Album Has Surpassed This One
The Hits Were Just That Good
It's incredible that the Eagles have been able to hold this record, especially since they were up against some of the all-time bands of their era, including the Rolling Stones, The Doors, and Fleetwood Mac. There are a couple of bands that have come close, including AC/DC with their album Back in Black, and Pink Floyd with The Dark Side of the Moon. Some lists even have these albums as higher, but most go with the RIAA's recording of the Eagles' 38 million total sales, which still stands above the rest of classic rock.
RIAA stands for the Recording Industry Association of America. It works with the recording industry, advocating for artists and record labels, serving to protect the rights of artists.
What's even more remarkable for the Eagles is that they may not only have to worry about other bands breaking their record; it may be themselves. Their album Hotel California is at 26x platinum in the United States, ranking it among the greatest-selling records of all time. Ironically, that album was released right after Their Greatest Hits, meaning they produced two of the best-selling classic rock records back to back. With their astonishing sales and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Eagles' accolades speak for themselves as to why they are one of the greatest classic rock bands ever.
Classic Rock Continues To Be A Golden Age
Will Anything Ever Reach This Level Of Success Again In Sales?
It's become glaringly clear that, in the streaming era, sales of new albums can hardly compare to those that came before, specifically when the classic rock genre was at its peak. The majority of the US', and the world's, best-selling albums are from the '70s, '80s, and '90s by far, with the most recent addition being Adele's 2011 album 21 (31 million copies sold worldwide). With this data in front of us, it's hard to deny that classic rock was a golden age that may remain unmatched.
Classic rock was a golden age that may remain unmatched.
Accolades aside, however, it's also evident that classic rock had such an influence on music that continues to be seen, and missed, today. These bands, like the Eagles, are still listened to and held up as the legends they truly became by shaping the rock genre and having such a hand in transforming the overall music industry. It's such a testament to the Eagles and classic rock as a whole that their greatest hits compilation has achieved such an impressive record.
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Why "Can't you believe" it? The Eagles are one of the most talented, amazing, durable rock bands of all time. It's true that it's difficult to pick the all time greatest, but this Greatest Hits album is simply phenomenal!
2025-04-12 13:08:06 Upvote 6 Downvote Reply CopyAPRIL 12th... ON RECORD DAY 🤣 🤣 🤣
NO OTHER probably will NEVER SURPASS "THE EAGLES"!! BECAUSE the industry REALLY DOESN'T SELL ALBUMS ANYMORE....
2025-04-12 08:34:59 Upvote 7 Downvote Reply CopyThe Eagles soared and many other rock groups of the 60’s, 70’s and a few from the 80”s were right along with the Eagles. That is why many of these groups are still touring with members in their late 70’s and even some into their 80’s. The reason for that is because people demand it because the garbage being recorded today sucks period. No talent yet these phonies are making Billions. If only time could stand still we would still be enjoying real music at reasonable prices.
2025-04-12 13:06:20 Upvote 5 Downvote Reply CopyModern music's golden age stretches approximately from the late 60s to the early 90s.
It's been an unbelievable and unprecedented proliferation of incredibly good bands and songs. It was enough to switch on your radio then and get literally overwhelmed by a profusion of premium grade music creations, almost 100%. Each performer was actually a genre of its own. No waste.
It'll never happen again. It is impossible because too many indispensable ingredients were involved: innumerable independent labels, small places where bands could engage in the stage experience also innumerable, a genuinely insatiable audience, etc etc an unstoppable virtuous circle that looked like it could last forever.
And, again, almost ALL of them were exceptionally good, so much that standing out of the crowd and getting the crown was not a small feat.
Which is precisely what makes bands like The Eagles phenomenal. Period.
2025-04-13 06:33:01 Upvote 4 Downvote Reply CopyIt's the best selling rock album ever in America. The best selling rock album of all time worldwide is back in black.
2025-04-12 01:04:31 Upvote 4 Downvote Reply CopyEnough with the "I can't believe " headlines , it's played out. And what does music have to do with SCREENrant? Smh
2025-04-12 15:30:17 Upvote 4 Downvote Reply 2 CopyI would do more research on what Screenrant writes about……You’re missing out!!
2025-04-12 16:31:19 Upvote 1 Downvote Reply Copycry harder 😭
2025-04-12 19:40:05 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyWhat's ironic is that the Eagles, ESPECIALLY Don Henley, fought to stop the release of Their Greatest Hits. They saw compilation albums as a money grab without having to make an investment. I guess that's partially true.
I'm sure Don has no problem now with compilation albums, especially since they've repackaged their LP's many times.
2025-04-12 10:42:45 Upvote 3 Downvote Reply CopyIt's really hard to pick the greatest of all time I like the eagles a lot but not greatest of all time I love Pink Floyd's the Wall the best out of theirs dark side of the moon is kinda overrated my favorite bands of all time are van Halen Judas priest iron maiden dio Ozzy Metallica Megadeth Pantera.
2025-04-11 23:44:07 Upvote 4 Downvote Reply 2 CopyThe reason the Eagles are number 1 is because back in the 70s, they crossed genres. They had both pop and country radio stations playing them so a double audience and from the list of your favorite bands hard rock kids that had to listen to their parents music in vehicles.
2025-04-12 12:33:53 Upvote 2 Downvote Reply CopyWe can all have an opinion about who we think is the greatest classic rock band. This article was talking about the greatest classic rock album of all time according to actual sales numbers. Yes, the Eagles' Greatest Hits is a great album, but should any greatest hits album be allowed to be counted? A lot of people buy the greatest hits instead of all the full albums because they wanted certain songs. Once 45s went away and before MP3s, you could only buy the whole CD.
2025-04-13 23:36:49 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyI believe it. Great collection of great songs from a GREAT band, what's not to like?
2025-04-12 15:19:44 Upvote 2 Downvote Reply CopyThis is domestic (U.S.) sales only. Globally, the highest selling rock album is AC/DC's Back in Black at over 50 million copies sold. Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon comes in second, or often ties with Back in Black depending on which metric you look at.
2025-04-12 20:41:28 Upvote 2 Downvote Reply CopyWhat I can't believe is that people choose to not recognize the incredible talent. Don Henleys voice, the harmony between all band members. The talent in the lyrics, and the fact that every song has a message. Even with their proven track record, their longevity in the industry and seeing that their fans love them and it's still never enough.
2025-04-13 15:04:05 Upvote 2 Downvote Reply CopyOne of the greatest bands of all time. I listened to hotel California hundreds of times and it still makes me smile.
2025-04-12 14:49:24 Upvote 2 Downvote Reply CopyLess "ironically" and more "impressively."
2025-04-12 15:04:31 Upvote 2 Downvote Reply CopyIf I'm not mistaken "Their Greatest Hits" was also the biggest selling album of the 20th century, and needless to say that record will never be broken! If there was such a thing as a perfect band The Eagles would be that band.
2025-04-14 08:44:39 Upvote 1 Downvote Reply CopyI served in the USN aboard an aircraft carrier. In 1991 we went on a 7 month cruise in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf. Several countries that we visited the bars were playing the Eagles Greatest Hits.
2025-04-13 10:31:54 Upvote 1 Downvote Reply CopyPaul Elliott - Don't know why you 'can't believe' (Frankly I can't believe your making that sratement but every one to their own')because it was and still is a Greatest Hits Album - it did what it said on the tin - Greatest Hits (not with a few 'never quite made it's thrown in) the Eagles didn't really have any of those and to be fair did not continue to re-invent or bang out more greatest hits album.
I grew up knowing the band from the start of 1970 and they are as good today live as they were back then (even sadly, without Glen Frey, Randy Meisner and all the upheval in between. Even in the 70's they were controversal and fans of some of the other big guns of that era did not think their music worthy of the fame but they continue to stand the test of time and knock it out of the park and will continue to do so - their live shows are phenominal for a bunch of 'old codgers' The young bands of today don't have a clue they put something out on You Tube and become an instant Hit but lets see if they are still around in 50 years time - have my doubts. The Eagles like the Stones, Beatles, Pink FloydClapton, little Richard Dylan etc. earned their place in the history books of Rock 'n' Roll don't know if the Sheerins/Capaldis/ Sam Fender etc - will still be talked about in 50 years time!
2025-04-13 06:26:01 Upvote 1 Downvote Reply CopyEagles Greatest Hits might be the biggest selling record in the US. But the US doesn’t know the World consists of many other countries !
2025-04-12 22:08:17 Upvote 1 Downvote Reply 1 CopyNah we just dont care. Cry us a river Joe.
2025-04-17 11:02:34 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyHotel California and new kid in town are missing in this album!!
2025-04-14 08:48:41 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyThey were really great. But there were so many greats in those days. I had all there albums. And still listen to them. Young adults are missing out!
2025-04-14 09:54:45 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyWhat are these people talking about? Dark side of the Moon by Pink Floyd has sold over 45 million copies. So how does the eagles 38 million top it?
2025-04-13 13:59:39 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyAll due respect but surprised. Kind of a boring band IMO. Calling them multi-genre and all that is redundant. Almost every rock band is. I've never went out looking to buy an Eagles album and the ones in the house by uncles, aunts, or brothers weren't play through albums to me. Hotel California is a classic and they have some good songs but they are kind of boring to me.
2025-04-14 12:11:32 Upvote 1 Downvote Reply CopyEagles are legends. I have been listening to them for over40 plus years first album was the long run bringing back some of my childhood yeah its been that long..
God has been good to all of us thank you Jesus may yourwillbe done on earth as it
is done in heaven Ameñ
2025-05-13 15:57:57 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyI believe the post is about albums sold in the USA alone. Which is the Eagles greatest hits. They aren't talking about world wide.
2025-04-19 15:38:23 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyThe Eagles, classic rock? Easy listening lift music more like.
2025-04-13 14:20:12 Upvote 1 Downvote Reply 2 CopyThey were classic rock before the term was even invented. Your opinion is uninformed and clueless.
2025-04-13 15:47:27 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyThe clue is in the title, Classic Rock!
Think rock bands think the likes of AC-DC (Bon Scott era) the Eagles were never a rock band, new country pop at best.
2025-04-15 03:24:14 Upvote Downvote Reply CopyIf you really like Eagles Greatest Hits volume 1, and you really like Hotel California, then you should check out Eagles Greatest Hits Volume 2
2025-04-14 17:42:49 Upvote Downvote Reply Copy