Monday, October 30, 2023

Eagles et al: Top 100 Songs

Eagles et al

Top 100 Songs

1972 lineup: l to r: Bernie Leadon, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Glenn Frey

1994 lineup: l to r: Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, Don Felder, Glenn Frey

The rock/country group the Eagles formed in Los Angeles in 1971. They only released six studio albums during their original run in the 1970s, but are one of the most successful acts in music history. They had five #1 songs with “Best of My Love,” “One of These Nights,” “New Kid in Town,” “Hotel California,” and “Heartache Tonight.” The compilation Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is one of the best-selling albums in history.

Original members Glenn Frey (vocals, guitar), Don Henley (vocals, drums), Bernie Leadon (guitar, vocals), and Randy Meisner (bass, vocals) started out as Linda Ronstadt’s backing band. Meisner had previously worked with Poco (1968-69) and Leadon was with Dillard & Clark (1968-69) and the Flying Burrito Brothers (1969-71).

Don Felder (guitar, vocals) joined in 1974 and Joe Walsh (guitar, vocals), who’d previously recorded with the James Gang and as a solo artist, replaced Leadon in 1975. Meisner departed in 1977, replaced by Timothy B. Schmit (bass, vocals), who’d previously been with Poco (1969-77).

The brand broke up – seemingly for good – in 1980. Frey and Henley had successful solo careers. Frey, Henley, Felder, Walsh, and Schmit reunited for the Hell Freezes Over tour in 1994 and recorded four new songs. In 2007, absent Felder, they recorded their first new album in 28 years, Long Road Out of Eden.

After Frey’s death in January 2016, he was replaced on tour by his son Deacon Frey and country singer Vince Gill. Randy Meisner passed away in 2023.

Note: above links go to those acts’ DMDB music maker encyclopedia entries.


Other Links:

  • DMDB profile page for Eagles
  • DMDB music makers’ encyclopedia entry for Eagles

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards (Eagles):


Top 100 Songs


Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Covers of Eagles’ songs have also been included in this list.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Eagles “Hotel California” (1976)
2. Don Henley “The Boys of Summer” (1984)
3. Eagles “Take It Easy” (1972)

DMDB Top 2%:

4. Eagles “Desperado” (1973)
5. Eagles “Lyin’ Eyes” (1975)
6. Eagles “One of These Nights” (1975)
7. Eagles “New Kid in Town” (1976)

DMDB Top 5%:

8. Eagles “Heartache Tonight” (1979)
9. Eagles “I Can’t Tell You Why” (1979)
10. Eagles “Best of My Love” (1974)

11. Joe Walsh “Rocky Mountain Way” (1973)
12. Don Henley “Dirty Laundry” (1982)
13. Eagles “Life in the Fast Lane” (1976)
14. Eagles “Peaceful, Easy Feeling” (1972)
15. Eagles “Take It to the Limit” (1975)
16. Eagles “Please Come Home for Christmas” (1978)
17. Don Henley “The End of the Innocence” (1989)
18. Eagles “Tequila Sunrise” (1973)
19. Don Henley with Patty Smyth “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough” (1992)
20. Joe Walsh “Life’s Been Good” (1978)

21. Eagles “The Long Run” (1979)
22. Don Henley “The Heart of the Matter” (1989)
23. Don Henley with Stevie Nicks “Leather and Lace” (1981)
24. Eagles “Witchy Woman” (1972)
25. Firefall (with Timothy B. Schmit on background vocals) “Just Remember I Love You” (1977)
26. Eagles “Already Gone” (1974)

DMDB Top 10%:

27. Eagles “Seven Bridges Road” (live, 1980)
28. Don Henley “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” (1984)
29. Don Henley “Sunset Grill” (1984)
30. James Gang “Funk #49” (1970)

31. James Gang “Walk Away” (1971)
32. Glenn Frey “The Heat Is On” (1984)
33. Glenn Frey “You Belong to the City” (1985)
34. Eagles “Get Over It” (1994)
35. Glenn Frey “Smuggler’s Blues” (1984)
36. Joe Walsh “All Night Long” (1980)
37. Eagles “Hole in the World” (2003)
38. Don Henley “New York Minute” (1989)
39. Joe Walsh “A Life of Illusion” (1981)
40. Don Henley “Not Enough Love in the World” (1984)

DMDB Top 20%:

41. Poco “Rose of Cimarron” (1976)
42. Eagles “Learn to Be Still” (1994)
43. Eagles “Love Will Keep Us Alive” (1994)
44. Linda Ronstadt “Desperado” (1973)
45. Glenn Frey “The One You Love” (1982)
46. Don Felder “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)” (1981)
47. Eagles “How Long” (2007)
48. Eagles “The Last Resort” (1986)
49. Don Henley “The Last Worthless Evening” (1989)
50. Don Henley “I Can’t Stand Still” (1982)

51. Eagles “Victim of Love” (1976)
52. Don Henley “Through Your Hands” (1996)
53. Glenn Frey “True Love” (1988)
54. Glenn Frey “Sexy Girl” (1984)
55. Eagles “James Dean” (1974)
56. Eagles “In the City” (1979)
57. Travis Tritt “Take It Easy” (1993)
58. Clint Black “Desperado” (1993)
59. Poco “Keep on Tryin’” (1975)
60. Don Henley “Come Rain or Come Shine” (1995)

61. Joe Walsh “Space Age Whiz Kids” (1983)
62. Joe Walsh “The Confessor” (1985)
63. Don Henley “Taking You Home” (2000)
64. Poco “You Better Think Twice” (1970)
65. Randy Meisner “Never Been in Love” (1982)
66. Randy Meisner “Hearts on Fire” (1980)
67. Flying Burrito Brothers “Wild Horses’ (1970)
68. Jackson Browne “Take It Easy” (1973)
69. Don Henley “Johnny Can’t Read” (1982)
70. Eagles “Outlaw Man” (1973)

71. Don Henley “How Bad Do You Want It?” (1989)
72. John Anderson “Heartache Tonight” (1993)
73. Glenn Frey “Part of You, Part of Me” (1991)
74. Don Henley “Who Owns This Place?” (1986)
75. Eagles “Those Shoes” (1979)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

76. Glenn Frey “Party Town” (1982)
77. Glenn Frey “I Found Somebody” (1982)
78. Randy Meisner “Deep Inside My Heart” (1980)
79. Joe Walsh “The Radio Song” (1987)
80. Poco “Indian Summer” (1977)

81. Don Henley “A Month of Sundays” (1984)
82. The Gipsy Kings “Hotel California” (1990)
83. Don Henley “Drivin’ with Your Eyes Closed” (1984)
84. Johnny Cash with Don Henley “Desperado” (2002)
85. Joe Walsh “Turn to Stone” (1972)
86. Joe Walsh “Meadows” (1973)
87. Joe Walsh “Ordinary Average Guy” (1991)
88. Glenn Frey “All Those Lies” (1982)
89. Eagles “Wasted Time” (1976)
90. James Gang “Midnight Man” (1971)

91. Eagles “Ol’ ‘55” (1974)
92. Timothy B. Schmit “Boys Night Out” (1987)
93. Eagles “No More Cloudy Days” (2005)
94. Eagles “After the Thrill Is Gone” (1975)
95. Eagles “The Sad CafĂ©” (1979)
96. Poco “C’mon” (1971)
97. Joe Walsh “Vote for Me” (1992)
98. Don Henley “The Garden of Allah” (1995)
99. Bruce Springsteen “Take It Easy” (live, 2016)
100. Little River Band with Glenn Frey “Take It Easy/Lyin’ Eyes” (live, 1988)


Resources and Related Links:


First posted 7/22/2017; last updated 10/30/2023.

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