The Eagles fly high with sales award

By Dean Goodman
Reuters/Variety
December 7, 1999

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rock 'n' roll trivia buffs can now impress their friends with a new piece of information: What act has been officially named as having the biggest-selling album of the century -- even though they don't? 

The answer is the Eagles, who on Tuesday hosted a press event at a rehearsal studio where they received an official plaque commemorating sales of 26 million units for the 1975 hits package, ``Their Greatest Hits, 1971-1975.'' 

The president of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Hilary Rosen, flew in from Washington to make the presentation and declare it the biggest-selling album of the 20th century. 

But wait a minute. 

While, the plaque doesn't mention it, the Eagles' achievement relates only to the United States, which accounts for one-third of the global music market. 

A spokesman for Sony Music says that worldwide Michael Jackson's ``Thriller'' album has sold more than 46 million units since its 1982 release. The Eagles set sits at about 40 million worldwide, according to the group's manager, Irving Azoff. 

And if the century actually ends on Dec. 31, 2000, is the award a little premature? ``Thriller'' was certified for 25 million copies sold in the United States as of July 1997. With the self-proclaimed ``King of Pop'' scheduled to release a new album by early spring, Sony Music expects ``Thriller'' to pass the 26-million mark. 

Eagles singer/songwriter Glenn Frey was unfazed. 

``As soon as Michael Jackson sees this, he's going to go out and buy one-and-a-half million albums,'' Frey told reporters. 

The five members of the Eagles, whose laid-back Southern California rock dominated the 1970s despite critical apathy, were clearly thrilled with the plaque and put aside their traditional enmity toward the Fourth Estate to perform their 1973 tune ``Tequila Sunrise'' for a few dozen lucky reporters. They also posed for photos and took a few questions. 

One record not in doubt is that the Eagles album was the first one ever to receive the new platinum certification (for U.S. sales of 1 million) in February 1976. For such a big album, its release was no big deal at the time. 

``We were just stalling until we could finish 'Hotel California' and we just snuck this one out there,'' Frey recalled. 

Two of the group's current lineup, guitarist Joe Walsh and bass player Timothy B. Schmit, joined the band after the album came out, but they still get plaques, as will the musicians they replaced, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. Singer/songwriter Don Henley and guitarist Don Felder round out the band. 

``I've been told I helped with sales,'' said Schmit, who joined the band in 1978. 

Walsh was almost overwhelmed by the event. ``We've been through every trip that a band could go through, and we still have fun when we get together. We're very low-key these days, but we're alive and well.'' 

According to the RIAA, the group's U.S. career haul stands at about 65 million albums sold, fifth behind the Beatles, Garth Brooks, Led Zeppelin and Elvis Presley. 

The Eagles are ending a four-year hiatus as they rehearse for three year-end shows, culminating in a New Year's Eve gig in Los Angeles where the top ticket price is $1,000. 

Azoff told Reuters that the group has eight new songs in various stages of completion and could release a studio album, its first since 1979's ``The Long Run,'' late next year. It would be issued through the band's own label, The Eagles Recording Co., he said. 

The group's old label, Elektra Records, also is working on a boxed set, and Henley is scheduled to release his first solo album since 1989's ``The End of the Innocence'' in February/March via Warner Bros, Azoff added. 

Reuters/Variety 

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