In 2007, the Eagles released Long Road Out of Eden, their sixth number-one album in the US, and in 2008 launched the Long Road Out of Eden Tour. The Eagles broke up in 1980 but reunited in 1994 for the album Hell Freezes Over, a mix of live and new studio tracks, and toured consistently. The Eagles released their last studio album for nearly 28 years in 1979 with The Long Run, spawning the North American number-one song 'Heartache Tonight', which became their biggest hit in Australia (number 13), and the North American top-10 hits 'The Long Run' and 'I Can't Tell You Why'.

The album yielded two number-one singles in the US and Canada, 'New Kid in Town' and 'Hotel California', the latter of which became their only top-10 hit in the United Kingdom, while also reaching the top 10 in New Zealand and many European countries, including number two in France. Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) (1976) is the best-selling album in the United States, with 38 million sold, and primed the public for the late 1976 release of Hotel California, which would sell more than 26 million copies in the US (ranking third all-time for US sales), and more than 32 million copies worldwide. Also in 1975, guitarist and vocalist Joe Walsh replaced Leadon. It included the US number-one hit 'One of These Nights', which was their first top-10 hit outside of North America, and US top-five songs 'Lyin' Eyes' and 'Take It to the Limit'. In 1975, the album One of These Nights became their first number-one album in the US and a top-10 album in many countries. In 1974, guitarist Don Felder joined, and On the Border produced the top-40 hit 'Already Gone' and the Eagles' first number-one song in the US and Canada, 'Best of My Love', which made the top 15 in Australia, their first hit overseas. The next year's follow-up album, Desperado, peaked at only number 41 in the US, although the song 'Desperado' became a popular track. Their debut album, Eagles (1972), spawned two top-20 singles in the US and Canada: 'Take It Easy' and 'Witchy Woman'. Founding members Glenn Frey (guitars, vocals), Don Henley (drums, vocals), Bernie Leadon (guitars, vocals), and Randy Meisner (bass guitar, vocals) were recruited by Linda Ronstadt as band members, some touring with her, and all playing on her third solo album, before venturing out on their own on David Geffen's new Asylum Records label. With five number-one singles and six number-one albums, six Grammy Awards and five American Music Awards, the Eagles were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s in North America. The result was the Eagles' biggest-selling regular album release, and one of the most successful rock albums ever.The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971. It was a band that could be bombastic, but also one that made music worthy of the later tag of 'classic rock,' music appropriate for the arenas and stadiums the band was playing. In the early part of their career, the Eagles never seemed to get a sound big enough for their ambitions after changes in producer and personnel, as well as a noticeable growth in creativity, Hotel California unveiled what seemed almost like a whole new band. Early on, the group couldn't rock convincingly, but the rhythm section of Henley and Meisner has finally solidified, and the electric guitar work of Don Felder and Joe Walsh has arena-rock heft. Of course, the lyrics kick in some time after one has appreciated the album's music, which marks a peak in the Eagles' playing.

On the six songs to which he contributes, Henley sketches a thematic statement that begins by using California as a metaphor for a dark, surreal world of dissipation comments on the ephemeral nature of success and the attraction of excess branches out into romantic disappointment and finally sketches a broad, pessimistic history of America that borders on nihilism. An even more important aspect, however, is the emergence of Don Henley as the band's dominant voice, both as a singer and a lyricist. As a result, the album marks a major leap for the Eagles from their earlier work, as well as a stylistic shift toward mainstream rock.

The album was also their first to be made without Bernie Leadon, who had given the band much of its country flavor, and with rock guitarist Joe Walsh. The Eagles took 18 months between their fourth and fifth albums, reportedly spending eight months in the studio recording Hotel California.

Eagles album with song wasted time