The Eagles have rewritten music industry history. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Greatest Hits 1971–1975 has officially been certified 4x Diamond, marking 40 million album units sold in the United States. It is the first album ever to reach that threshold under RIAA standards, setting a benchmark no other release has matched.
The update further cements the compilation’s status as one of the most commercially dominant records of all time. Originally released in February 1976 via Asylum Records, Greatest Hits 1971–1975 collects material from the band’s first four studio albums, spanning their early country-rock period through their mainstream breakthrough. Featuring songs like “Take It Easy,” “Desperado,” “One of These Nights,” and “Lyin’ Eyes,” the album captured a defining era of American rock with uncommon precision.
Its commercial run has been historic from the start. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, where it remained for five weeks, and it later became the first record to receive a Platinum certification when the RIAA introduced the award in 1976. Decades later, its longevity remains unmatched. In September 2025, the album surpassed 500 non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200, a feat achieved by only a small handful of releases.
The RIAA’s latest update also brought renewed attention to another cornerstone of the Eagles’ catalog. Their 1976 studio album Hotel California has now been certified 28x Platinum, confirming sales of 28 million units in the U.S. alone.
Beyond sales, Greatest Hits 1971–1975 has earned lasting cultural recognition. In 2017, it was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” That honor, combined with its record-setting certification, highlights the album’s rare balance of mass appeal and historical weight.
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