Without doubt, the Eagles are one of the all time biggest acts in popular music since the dawn of the rock'n'roll era with so many classic songs that has so many songs we know by heart. The band's roots go back to their role as defining artists in the phenomenally popular Southern California rock scene of the '70s, a decade in which they delivered four consecutive #1 albums. Their momentous 2004 farewell tour filled stadiums around the world, and this 2 DVD set captures one of the most stellar events from that now historic global sweep.

Titled ‘Farewell 1 Tour: Live from Melbourne’ was released in 2005. It was filmed in Melbourne, Austrailia, at the Red Laver Arena on 14^th 15^th and 17^th November, 2004, featuring two new songs.

It is the first Eagles live video as a quartet without Don Felder, who was terminated from the band in 2001 (but it did feature four other backing musicians, along with a four-piece horn section). This would also mark the last Eagles live video with founding member Glenn Frey before his death in 2016.

The name 'Farewell Tour' has nothing to do with the band's plan to quit touring and this is confirmed by Glen Frey’s quote in the interview contained in the DVD: "The longer this goes on, the better these songs sound. There is a sort of honesty in calling the tour Farewell 1, with its implication that Farewell 2 will follow soon."

The concert marks the band's first use of pre-recorded rhythm tracks, namely a track consisting of muted guitar strums on Hotel California (which were overdubbed on the original studio version, but were absent from previous live performances of the song) and a backing rhythm track for Don Henley's rendition of his fast-paced solo hit The Boys of Summer. The two new songs included in the DVD are One Day At A Time (Walsh) and No More Cloudy Days (Frey).

The performance was first released in a high-definition 1080p/DTS 5.1 format as an HD DVD in 2005.

So what you have here are thirty songs, spread out over two discs and well over two and a half hours, with fine performances, great sound, and good visual direction.

In 5.1 surround at 60% for concert effect, you would love it like you were right there. There are some exceptional performances on this disc that make it special in its own way over the studio versions and with 30 songs it is a no brainer buy. The picture quality is excellent with vibrant colors and lighting and editing that gives excellent close ups of the various instruments in synch with the audio. There is enough activity and varied angles that you never tire of watching as you are often placed front row, side stage or deep in the crowd.

The excellent mix of vocal harmonies and the plethora of background musicians, musically and visually, especially when most of their popular hits were done in different arrangements.

So you have all the classic stuff like the earliest (Take It Easy, Desperado, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Heartache Tonight, Take It Easy, Lyin’ Eyes, Tequila Sunrise, Take it to the Limit, Peaceful Easy Feeling, One of These Nights) through Hotel California and Life in the Fast Lane and right up to Love Will Keep Us Alive (from ‘Hell Freezes Over’); there are also hits from Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Joe Walsh's solo careers, and a few new songs as well, including Walsh's One Day at a Time (an earnest ode to his new-found sobriety) and Hole in the World, Frey and Henley's moving, almost gospel-tinged reaction to the events of 9/11/01. Guitarist Don Felder, who split acrimoniously with the band in 2001, isn't much missed, as replacement Steuart Smith plays the parts just as Felder did.

So much has been written about Hotel California and it is hard to top the ‘Hell Freezes Over’ version. I'm not sure this version does but then again it's a bit different. The crowd knows the intro immediately and what shines about this version is the camera work and use of crowd noise to put you in the song. The song builds to the anticipated climax which is highlighted by the dueling guitars and a side stage shot of guitar necks doing battle.

Overall this is a fantastic concert disc both in terms of the concert experience with the varied live arrangements and the sound quality. In terms of audio it is one of, if not perhaps the best I have heard of the many I own and on par with SACD, DVD-Audio quality.

The DVD also comes packaged with booklet that contains details on all songs, background details on the supporting band, images of the band.

I have also featured a chapter on The Eagles in my quiz book – ‘The Great Rock Music Quiz Book’.

Media Format: ‎ Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC

Run time: ‎ 2 hours and 55 minutes

Release date: ‎ 14^th June, 2005

Genre: Rock

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira