Dozen free songs on Internet from new Eagles boxed set

LOS ANGELES â€“ A dozen songs from the new Eagles boxed set of CDs will be distributed free over the Internet.<br><br>The $60 four-disc "The Eagles: Selected Works 1972-1999" goes on sale Nov. 14, the

Wednesday, November 8th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES â€“ A dozen songs from the new Eagles boxed set of CDs will be distributed free over the Internet.

The $60 four-disc "The Eagles: Selected Works 1972-1999" goes on sale Nov. 14, the same day Internet users will be able to download all the songs on the fourth CD â€“ recorded live at a Los Angeles New Year's Eve concert.

The CD set represents the bulk of the popular California band's collection, including the classics "Hotel California," "The Best of My Love" and "Desperado."

"In the 10 years that I worked with the band they called me coach, but a coach can't win without great athletes. I had great athletes," Eagles producer Bill Szymczyk said Monday when asked about the collection.

The Internet downloads of 12 cuts will be available at eight online retailers, including www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.twec.com, www.cdnow!.com, www.borders.com, www.checkout.com, www.towerrecords.com and www.musicland.com.

None of the retailers will have all the free songs, however, so fans will have to visit multiple sites.

In an unusual step, the fourth CD will be MP3 files that can be freely duplicated. Major record labels have avoided the MP3 format for fear of piracy, but the live recordings are owned by the Eagles, not WEA/Elektra Entertainment, the label that's releasing the boxed set.

The previous Eagles compilation, "Greatest Hits 1971-1975," is the best selling album of all time with more than 27 million copies sold.

The new boxed set also includes two "hidden" tracks, and is accompanied by a 40 page booklet complete with rare photos of the band as well as a comprehensive essay written by Rolling Stone magazine's David Wild.