LOS ANGELES — Of 20 tracks on their new CD, "Long Road Out of Eden," the Eagles chose to kick off their double album with the spine-tingling, choirboy harmonies of spare and poetic "No More Walks in the Wood." The tune telegraphs a simple mission statement: We're on the same flight path.

That route took the country-rock behemoth to record heights in the '70s when the Eagles racked up five No. 1 singles and four chart-topping albums before disbanding in 1980. Though they've been breaking box-office records since reuniting in 1994, "Eden," released Oct. 30, is the group's first studio album since 1979's "The Long Run."

The group gives its sound a national stage with an appearance on the Country Music Association Awards show tonight on ABC; its first awards show appearance despite three Grammy wins and 34 nominations.

As for the CD, it's available only at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, at a sales-enhancing $11.88; the download is $10.88 at the retailers' Web sites and eagles band.com.

"We worried for a while about how to fit in with what's happening on radio," said Don Henley, who ducked into an L.A. office after rehearsals on a soundstage at Sony Pictures Studios. "Finally we decided we just need to be who we are."

Early on, the group dealt with "whether we were going to use modern stuff like hip-hop drum-machine beats," said Glenn Frey, who shares chief songwriting duties with Henley. "We ultimately concluded that what people like about the Eagles is our singing. So the criteria became: Can we sing this? Does it sound like the Eagles?

"It didn't matter if it was rock, a ballad, a cappella, country or a Mexican song. As long as it's a good song, with our voices and Joe Walsh's guitar, we'd be all right."

Henley favored a single disc but yielded to Frey's wish for a double album that would amply represent contributions from Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit.

"We didn't say no to anything that was good," Frey said. "We have four lead singers. That affords us a lot of options as far as keeping things diverse. You're not hearing the same voice over and over."

Early signs point to a warm reception, though the Los Angeles Times' Ann Powers docked the group for "moralizing," and summed up the new release as "the sound of privileged guys relaxing within life's often crazy flow."

The BBC praised "Eden's "lush harmonizing, verve and lyrical incisiveness."

The first single, "How Long," a vintage J.D. Souther composition, is a country radio hit. And "Eden" material was enthusiastically embraced at six recent sellout shows with the Dixie Chicks in L.A.'s new Nokia Theatre.

Matching previous peaks may prove impossible in today's climate of sagging sales and unpredictable tastes. The Eagles have sold 120 million albums worldwide, and their catalog rings up sales of 1.5 million copies annually.

With 29 million copies sold, "Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" is the top-selling album in U.S. history. "Hotel California" has sold 16 million copies, and no disc has failed to reach platinum status.

WHY ROLL THE DICE NOW?

"We needed to do this album for our own personal fulfillment," Henley said. "People tell us, 'You've got enough money and fame. Why do this album?' Being musicians is not a hobby. It's a calling. There's a life-affirming aspect to creating music. There's more to it than getting songs on the radio and touring. It keeps us young and vital and off the shrink's couch."

A BAND IS BORN

Henley, 60, and Frey, 58, the sole remaining founders, played together in Linda Ronstadt's band in 1971 before forming the Eagles and releasing a 1972 self-titled debut with the hits "Take It Easy," "Witchy Woman" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling." Walsh came aboard after Bernie Leadon quit in 1975, and Schmit replaced Randy Meisner, who left in 1977. The band split in 1980 and reformed for 1994's No. 1 "Hell Freezes Over" album and lucrative reunion tour.

Anchoring the fifth and leanest Eagles configuration, Henley and Frey hint that "Long Road Out of Eden" may signal the end of the road.

"If you listen to what we say in some of these songs, this could be the last one," said Henley, who owes Warner Bros. two albums under his solo contract.

The band wants to take a break before hitting the road, Frey said. "We're going to let the album seed and give people a chance to live with it before we commit to going around the world one more time."

In addition to firing creative neurons, "Eden" satisfied another craving. "Our fans wanted a new album from us, but we also desperately wanted some new material," Henley said. "These songs have given this band new life. I don't think anybody wanted to go on tour again and play the same old songs."