"Simply the best sounding rock single to come out so far this year [1972]." — Bud Scoppa, Rolling Stone [1]

Critics and fans alike have praised the song for its timeless feel and professional production.

: Jackson Browne started the song but got stuck; Glenn Frey finished it by adding the line about the "girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford." [3, 10, 21]

: Features vibrant four-part harmonies that became the band's signature. [1]

The song’s most famous line—"Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona"—has made the town a major tourist destination. [6, 7, 10]