Hotel California
Release Year: 1976
Label: Elektra/Asylum
Country: US
Produced by Bill Szymczyk
Musicians:
Don Henley: Lead & Background Vocals, Drums, Percusison
Glenn Frey: Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Piano
Randy Meisner: Lead & Background Vocals, Bass
Joe Walsh: Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars, Organ
Don Felder: Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars
CD Release: 1990; Label: Elektra; Country: US;
- Hotel California
- New Kid In Town (1 Minute soundsample)
- Life In The Fast Lane
- Wasted Time (1 Minute soundsample)
- Wasted Time (Reprise)
- Victim Of Love
- Pretty Maids Alkl In A Row
- Try And Love Again
- The Last Resort
Hotel California was the first Eagles album to feature Joe Walsh. By combining with Don Felder, they created a potent tandem and pushed the band to a harder sound. Like many other residents in the state, the band are not native Californians. Despite that fact, they have become synonymous with Southern California. On this album, they examine all the high and lows of the land of hopes and dreams. The word classic is thrown around a little too often, but the album's title track is one of only a handful of songs that are worthy of the title. From the opening guitar riff, to the cynical and vivid lyrics to the closing guitar coda, the song is a tour de force. Don Henley sings with a snarl in his voice and Mr. Walsh and Mr. Felder trade guitar licks in a can you top this fashion. The song is a masterpiece, became their third number single, won the 1977 Grammy for Record of the Year and one never tires of hearing it. "New Kid In Town" was the album's other number single and Glenn Frey sings with a smooth charm. The song perfectly captures that breezy Southern California sound the Eagles made famous. "Life In The Fast Lane" is the infamous rocker that details the hedonistic lifestyle of the late 70's that the band wholeheartedly embraced. "Wasted Time" is pretty ballad and the orchestral reprise of the song leads into a stinging rocker "Victim Of Love". Joe Walsh's Eagle lead vocal debut is the suprisingly sweet "Pretty Maids All In A Row". Randy Messiness' swan song with the band is the soaring "Try & Love Again". The album's closer, "The Last Resort", almost matches the title cut in power and brilliance. It tells of the pilgrimage from the east coast out to California and that it has to offer. Hotel California was the band's peak and one of the best albums of the 70's.
Is there a better collection of timeless, good-crafted songs than this album? I don't think so...
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