Hotel California

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Hotel California · The Eagles began writing and recording in March 1976, under producer Bill Szymczyk at Criteria and Record Plant studios. Bernie Leadon, the band's main country influence, had left and been replaced by Joe Walsh. The group deliberately chose a straightforward rock sound, as in Victim of Love and Life in the Fast Lane, for which Walsh supplied the opening riff. The first song to be finished, the title track, became the theme of the record.

Don Henley called the record a concept album: California as a miniature of America as a whole, with themes such as lost innocence and the dark side of the American dream. It was the last album with bassist Randy Meisner. It went straight to the top of the American chart, and Hotel California won a Grammy for Record of the Year.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Hotel California6:31Apple Music ↗
2. 2New Kid In Town5:05Apple Music ↗
3. 3Life In the Fast Lane4:46Apple Music ↗
4. 4Wasted Time4:56Apple Music ↗
5. 5Wasted Time (Reprise)1:23Apple Music ↗
6. 6Victim of Love4:10Apple Music ↗
7. 7Pretty Maids All In a Row3:59Apple Music ↗
8. 8Try and Love Again5:11Apple Music ↗
9. 9The Last Resort7:24Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗