Eagles – Hotel California

40th Anniversary Remastered Edition

 

Whether it was done intentionally or not, Hotel California came pretty close to being a true concept album by The Eagles. The songs each loosely share the themes of paradise lost or squandered and the album is bookmarked by geographical locations of such. As the band’s fifth album, it was transitional in several ways including music and personnel wise. Guitarist Bernie Leadon, a strong influence on the band’s country sound of the early years was replaced by funk-rock guitarist Joe Walsh, who had previously fronted the groups James Gang and Barnstorm. As a result, the band’s sound got a bit heavier while never abandoning its mainstream pop sensibilities.

 

The album was produced by Bill Szymczyk, who had produced the Eagles previous two albums as well as several albums by Joe Walsh and the James Gang. Szymczyk was noted for laboriously experimenting until he found the right “sound” in each artist, as the producer possessed no musical talent or training, just extraordinary listening skills. The band took 18 months between releases of their previous album One of These Night and Hotel California, with eight of those months in the studio recording.

 

Thematically, members of the Eagles have described the album as a metaphor for the perceived decline of America. The band’s lead singer, songwriter, and drummer Don Henley said that because it was the bicentennial year and the “Eagle” is the symbol of our country, they felt obliged to make some kind of artistic statement. He explained how they used California as a microcosm of the whole United States, with comments on the nature of success and the attraction of excess, and an extremely pessimistic history of America.

 

1 – Hotel California

Lead Vocals – Don Henley

Percussion – Don Henley

Soloist [Guitar Solos] – Don Felder, Joe Walsh

Written-By – Don Felder, Don Henley, Glenn Frey

6:30

 

2 – New Kid In Town

Electric Guitar – Don Felder

Electric Piano, Organ – Joe Walsh

Guitarrón [Guitarone] – Randy Meisner

Lead Vocals – Glenn Frey

Written-By – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, John David Souther

5:04

 

3 – Life In The Fast Lane

Clavinet – Glenn Frey

Lead Guitar – Joe Walsh

Lead Vocals – Don Henley

Written-By – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh

4:46

 

4 – Wasted Time

Guitar – Don Felder

Lead Vocals – Don Henley

Organ – Joe Walsh

Piano – Glenn Frey

Written-By – Don Henley, Glenn Frey

4:55

 

5 – Wasted Time (Reprise)

Arranged By [Strings Arranged], Conductor [Conducted By] – Jim Ed Norman

Written-By – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Jim Ed Norman

1:22

 

6 – Victim Of Love

Lead Guitar – Don Felder

Lead Vocals – Don Henley

Slide Guitar – Joe Walsh

Written-By – Don Felder, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, John David Souther

4:11

 

7 – Pretty Maids All In A Row

Lead Vocals – Joe Walsh

Piano – Joe Walsh

Synthesizer – Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh

Written-By – Joe Vitale, Joe Walsh

4:05

 

8 – Try And Love Again

Guitar [Gretsch Guitar] – Joe Walsh

Lead Guitar – Glenn Frey

Lead Vocals – Randy Meisner

Written-By – Randy Meisner

5:10

 

9 – The Last Resort

Lead Vocals – Don Henley

Pedal Steel Guitar – Don Felder

Synthesizer – Don Henley, Joe Walsh

Written-By – Don Henley, Glenn Frey

7:25