Hotel California was the Eagles’ fifth studio album, released on Asylum Records in late 1976. It is the first Eagles album without the appearance of their founding member Bernie Leadon and their first album with guitarist Joe Walsh. It is also the last album featuring original bassist Randy Meisner. The album became the band’s best-selling studio album, with over 15 million copies sold in the U.S. alone and over 30 million copies sold worldwide. The album topped the charts and won the band two Grammy Awards for “Hotel California” and “New Kid in Town.” The album was nominated for Album of the Year in 1976 but lost to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.
Track listing
1. “Hotel California”
2. “New Kid in Town”
3. “Life in the Fast Lane”
4. “Wasted Time”
5. “Wasted Time (Reprise)”
6. “Victim of Love”
7. “Pretty Maids All in a Row”
8. “Try and Love Again”
9. “The Last Resort”
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Hotel California, their fifth studio album of original material, was released December 8, 1976 and was a critical success and a major commercial hit. The album became the band's best-selling studio album, with over 15 million copies sold in the U.S. and over 30 million worldwide
Beverly Hills Hotel Photo By: Alex Millauer / Shutterstock, Inc.
The front cover artwork is a photograph of the Beverly Hills Hotel by David Alexander with design and art direction by Kosh, who was the creative director of The Beatles' 1969 album, Abbey Road. The rear album cover was shot in the lobby of the Lido Hotel in Hollywood
Introducing Joe Walsh Photo By: PRPhotos.com
Hotel California was the first Eagles album without the appearance of their founding member Bernie Leadon and their first album with guitarist Joe Walsh. It was also the last album featuring original bassist Randy Meisner
While the band was recording the album, Black Sabbath was also recording the album Technical Ecstasy in an adjacent studio at Criteria Studios in Miami. They were forced to stop recording on numerous occasions because Black Sabbath were too loud and the sound was coming through the wall
Three Top 20 Singles Photo By: PRPhotos.com
The album was at Number 1 for eight weeks in early 1977 (non-consecutively), and yielded three Top 20 singles, "New Kid in Town,” "Hotel California,” and "Life in the Fast Lane.” "New Kid in Town" and "Hotel California" became Number 1 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Life in the Fast Lane" reached Number 11 on the charts
Hotel California Photo By: PRPhotos.com
The album’s title track was released as a single in February 1977. Three months after its first release, it was certified Gold by the RIAA, representing one million copies shipped. The song has been given several interpretations by fans and critics alike, but the Eagles have described it as their "interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles
Life in the Fast Lane was the third single released from the album. Glenn Frey says that the title came to him one day when he was riding on the freeway with a drug dealer known as "The Count.” Frey asked the dealer to slow down and the response was, "What do you mean? It's life in the fast lane!
Decline of Society Photo By: PRPhotos.com
The band has described the album as a metaphor for the perceived decline of America into materialism and decadence. The final track, "The Last Resort,” was about the decline of society. Frey said, "Henley took it upon himself to write an epic story and it seemed the perfect way to wrap up all the topics we explored on the album
