"Hotel California" is the title track from the Eagles' album of the same name and was released as a single in February 1977. Writing credits for the song are shared by Don Felder (music), Don Henley, and Glenn Frey (lyrics). The Eagles' original recording of the song features Henley singing the lead vocals and concludes with an extended section of electric guitar interplay between Felder and Joe Walsh. The song is considered the most famous recording by the band, and in 1998 its long guitar coda was voted the best guitar solo of all time by readers of "Guitarist". The song was awarded the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1978.
Introduction
Hotel California
Hotel California | Introduction
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Eagles described it as their "interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles"
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Title track from the Eagles' album
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"Hotel California" is a song by the Eagles. Hotel California may also refer to:
Hotel California (disambiguation) | Introduction
"Hotel California" is the title track from the Eagles' album of the same name and was released as a single in February 1977. Writing credits for the song are shared by Don Felder (music), Don Henley, and Glenn Frey (lyrics). The Eagles' original recording of the song features Henley singing the lead vocals and concludes with an extended section of electric guitar interplay between Felder and Joe Walsh. The song is considered the most famous recording by the band, and in 1998 its long guitar coda was voted the best guitar solo of all time by readers of "Guitarist". The song was awarded the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1978.
Hotel California | Introduction
The first live recording of the song appeared on the Eagles' 1980 live album, and an acoustic version with an extended intro is a track in the 1994 "Hell Freezes Over" reunion concert CD and video release. The "Hell Freezes Over" version is performed using eight guitars and has a decidedly Spanish sound, with Felder's flamenco-inspired arrangement and intro.
Hotel California | Recordings
The melody of the title track, "Hotel California", was written by Don Felder. Don Henley wrote most of the lyrics, with contributions from Glenn Frey. Henley noted that hotel had become a "literal and symbolic focal point of their lives at that time", and it became the theme of the song. Frey wanted the song to be "more cinematic", and to write it "just like it was a movie". Henley sought inspiration for the lyrics by driving out into the desert, as well as from films and theatre. Parts of the lyrics of "Hotel California" as well as the song "Wasted Time" were based on Henley's break up with his then girlfriend Loree Rodkin.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Composition
The Eagles recorded the track with Don Henley on lead vocal three different times, twice at the Record Plant in Los Angeles and finally at the Criteria Studios in Miami. They first recorded a riff, but when it came to recording the vocal, it was found to be in too high a key for Henley's voice, so Felder progressively lowered the key from E minor, eventually settling on B minor. The second recording however was judged too fast. In Miami, the band fine-tuned the instrumentation and the lyrics and recorded numerous takes. Five or six best ones were selected, and the best parts were then spliced together to create the released version.
Hotel California | Recordings
Bernie Leadon, who was the principal country influence in the band, left the band after the release of the previous album "One of These Nights". For "Hotel California", the band made a conscious decision to move away from country rock, and wrote some songs that are more rock & roll, such as "Victim of Love" and "Life in the Fast Lane". Leadon was replaced by Joe Walsh who provided the opening guitar riff of "Life in the Fast Lane" that was then developed into the song. The title for "Life in the Fast Lane" was inspired by a conversation between Frey and his drug dealer during a high speed car ride.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Composition
Adapted from AllMusic. Eagles Production
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Personnel
The last track of the album, "The Last Resort" had to be re-recorded a number of times due to noise from the next studio. For the title track "Hotel California", after the arrangement and instrumentation had been refined, several takes were recorded. The best parts were then spliced together, in all 33 edits on the two‑inch master, to create the final version. In contrast, "Victim of Love" was recorded in a live session in studio apart from the lead vocal and the harmony on the choruses which were added later. Don Felder initially sang the lead vocals in the many early takes for the song, but the band felt that his efforts were not up to the required standard, and Henley then took over as the lead.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Recording
The lyrics of the song have been given various interpretations by fans and critics alike, the Eagles themselves describing the song as their "interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles". In the 2013 documentary "History of the Eagles", Henley said that the song was about "a journey from innocence to experience... that's all..." Since its release, "Hotel California" has been covered by a number of artists and has become a part of international popular culture. Julia Phillips proposed adapting the song into a film, but the members of the Eagles disliked the idea and it never came to fruition.
Hotel California | Introduction
The Eagles won the 1977 Grammy Award for Record of the Year for "Hotel California" at the 20th Grammy Awards in 1978. The song is rated highly in many rock music lists and polls; "Rolling Stone" magazine ranked it number 49 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". It was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. At the induction of the Eagles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, all seven former and present members of the band reunited to perform "Hotel California".
Hotel California | Accolades
According to Henley in a 1982 interview, the Eagles "probably peaked on "Hotel California"." Henley said: "After that, we started growing apart as collaborators and as friends."
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Recording
The album was nominated for several Grammy awards in 1978 and its title track "Hotel California" won the Record of the Year. The band manager Irving Azoff however refused requests by the Grammy producer for the band to attend or perform at the ceremony unless a win was guaranteed. The band therefore did not appear at the ceremony to collect their awards. Henley later said: "The whole idea of a contest to see who is 'best' just doesn't appeal to us."
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Awards and nominations
Hotel California is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Eagles. The album was recorded by Bill Szymczyk at the Criteria and Record Plant studios between March and October 1976, and then released on Asylum in December. It was their first album with guitarist Joe Walsh, who had replaced founding member Bernie Leadon, and is the last album to feature bassist Randy Meisner. The front cover is a photograph of the Beverly Hills Hotel by David Alexander. "Hotel California" topped the US "Billboard" Top LPs & Tapes chart. At the 20th Grammy Awards, the Eagles won a Grammy Award for "Hotel California", which won Record of the Year, and for "New Kid in Town".
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Introduction
A demo of the instrumental was developed by Don Felder in a rented house on Malibu Beach. He recorded the basic tracks with a Rhythm Ace drum machine and added a 12 string guitar on a four-track recording deck in his spare bedroom, then mixed in a bassline, and gave Don Henley and Glenn Frey each a copy of the recording. Felder, who met the Eagles through his high school bandmate Bernie Leadon, said that Leadon advised him to make tapes of songs he wrote for the band so that other band members like Henley, whose forte is in writing lyrics, might work with him on finishing the songs they liked.
Hotel California | Composition
Frey, in the "Hotel California" episode of "In the Studio with Redbeard", spoke about the writing of "The Last Resort". Frey said: "It was the first time that Don took it upon himself to write an epic story and we were already starting to worry about the environment… we're constantly screwing up paradise and that was the point of the song and that at some point there is going to be no more new frontiers. I mean we're putting junk, er, garbage into space now."
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Composition
According to Glenn Frey, the "warm smell" is "colitas... it means little tails, the very top of the plant." The Eagles' manager Irving Azoff appears to lend support to the marijuana hypothesis; however, Felder said: "The colitas is a plant that grows in the desert that blooms at night, and it has this kind of pungent, almost funky smell. Don Henley came up with a lot of the lyrics for that song, and he came up with colitas." Other interpretations of the song include heroin addiction and cannibalism. On the various interpretations, Henley said: "Some of the wilder interpretations of that song have been amazing.
Hotel California | Conjectures
However, when the identity of Beverly Hills Hotel was revealed, the hotel threatened legal action over the use of the image. The rear album cover was shot in the lobby of the Lido Hotel in Hollywood. The gatefold image shows the same lobby but filled with members of the band and their friends. Henley said: "I wanted a collection of people from all walks of life, It’s people on the edge, on the fringes of society." A shadowy figure appears on the balcony above the lobby, which led to speculations over the person's identity. Kosh designed a Hotel California logo as a neon sign which was used on the album cover and in its promotional materials.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Artwork
The first song written for the album was "Hotel California", which became the theme for the album. Henley said of the themes of the songs in the album: On the title "Hotel California", Henley said that "the word, 'California,' carries with it all kinds of connotations, powerful imagery, mystique, etc., that fires the imaginations of people in all corners of the globe. There's a built-in mythology that comes with that word, an American cultural mythology that has been created by both the film and the music industry." In an interview with the Dutch magazine "ZigZag" shortly before the album's release, Don Henley said:
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Theme
In 2003, the album was ranked number 37 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list. The song "Hotel California" was ranked number 49 on "Rolling Stone" list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", in 2004 and again in 2011.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Accolades
They wanted to demonstrate that they could play together without overdubs if they wanted to. A 40th anniversary deluxe edition was released on November 24, 2017. The set includes the original remastered album, and a second CD that features 10 live tracks from the concert at The Forum, recorded in October 1976 two months before the original release of the album.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Release
We wanted to write a song just like it was a movie." Frey described the song in an interview with NBC's Bob Costas as a cinematic montage "just one shot to the next ... a picture of a guy on the highway, a picture of the hotel, the guy walks in, the door opens, strange people." Frey continued: "We decided to create something strange, just to see if we could do it." Henley then wrote most of the lyrics based on Frey's idea, and sought inspiration for the writing by driving out into the desert as well as from films and theater.
Hotel California | Composition
In 2003 and 2012, it was ranked number 37 on "Rolling Stone" list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Introduction
Worldwide the album has sold 32 million copies. On August 20, 2018, the album was certified 26× platinum by the RIAA for 26 million units consumed in the United States under the new system that tallies album and digital track sales as well as streams. The album produced two number one hit singles on the US "Billboard" Hot 100: "New Kid in Town", on February 26, 1977, and "Hotel California" on May 7, 1977.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Commercial performance
I guess you could say it's a song about loss of innocence." The song has been described as being "all about American decadence and burnout, too much money, corruption, drugs and arrogance; too little humility and heart." It has also been interpreted as an allegory about hedonism, self-destruction, and greed in the music industry of the late 1970s. Henley called it "our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles", and later said: "It's basically a song about the dark underbelly of the American dream and about excess in America, which is something we knew a lot about." In the 2013 documentary, "History of the Eagles", Henley reiterated:
Hotel California | Themes and interpretations
As it proved difficult to bend real neon tubings into the desired shape of the script, the neon effect of the logo was achieved with airbrush by Bob Hickson. Additional portraits of the band used in the album package and promotional materials were shot by Norman Seeff.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Artwork
The front cover artwork is a photograph of The Beverly Hills Hotel shot just before sunset by David Alexander with design and art direction by Kosh. According to Kosh, Henley wanted him to find a place that can portray the Hotel California of the album title, and "portray it with a slightly sinister edge". Three hotels were photographed, and the one with The Beverly Hills Hotel was selected as the cover. The photographer shot the image 60 feet above Sunset Boulevard on top of a cherry picker. As the image was taken from an unfamiliar vantage point in fading light, most people did not initially recognize the hotel.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Artwork
According to the producer Bill Szymczyk, there were 33 edits on the two‑inch master. The final section features a guitar battle between Joe Walsh (who had replaced Bernie Leadon after Leadon's departure from the band in 1975) and Felder, which took the two of them sitting together working for around three days to achieve the necessary precision. Walsh and Felder initially started improvising but Henley insisted that the recording should follow the music as first recorded in Felder's demo. Henley decided that the song should be a single, although Felder had doubts and the record company was reluctant to release it because, at over six minutes, its duration far exceeded that of the songs generally played by radio stations.
Hotel California | Recordings
It was a band that could be bombastic, but also one that made music worthy of the later tag of 'classic rock', music appropriate for the arenas and stadiums the band was playing." Steve Holtje, writing for "CultureCatch" in 2012, felt that even though "an awful lot of the album is snarky whining from co-leaders Don Henley and Glenn Frey, two guys who didn't really seem like they had that much they could legitimately complain about", in the final analysis ""Hotel California" and the underrated concept album "Desperado" stand as the group's greatest statements".
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Critical reception
Glenn Frey said that originally "We decided to create something strange, just to see if we could do it," and that the song was meant to mimic the imagery of the 1965 novel "The Magus" by John Fowles, about a man in an unfamiliar rural setting who is unsure about what he is experiencing. Don Henley has given a number of explanations about the song, ranging from "a journey from innocence to experience" to "a sociopolitical statement". In an interview with "Rolling Stone", Henley said that the song was meant to be "more of a symbolic piece about America in general", and added: "Lyrically, the song deals with traditional or classical themes of conflict: darkness and light, good and evil, youth and age, the spiritual versus the secular.
Hotel California | Themes and interpretations
Ocean sampled the music from the Eagles' song "Hotel California" on the song "American Wedding" from "Nostalgia, Ultra". When asked about it, Ocean stated that Eagles band member "Don Henley is apparently intimidated by my rendition of 'Hotel California'. He threatened to sue if I perform it again." In response to Ocean's comments, the Eagles' legal representative released a statement: "Frank Ocean did not merely 'sample' a portion of the Eagles' 'Hotel California,' he took the entire master track, plus the song's existing melody, and replaced the lyrics with his own; this is not creative, let alone 'intimidating.' It's illegal.
Frank Ocean | Legal issues
"Hotel California" was met with generally positive reviews. "Village Voice" critic Robert Christgau felt it was their "most substantial if not their most enjoyable LP", while Charley Walters of "Rolling Stone" felt it showcased "both the best and worst tendencies of Los Angeles-situated rock". Both critics picked up on the album's California themes – Christgau remarking that while it may in places be "pretentious and condescending" and that "Don Henley is incapable of conveying a mental state as complex as self-criticism", the band couldn't have written the songs on side one "without caring about their California theme down deep"; Walters in contrast felt the "lyrics present a convincing and unflattering portrait of the milieu itself", and that Don Henley's vocals express well "the weary disgust of a victim (or observer) of the region's luxurious excess".
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Critical reception
The band took a stand and refused the label's request to shorten the song. The song was released as the second single from the album after "New Kid in Town". The front cover art for some overseas editions of the 45rpm single released was a reworked version of the "Hotel California" LP cover art, which used a photograph of the Beverly Hills Hotel by David Alexander, with design and art direction by Kosh. As "Hotel California" became one of the group's most popular songs and a concert staple for the band, live recordings of the song have therefore also been released.
Hotel California | Recordings
"Billboard" gave the album high praise: "The casually beautiful, quietly-intense multileveled vocal harmonies and brilliant original songs that meld solid emotional words with lovely melody lines are all back in force, keeping the Eagles at the acme of acoustic electric soft rock." It noted that, even though the album did not try out any new departure other than the "Procol Harum-type" title track, "the album proves that there's a lot more left to explore profitably and artistically in the L.A. countryish-rock style." Retrospective reviews have also been positive. Robert Hilburn of the "Los Angeles Times", writing after the band broke up, called the album "a legitimate rock masterpiece", in which the band "examined their recurring theme about the American Dream with more precision, power and daring than ever in such stark, uncompromising songs as "Hotel California" and "The Last Resort"." William Ruhlmann from AllMusic later said ""Hotel California" unveiled what seemed almost like a whole new band.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Critical reception
Ian Anderson has said that the chord progression in "We Used to Know" was picked up subconsciously by the Eagles when they toured together in 1971 or 1972 and used in their song "Hotel California". However Don Felder, who wrote the music for "Hotel California", did not join Eagles until 1974. In a 2016 interview, Anderson stated that the chord progression had likely been used in earlier songs and also called "Hotel California" a "much better song" than "We Used to Know".
Stand Up (Jethro Tull album) | Musical style
Don Henley threatened a lawsuit for copyright infringement.
Hotel California | Cover versions
These also had text engraved in the run-out groove of each side, continuing an in-joke trend the band had started with their third album On the Border. The text reads: Side one: "Is It 6 O'Clock Yet?"; Side two: "V.O.L. Is Five-Piece Live", indicating that the song "Victim of Love" was recorded in a live session in studio, with no overdubbing. Joe Walsh and Glenn Frey confirm this on the inner booklet of "The Very Best Of". This only referred to the instrumental track, however; the lead vocal and harmony for the chorus were added later. This was in response to those who criticized the Eagles' practice of copious overdubbing of instruments and that they were too clinical and soulless in the studio.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Release
The album took a year and a half to complete, a process which, along with touring, drained the band. The album's first single, "New Kid in Town", became the Eagles' third number-one single.
Eagles (band) | 1975–1977: Major success with "Hotel California"
"Hotel California" was the Eagles' sixth album (including "Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)"), and fifth of original material. It became a critical and commercial success. In a poll of rock critics and DJs in 1987, it was ranked 48 out of 100. In a public poll for the 1994 edition of "All Time Top 1000 Albums", it was voted number 107, and then number 67 in the 2000 edition. In 2001, the TV network VH1 placed "Hotel California" at number 38 on their 100 Greatest Albums of All Time list. "Hotel California" was ranked 13th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Accolades
On an episode of "In the Studio with Redbeard" (which devoted an entire episode to the making of "Hotel California"), Frey stated: I have to give all the credit for 'The Last Resort' to (Don) Henley. It was the first time that Don, on his own, took it upon himself to write an epic story. We were very much at that time, concerned about the environment and doing anti-nuclear benefit (concerts). It seemed the perfect way to wrap up all of the different topics we had explored on the "Hotel California" album. Don found himself as a lyricist with that song, kind of outdid himself...We're constantly screwing up paradise and that was the point of the song and that at some point there is going to be no more new frontiers.
The Last Resort (Eagles song) | Composition
It is included in the album "Eagles Live", which was released in 1980 after the band had effectively broken up. A second version, recorded in 1977, was released on ‘Hotel California 40th Anniversary: Expanded Edition’ released in 2017. The song was rerecorded on Meisner's first solo album ("Randy Meisner") released in 1978. The song was performed with piano and acoustic guitar accompaniment, and 1970s teen idol David Cassidy singing in the backing vocals.
Take It to the Limit (Eagles song) | Recordings
"The Last Resort" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, which tells of how man inevitably destroys the places he finds beautiful. It was originally released on the Eagles' album "Hotel California" on December 8, 1976. It was subsequently released as the B-side of "Life in the Fast Lane" single on May 3, 1977. In a 1978 interview with "Rolling Stone", Henley said: "'The Last Resort', on "Hotel California", is still one of my favorite songs... That's because I care more about the environment than about writing songs about drugs or love affairs or excesses of any kind.
The Last Resort (Eagles song) | Introduction
"Life in the Fast Lane" is a song written by Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey and Don Henley and recorded by the American rock band the Eagles on their 1976 studio album "Hotel California". It was the third single released from this album, and peaked at No. 11 on the "Billboard" Hot 100.
Life in the Fast Lane | Introduction
Organisers say 77 musicians are expected to be on stage while the Eagles perform hits from the album, including “New Kid in Town” and “Life in the Fast Lane,” the Associated Press reported.
Hotel California 2020 Tour | Introduction
Al B. Sure! recorded his rendition for his album, "Private Times...and the Whole 9!" (1990). Gipsy Kings recorded a flamenco version sung in Spanish. The Orb, under the name of Jam On The Mutha, produced a version that charted at No. 62 in the UK in 1990. Mike Piranha recorded "Hotel Honolulu" in 1998, satirizing overdevelopment, crime, and other issues on Oahu; the song became a local hit in Hawaii. The Romanian band Vama Veche recorded its version with different lyrics entitled "", sung in its native language. Alabama 3 covered the song for the album, "La Peste" (2000). Nancy Sinatra recorded a cover version for her 2002 album "California Girl", an album of songs about California.
Hotel California | Cover versions
The album first entered the US "Billboard" 200 at number four, reaching number one in its fourth week in January 1977. It topped the chart for eight weeks (non-consecutively), and it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in a week of release. In its first year of release it sold nearly 6 million copies in the United States, and by July 1978 it has sold 9.5 million copies worldwide (7 million in the US and 2.5 million elsewhere internationally). On March 20, 2001, the album was certified 16x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, denoting shipment of 16 million in the United States, and had sold over 17 million copies in the US by 2013.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Commercial performance
Music critic Dave Thompson considers it an update of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" but says that it is "even more weary and despairing." Thompson regards the line "Some rich men came and raped the land. Nobody caught ‘em" to be a critique of a free market economy. Critic William Ruhlmann said of it that it "sketches a broad, pessimistic history of America that borders on nihilism." Author James Perone says that it ties "all the previous songs [from "Hotel California"] together in this final reflection of the dark side of California Life." He notes, for example, how the song lyrics contrast the beauty of the California desert with ugly suburban houses and ultimately progresses to criticize the concept of manifest destiny, on which American expansion to California was partially based.
The Last Resort (Eagles song) | Critical reception
"New Kid in Town" is a song by the Eagles from their 1976 studio album "Hotel California". It was written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther. Released as the first single from the album, the song became a number-one hit in the U.S. and number 20 in the UK. The single version has an earlier fade-out than the album version. The song features Glenn Frey singing the lead vocals, with Don Henley singing main harmony vocals. Randy Meisner plays the guitarrón mexicano, Don Felder plays electric guitars, and Joe Walsh plays the electric piano and organ parts. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices.
New Kid in Town | Introduction
The album was recorded between March and October 1976 at Criteria Studios, Miami and Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles, and produced by Bill Szymczyk. Although the band favored Los Angeles, the producer Szymczyk wanted to record in Miami as he had developed a fear of living on a fault line in Los Angeles after experiencing an earthquake, and a compromise was then struck to split the recording at both places. While the band were recording the album, Black Sabbath were recording "Technical Ecstasy" in an adjacent studio at Criteria Studios in Miami. The band was forced to stop recording on numerous occasions because Black Sabbath were too loud and the sound was coming through the wall.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Recording
"California" is a pop song written by Rick Nowels, Billy Steinberg and Maria Vidal, produced by David Tickle for Belinda Carlisle's sixth studio album "A Woman and a Man" (1996). It was released as the album's fourth single in the UK and the third single in Australia as a CD single.
California (Belinda Carlisle song) | Introduction
In 1975, Walsh was invited to join The Eagles as founding member Bernie Leadon's replacement. There was some initial concern as to Walsh's ability to fit in with the band, as he was considered far too "wild" for The Eagles, especially by their drummer and co-lead vocalist, Don Henley. Released on December 8, 1976, "Hotel California" was the band's fifth studio album and the first to feature Walsh. The album took a year and a half to complete, a process which, along with touring, drained the band. The second single from the album was the eponymous title track, which topped the charts in May 1977 and became one of the Eagles' signature songs next to "Take It Easy" and "Desperado".
Joe Walsh | 1975–1980: Eagles
The Cat Empire recorded a version sung in French entitled "L'hotel de Californie" for Triple J's Like a Version segment, and is included in its 2005 compilation album as well as the band's 2003 live album "On the Attack". Vocal Sampling have performed an a cappella version, which is included in their 2008 album "Akapelleando". The Killers and Rhythms del Mundo collaborated their version with Afro-Cuban music for the 2009 Artists' Project Earth charity, and it appeared on the album "Rhythms del Mundo Classics". Frank Ocean released a song that samples the entire instrumental track of "Hotel California" on his mixtape "Nostalgia, Ultra" (2011), entitled "American Wedding".
Hotel California | Cover versions
The demos he made were always instrumental, and on every album project he would submit 15 or 16 ideas. The demo he made for "Hotel California" showed influences from Latin and reggae music, and it grabbed the attention of Henley who said he liked the song that "sounds like a Mexican reggae or Bolero", which gave the song its first working title, "Mexican Reggae". Frey and Henley were both interested in the tune after hearing the demo, and discussed the concept for the lyrics. In 2008, Felder described the writing of the lyrics: Frey came up with a cinematic scenario of a person who, tired from driving a long distance in a desert, saw a place for a rest and pulled in for the night, but entered "a weird world peopled by freaky characters", and became "quickly spooked by the claustrophobic feeling of being caught in a disturbing web from which he may never escape." In an interview with Cameron Crowe, Frey said that he and Henley wanted the song "to open like an episode of the "Twilight Zone"", and added: "We take this guy and make him like a character in "The Magus", where every time he walks through a door there's a new version of reality.
Hotel California | Composition
It has also applied to other ideas such as problem when leaving a service provider or social media network, or when exiting cloud computing. The same analogy has been used by various commentators considering scenarios for Brexit, with the term "Hotel California Brexit". A book titled "Operation Hotel California: The Clandestine War Inside Iraq" was written about the clandestine operation named after the song title by CIA–US Special Forces teams in Iraqi Kurdistan in the lead-up to the Iraq War. Although the Eagles were noted for their reluctance to license their songs for use in shows, the song has been used in a number of films and television shows, such as "The Big Lebowski" (performed by the Gipsy Kings), "Absolutely Fabulous", and "The Sopranos".
Hotel California | Cultural influence
The album was nominated for Album of the Year but lost to Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours". Three singles were released from the album, with two topping the "Billboard" Hot 100, "New Kid in Town" and "Hotel California", whilst "Life in the Fast Lane" reached No. 11. A 40th anniversary special edition of "Hotel California" was released in November 2017. "Hotel California" is one of the best-selling albums of all time. It has been certified 26× Platinum in the US, and has sold over 32 million copies worldwide, making it the band's best-selling album after "Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)". It has been ranked as one of the greatest albums of all time.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Introduction
Doman, Lil' C, SAP and Mars of 1500 or Nothin'.
Hotel California (Tyga album) | Recording and production
Group member John Rich told "Billboard" that " "there’s some 80s Country on there, and also some Eagles west-coast Country kind of stuff. It’s also a really fun song to sing. When the fans learn it, they sing it at the top of their lungs." Lead single "California" was originally recorded by Tim McGraw on his album "Damn Country Music", and his version features Big & Rich on backing vocals.
Did It for the Party | Content
"Hotel California" first entered the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart dated February 26, 1977, and topped the Hot 100 singles chart for one week in May 1977, the band's fourth song to reach No. 1 on that chart. It peaked at number 10 on the Easy Listening chart in April 1977. "Billboard" ranked it number 19 on its 1977 Pop Singles year-end chart. Three months after its first release, the single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), representing one million copies shipped. In 2009, the song was further certified Platinum (Digital Sales Award) by the RIAA for sales of one million digital downloads, and has since sold over 3 million downloads.
Hotel California | Chart performance
In a 2012 concert at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, California, Walsh explained that the song's lyrics are true. He said that he purchased a home in Santa Barbara, California shortly before he joined the Eagles. He then spent the next two years touring or recording albums, and spent very little time at the home. Rather, he spent most of his time living in hotels. He preferred hotel rooms with adjoining rooms. If a hotel room did not have two adjoining rooms available, he would rent two rooms next to each other. He would then make a connection to the other room by "tearing out a wall".
Life's Been Good | Inspiration
The album was released by Asylum Records on December 8, 1976, in vinyl, cassette and 8-track cartridge formats. It was considered for quadraphonic release in early 1977, but this idea was dropped following the demise of the quadraphonic format. On the album's 25th anniversary in 2001, it was released in a Multichannel 5.1 DVD-Audio disc. On August 17, 2011, the album was released on a hybrid SACD in Japan in The Warner Premium Sound series, containing both a stereo and a 5.1 mix. Original vinyl pressings of "Hotel California" (Elektra/Asylum catalog no. 7E-1084) had custom picture labels of a blue Hotel California logo with a yellow background.
Hotel California (Eagles album) | Release
After the release of "Hotel California" and the tour that followed, the Eagles found themselves under tremendous pressure to repeat this success and tensions were made worse by alcohol, cocaine and other drugs. Bassist Randy Meisner left the band after the tour due to exhaustion and he was replaced by former Poco bassist Timothy B. Schmit, who had also replaced him in that band. Nevertheless, the fighting did not end with the addition of the mild-mannered Schmit, but it rather intensified during the recording of "The Long Run", which took 18 months to complete, and Felder and Frey were especially hostile to one another, despite respecting each other's musical abilities.
Don Felder | Eagles
"California" was written by Kelly Winrich about his girlfriend on the East Coast, while he was living in California, after troubles and difficulties they "Called it quits". He wrote the song soon after."
California (Delta Spirit song) | Origin
According to band member Don Felder, when the Eagles first began playing stadiums the group would warm up pre-concert by singing "Seven Bridges Road" in a locker room shower area. After, each concert would then open with the group's five members singing "Seven Bridges Road" a capella into a single microphone. Felder recalls that it "blew [the audience] away. It was always a vocally unifying moment, all five voices coming together in harmony." Following the release of the "Hotel California" album, that set's title cut replaced "Seven Bridges Road" as the Eagles' concert opener, and according to Felder, the band "rarely even bothered to rehearse with it in the shower of the dressing room anymore." The song was restored to the set list for the Eagles' tour, prior to the band's 31 July 1980 breakup, with the band's performance of the song at their 28 July 1980 concert at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, which was recorded for the "Eagles Live" album released in November 1980.
Seven Bridges Road | Iain Matthews version/Eagles version
"California" is a country music song written by John Rich, Rodney Clawson, and Vicky McGehee. It was originally recorded by Tim McGraw on his album "Damn Country Music", featuring Big & Rich on backing vocals. Big & Rich released their own version in 2017 as a single, and it appears on their 2017 album "Did It for the Party".
California (Big &amp; Rich song) | Introduction
Commercially, "Hotel California" reached the number one position on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and reached the top ten of several international charts.
Hotel California | Introduction
Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, who predominantly used Gibson Les Pauls at the time, used a white EDS-1275 on live performances of "Hotel California". The 12-string neck would have a capo on the 7th fret, and would be used to play the intro and verses. Felder would switch to the 6-string neck for the choruses and the ending guitar duet with Joe Walsh. To honor the association of the EDS-1275 and this performance, Gibson Custom introduced the Don Felder “Hotel California” EDS-1275 Limited Edition with 100 units aged and 50 units both aged and signed. A closeup of this guitar is used on the cover of the album "American Rock 'n' Roll".
Gibson EDS-1275 | Don Felder
The song's guitar solo was voted the best solo of all time by readers of "Guitarist" magazine in 1998, and was ranked 8th on "Guitar Magazine"s Top 100 Guitar Solos. The song was also included in the music video game "Guitar Hero World Tour". It was ranked the number 1 in the list of the best 12-string guitar songs of all times by "Guitar World" magazine in 2015.
Hotel California | Accolades
"California Nights" is a song written by Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Liebling and recorded by Lesley Gore. The song appeared on her 1967 album, "California Nights".
California Nights | Introduction
Crouse praised the "subtlety" of the production, particularly "James Taylor's twitchy guitar and Russ Kunkel's superb, barely detectable high-hat and bass-pedal work."
California (Joni Mitchell song) | Introduction
Guitarist and vocalist Joe Walsh also joined the band in 1975, replacing Leadon. The Eagles continued that success and hit their commercial peak in late 1976 with the release of "Hotel California", which would go on to sell more than 26 million copies in the U.S. alone and more than 42 million copies worldwide. The album yielded two number-one singles, "New Kid in Town" and "Hotel California". Meisner left the band in 1977 and was replaced by Timothy B. Schmit. They released their last studio album for nearly 28 years in 1979 with "The Long Run", which spawned three top 10 singles: "Heartache Tonight", "The Long Run", and "I Can't Tell You Why", the lead single being another chart-topping hit.
Eagles (band) | Introduction
These are the credits and the personnel as they appear on the back of the single:
California (Mylène Farmer song) | Credits and personnel
It was released as a promotional single for his third studio album "Hotel California".
Molly (Cedric Gervais song) | Introduction
This song was written while Larry was in a traffic jam in Los Angeles; the song goes on to warn the listener that all the gold in the state "is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills in somebody else's name" and that attempting to make it big in California carries a risk of failure that could personally devastate one's resolve. On January 19, 1985, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers Band sang the song at the nationally televised 50th Presidential Inaugural Gala, the day before the second inauguration of Ronald Reagan.
All the Gold in California | Content
The song is about a marital affair with a woman in California which is unveiled when the mistress in the situation calls the narrator's wife, after which the wife questions the narrator with the song's title. No resolution is given to the song's question. According to Raven, he originally wanted to title the song "Who Do You Know in Dallas", but he felt that "California" fit the song's meter better.
Who Do You Know in California | Content
In 1977, Schmit joined the Eagles during the "Hotel California" tour, once again replacing Randy Meisner on bass/vocals after Meisner quit. Although the Eagles are thought of as a quintessential California band, Schmit is the only member of the group to actually be a native of California. On the 1979 album, "The Long Run", Schmit co-wrote and sang lead vocals on the song "I Can't Tell You Why". The band later broke up in 1980 and reunited 14 years later in 1994, with Schmit singing the lead vocals on "Love Will Keep Us Alive", on the reunion album "Hell Freezes Over".
Timothy B. Schmit | Tenure with the Eagles
Hotel California 2020 Tour is the headlining concert tour by American rock band Eagles commemorating their 1976 album, "Hotel California". The tour began on 7 February 2020, in Atlanta, at the State Farm Arena, not counting the 3 Las Vegas concerts that were just before they announced the tour. The band will perform the 1976 Grammy-winning album from “beginning to end." “Each night’s concert will feature a “Hotel California” set, with an accompanying orchestra and choir, followed by an additional set of the band's greatest hits,” the band’s website said. The set list performed in Las Vegas was one of the longest shows the band has ever played and lasted for approximately three hours.
Hotel California 2020 Tour | Introduction
Pia Toscano and Stefano Langone, contestants of the tenth season of "American Idol", covered the song during one of the nights. American rapper Snoop Dogg, released an unofficial remix of the song along with a music video. In his version of the song he sings the lines "California dreamin', schemin', you got me gleamin'/ I need you on my team 'n you get my meanin'/ It sound crazy but it's amazing/ Lay down with me so we can make some babies." The accompanying music video a girl which looks like Kim Kardashian waiting him at the hotel, while the official video of the song is played on TV screens.
California King Bed | Other versions
"All music and lyrics written by Mel Tormé, except "San Fernando Valley" by Tormé and Gordon Jenkins."
Mel Tormé's California Suite | Track listing
The metaphorical character of the story related in the lyrics has inspired a number of conjectural interpretations by listeners. In the 1980s the Rev. Paul Risley of Cornerstone Church in Burlington, Wisconsin alleged that "Hotel California" referred to a San Francisco hotel that was purchased by Anton LaVey and converted into his Church of Satan. Other rumors suggested that the Hotel California was the Camarillo State Mental Hospital. The term "colitas" in the first stanza ("warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air") has been interpreted as a sexual slang or a reference to marijuana. "Colitas" means "little tails" in Spanish; in Mexican slang it refers to buds of the cannabis (marijuana) plant.
Hotel California | Conjectures
Motel California is the third album by the American rock band Ugly Kid Joe. The CD was released on October 22, 1996. "Motel California" is the last full-length studio album until 2015. They disbanded in January 1997 and reformed in January 2010. It received lukewarm reviews and was a commercial failure. The title is a parody of the Eagles' album, "Hotel California". The song "Rage Against the Answering Machine" is a pun on the name of the Los Angeles rock band Rage Against the Machine.
Motel California | Introduction
J.D. Souther initially wrote the chorus for the song. According to Souther, the band thought it sounded like a hit, but he did not know what to do with it. About a year later, Souther, Frey and Henley gathered for the writing of "Hotel California" where Souther played the song for them, and the three finished the song. Souther later said that the song came about as a result of their "fascination with gunfire as an analogy" and added that "at some point some kid would come riding into town that was much faster than you and he'd say so, and then he'd prove it." He said: "We were just writing about our replacements." Similarly, Henley discussed the song's meaning in the liner notes of "The Very Best Of": The song was rumored to be about Bruce Springsteen, who was gaining fame when the song was written, but Souther has denied this idea.
New Kid in Town | Background
"California" is a song by American indie rock band Delta Spirit from their 2012 self-titled album. Written by the band and released as a single two months prior to the album's release, it earned the band some of its first radio airplay and television appearances. A music video for the song was filmed and released in 2012.
California (Delta Spirit song) | Introduction
All songs written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, and lead vocals by Jerry Garcia, except where noted. Notes
From the Mars Hotel | Track listing
Leadon's replacement was guitarist and singer Joe Walsh, who had been a friend of the band for some years. He had previously performed with James Gang, Barnstorm, and as a solo artist; he was also managed by Azoff and used Szymczyk as his record producer. There was some initial concern as to Walsh's ability to fit in with the band, as he was considered too "wild" for the Eagles, especially by Henley. After the departure of Leadon, the Eagles' early country sound almost completely disappeared, with the band employing a harder sound with the addition of Felder and Walsh; however, Felder also had to play banjo, pedal steel and mandolin on future tours, something that had previously been Leadon's domain.
Eagles (band) | 1975–1977: Major success with "Hotel California"
In 1924. Cliff Edwards ("Ukulele Ike") released a very upbeat single of the song, which included some scat vocals and a brief sung intro: "Goodbye forever, goodbye forever, I'm going away for a long, long time." "Casa Loma Stomp," recorded by Fletcher Henderson, is a set of jazz variations on the song, whose tune is clearly audible in the first few verses and gradually disappears under the increasing complexity of the variations. Freddy Cannon recorded this song on his debut 1960 album "The Explosive Freddy Cannon".
California, Here I Come | Covers
The song was produced by Bob Crewe and arranged by Hutch Davie. The track features guitars and drum set in a 60's pop fashion. The chorus includes multiples long tones over abnormal chords and the verses are noticeably accompanied by a soft electric piano. The lyrics speak of reminiscing about romantic evenings on the beach with a lover.
California Nights | Composition
"California" is a song recorded by British singer Amelia Lily, released as her fourth overall single. The track was co-written by Lily, Tim Woodcock and Steve Rushton. The track was released on 7 September 2014 in the United Kingdom.
California (Amelia Lily song) | Introduction
All songs written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells, except "California Suite" and "A Stranger in Town" (Tormé).
Sammy Davis Jr. Sings Mel Tormé's &quot;California Suite&quot; | Track listing
Regular segments include "Hotel California" (introduced by an instrumental version of the Eagles song), which was a discussion of California's former fiscal discombobulation and its political environment, including the gubernatorial and Senatorial races. Devin Nunes generally is included in the roundtable; also, Hotel Mars, episode "n." Robert Zimmerman of behindtheblack frequently comes on to talk about NASA and the space program, preceded by the music from the "Star Trek" end credits. The show's last segment (c.12:55 AM EST) invariably features Al Bowlly's "Midnight, the Stars and You", ending in a brief (<30sec) valediction/good-night, sometimes with a few moments with a guest (time for one question).
John Batchelor | Frequent guests
Sammy Davis Jr. Sings Mel Tormé's "California Suite" is a 1964 album by Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy Davis Jr. Sings Mel Tormé's &quot;California Suite&quot; | Introduction
"California" is a song by American recording artist Usher. It features American rapper Tyga. It was released on June 15, 2020, following Usher's appearance on an episode of the television series "Songland". The song was written by Usher, Tyga, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Shane McAnally, Ryan Cambetes, Melvin Hough Ii, Rivelino Raoul Wouter, Kaj Nelson Blokhuis, and Michael Wise.
California (Usher song) | Introduction
All songs written and arranged by Martin Stephenson, except track 11 written by Helen McCookerybook.
California Star (album) | Track listing
On their early records, the group combined rock and roll, country, and folk music styles. For their third album "On the Border," the band widened their style to include a prominent hard rock sound, a genre the band had only touched upon previously. The 1975 follow-up album "One of These Nights" saw the group explore a softer sound, notably exemplified on the hit singles "Take It to the Limit", and "Lyin' Eyes". Leadon, who was the principal country influence, left the band after the album was released, and the band moved away from country rock to a more rock direction in "Hotel California".
Eagles (band) | Musical style
"She's So California" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Gary Allan. It was released in October 2008 as the third and final single from his 2007 album "Living Hard". The song reached number 24 on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot Country Songs chart. The song was written by Allan, Jaime Hanna and Jon Randall.
She's So California | Introduction
The song is a country rock song about an ending relationship, focusing on a woman who is leaving her man on a journey to California.
California (Big &amp; Rich song) | Content
California Flight song about A Oakland California girl called Oakland Girls from California by California Flight recorded in 2010 at live oak recording studio Berkeley California
List of songs about California | References
Dre and Roger Troutman) in 1997. A popular remix version of the song appeared on his 1996 double album "All Eyez on Me".
California Love | Introduction
This was because Henley feared that he would lack control over the project.
Hotel California | Proposed film adaptation
All songs by Gianna Nannini except as noted.
California (Gianna Nannini album) | Track listing
Hotel California is the third studio album by American rapper Tyga. It was released on April 9, 2013, by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records; distributed by Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, The Game, Jadakiss, while the production on the album was handled by DJ Mustard, Detail, Cool & Dre, David D.A. Doman, Mars of 1500 or Nothin', The Olympicks, SAP and Ryan Hunt, among others. "Hotel California" was supported by three singles: "Dope" featuring Rick Ross, "For the Road" featuring Chris Brown, and "Show You" featuring Future; while serving as the promotional single was "Molly" featuring Cedric Gervais, Wiz Khalifa and Mally Mall.
Hotel California (Tyga album) | Introduction
With the director opting to helm "Trivandrum Lodge", Aji John was now chosen to direct "Pushpakavimaanam". The film was renamed to "Hotel California" after the famous Eagles song "Hotel California". The film has Aji John and Anoop Menon duo joining together after Namukku Paarkaan which got mixed responses in the box office. Anoop Menon who helms the script of the movie says that the original song has made name touching the hearts of generations. He finds logic to turn the title of the movie to "Hotel California" as it too is for all generations who are ready to enjoy freedom.
Hotel California (2013 film) | Development