- Writers: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh
- Producer: Bill Szymczyk
- Recorded: March-October, 1976
- Released: May 3rd, 1977
- Players:
- Don Henley — vocals, drums
- Glenn Frey — guitar, piano, vocals
- Joe Walsh — guitar, vocals
- Randy Meisner — bass, vocals
- Don Felder — guitar, vocals
- Album: Hotel California (Elektra, 1976)
- Also On:
- Live (Elektra, 1980)
- Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (Elektra, 1982)
- Hell Freezes Over (Geffen, 1994)
- and other compilations
- The Eagles album Hotel California portrayed the empty side of life in the 1970s, showing scenes of depravity, drugs, and spiritual emptiness that clashed with the overriding touchy-feely music that emanated from the West Coast.
- Regardless of the group’s sweet country harmonies and melodic song structure, much of the Eagles’ output was cynical and critical, if not downright mean-spirited. “Life In The Fast Lane” is one of the most obvious examples, with “Hotel California,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Desperado,” and “Witchy Woman” following close behind.
- While recording the album, singer-drummer Don Henley and singer-guitarist Glenn Frey had the song title “Life In The Fast Lane,” but had no music or lyrics to go with it. Lead guitarist Joe Walsh played the song’s distinctive riff while warming up in the studio one day, and Frey and Henley immediately knew it would work for the song, and the lyrics fell into place soon after.
- Hotel California was the group’s third consecutive Number One album, and it was certified platinum in January 1977.
- In order to toughen up the band’s laid-back West Coast sound, the Eagles brought Walsh aboard prior to recording Hotel California.
- In addition to Walsh, much of the darkness on Hotel California can be attributed to the large amount of substances the band itself was consuming. Frey said, “Led Zeppelin might argue with us, but I think we had the greatest traveling party of the ’70s… I seem to remember the wine was the best, the drugs were good, and the women were beautiful.”
FAST FORWARD:
- Singer-bassist Randy Meisner left the Eagles in 1978, at the conclusion of the Hotel California tour.
- The Eagles called it quits when Frey left the group in late 1980.
- All of the members went on to solo careers, with Henley’s being the most successful.
- Frey’s solo career gained a major boost from his acting on the TV series Miami Vice, and the show’s use of his song “Smuggler’s Blues.”
- Walsh has continued to release albums and also saw fit to nominate himself for vice president of the U.S. in two separate campaigns. He’s also toured in recent years with his pre-Eagles band the James Gang.
- The group reunited in 1994 for an MTV special, a live album called Hell Freezes Over, and a two-year world tour.
- Hotel California has sold well over 16 million copies.
- The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
- Lead guitarist Don Felder was fired from the Eagles in early 2001. He sued over what he claims was his wrongful termination from the group and its associated businesses.
The Eagles have continued to work steadily in recent years, and in 2007 released Long Road Out Of Eden, the group’s first set of all-new material since The Long Run.