The Eagle Commemorates Hotel California
Tueday, Houston’s Eagle commemorates The Eagle ‘Hotel California.’
American rock band the Eagles are one of the biggest-selling bands ever. Their catalogue of country-tinged songs have found their way to the upper reaches of the charts and their seminal album, the 16x platinum Hotel California, is ranked 37th in the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
The Eagles were assembled by Linda Ronstadt’s manager, John Boylan, and joined her on tour, helping her to record the album Silk Purse (1970). After signing with Asylum Records they released their debut album Eagles in 1972. The album reached No.22 in the charts and spawned the hits “Take it Easy” (predominantly written by Jackson Browne), “Witchy Woman” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling”.
They followed-up with Desperado, a themed album based on the outlaws of the wild west. Though it proved to be less successful than their debut, two hits were forthcoming: “Tequila Sunrise” and the title track. On the Border was to be a something of a departure from their initial country music style, evidenced by the tracks “Best of My Love” and “Already Gone”. One of These Nights continued the move to a rockier sound and was notable for its title track, plus “Lyin’ Eyes” and “Journey of the Sorcerer” which became better known as the theme tune to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. However, the band were beginning to argue and Bernie Leadon left in 1975; he was replaced by Joe Walsh.
Hotel California was released in 1976 and was the band’s tour de force. “Life in the Fast Lane” and the title track became firm favourites, with the latter winning a Grammy and becoming the Eagles’ signature song. Also released in 1976 was Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975), which has sold even more than Hotel California. At an estimated 40 million units shipped worldwide, it is one of the biggest-selling LPs ever. The Eagles’ next studio album,The Long Run (1979), was their last before they took an extended break, and though it yielded the hit “Heartache Tonight” they split acrimoniously soon after. Eagles Live (1980) completed their commitment to the record company but their trademark harmonies were recorded in separate States.
The Eagles took 18 months between their fourth and fifth albums, reportedly spending eight months in the studio recording Hotel California. The album was also their first to be made without Bernie Leadon, who had given the band much of its country flavor, and with rock guitarist Joe Walsh. As a result, the album marks a major leap for the Eagles from their earlier work, as well as a stylistic shift toward mainstream rock. An even more important aspect, however, is the emergence of Don Henley as the band’s dominant voice, both as a singer and a lyricist. On the six songs to which he contributes, Henley sketches a thematic statement that begins by using California as a metaphor for a dark, surreal world of dissipation; comments on the ephemeral nature of success and the attraction of excess; branches out into romantic disappointment; and finally sketches a broad, pessimistic history of America that borders on nihilism. Of course, the lyrics kick in some time after one has appreciated the album’s music, which marks a peak in the Eagles’ playing. Early on, the group couldn’t rock convincingly, but the rhythm section of Henley and Meisner has finally solidified, and the electric guitar work of Don Felder and Joe Walsh has arena-rock heft. In the early part of their career, the Eagles never seemed to get a sound big enough for their ambitions; after changes in producer and personnel, as well as a noticeable growth in creativity, Hotel California unveiled what seemed almost like a whole new band. 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. The result was the Eagles’ biggest-selling regular album release, and one of the most successful rock albums ever.
