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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.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
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Randy Meisner, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Bernie Grundman, Remastering Engineer - Sid Sharp, Concert Master Conductor - Glenn Frey, Vocals, Writer, 12 String Guitar - DON HENLEY, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Writer - Don Felder, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Solo Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer - Allan Blazek, Engineer - Bill Szymczyk, Producer, MixingEngineer - JIM ED NORMAN, Conductor, Strings Arranger - Joe Walsh, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Ed Mashal, Engineer - Eagles, MainArtist - Bruce Hensal, Engineer
© 1976 Asylum Records. ℗ 1976, 2013 Elektra Records LLC
Randy Meisner, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Bernie Grundman, Remastering Engineer - Sid Sharp, Concert Master Conductor - Glenn Frey, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer - DON HENLEY, Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals, Writer - Don Felder, Electric Guitar - Allan Blazek, Engineer - Bill Szymczyk, Producer, MixingEngineer - JIM ED NORMAN, Conductor, Strings Arranger - John David Souther, Writer - Joe Walsh, Organ, Electric Piano - Ed Mashal, Engineer - Eagles, MainArtist - Bruce Hensal, Engineer
© 1976 Asylum Records. ℗ 1976, 2013 Elektra Records LLC
Randy Meisner, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Bernie Grundman, Remastering Engineer - Sid Sharp, Conductor, Concert Master Conductor - Glenn Frey, Backing Vocals, Writer, Clavinet - DON HENLEY, Drums, Lead Vocals, Writer - Don Felder, Guitar - Allan Blazek, Engineer - Bill Szymczyk, Producer, MixingEngineer - JIM ED NORMAN, Conductor, Strings Arranger - Joe Walsh, Guitar, Writer - Ed Mashal, Engineer - Eagles, MainArtist - Bruce Hensal, Engineer
© 1976 Asylum Records. ℗ 1976, 2013 Elektra Records LLC
Randy Meisner, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Bernie Grundman, Remastering Engineer - Sid Sharp, Concert Master Conductor - Glenn Frey, Piano, Backing Vocals, Writer - DON HENLEY, Drums, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer - Don Felder, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Allan Blazek, Engineer - Bill Szymczyk, Producer, MixingEngineer - JIM ED NORMAN, Conductor, Strings Arranger - Joe Walsh, Organ, Backing Vocals - Ed Mashal, Engineer - Eagles, MainArtist - Bruce Hensal, Engineer
© 1976 Asylum Records. ℗ 1976, 2013 Elektra Records LLC
Bernie Grundman, Remastering Engineer - Sid Sharp, Concert Master Conductor - Glenn Frey, Writer - DON HENLEY, Writer - Allan Blazek, Engineer - Bill Szymczyk, Producer, MixingEngineer - JIM ED NORMAN, Conductor, Strings Arranger - Ed Mashal, Engineer - Eagles, MainArtist - Bruce Hensal, Engineer
© 1976 Asylum Records. ℗ 1976, 2013 Elektra Records LLC
Randy Meisner, Bass Guitar - Bernie Grundman, Remastering Engineer - Sid Sharp, Concert Master Conductor - Glenn Frey, Backing Vocals, Writer - DON HENLEY, Drums, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer - Don Felder, Backing Vocals, Writer, Lead Guitar - Allan Blazek, Engineer - Bill Szymczyk, Producer, MixingEngineer - JIM ED NORMAN, Conductor, Strings Arranger - John David Souther, Writer - Joe Walsh, Slide Guitar, Backing Vocals - Ed Mashal, Engineer - Eagles, MainArtist - Bruce Hensal, Engineer
© 1976 Asylum Records. ℗ 1976, 2013 Elektra Records LLC
Randy Meisner, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Joe Vitale, Writer - Bernie Grundman, Remastering Engineer - Sid Sharp, Concert Master Conductor - Glenn Frey, Backing Vocals, Synthesizer - DON HENLEY, Drums, Backing Vocals - Don Felder, Backing Vocals - Allan Blazek, Engineer - Bill Szymczyk, Producer, MixingEngineer - JIM ED NORMAN, Conductor, Strings Arranger - Joe Walsh, Piano, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Ed Mashal, Engineer - Eagles, MainArtist - Bruce Hensal, Engineer
© 1976 Asylum Records. ℗ 1976, 2013 Elektra Records LLC
Randy Meisner, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer - Bernie Grundman, Remastering Engineer - Sid Sharp, Concert Master Conductor - Glenn Frey, Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar - DON HENLEY, Drums, Backing Vocals - Don Felder, Backing Vocals - Allan Blazek, Engineer - Bill Szymczyk, Producer, MixingEngineer - JIM ED NORMAN, Conductor, Strings Arranger - Joe Walsh, Additional Guitar, Backing Vocals - Ed Mashal, Engineer - Eagles, MainArtist - Bruce Hensal, Engineer
© 1976 Asylum Records. ℗ 1976, 2013 Elektra Records LLC
Randy Meisner, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Bernie Grundman, Remastering Engineer - Sid Sharp, Concert Master Conductor - Glenn Frey, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Backing Vocals, Writer - DON HENLEY, Drums, Lead Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer - Don Felder, Pedal Steel Guitar - Allan Blazek, Engineer - Bill Szymczyk, Producer, MixingEngineer - JIM ED NORMAN, Conductor, Strings Arranger - Joe Walsh, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals, Synthesizer - Ed Mashal, Engineer - Eagles, MainArtist - Bruce Hensal, Engineer
© 1976 Asylum Records. ℗ 1976, 2013 Elektra Records LLC
Album review
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.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 9 track(s)
- Total length: 00:43:24
- Main artists: Eagles
- Label: Rhino - Elektra
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1976 Asylum Records. ℗ 1976 Asylum Records. Marketed by Warner Stategic Marketing, a Warner Music Group Company.
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