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.
THE EAGLES
HOTEL CALIFORNIA
Asylum 7E-1084October 30/1976
Produced by Bill Szymczyk
Glenn Frey - guitar/piani/keyboards/vocalsDon Henley - drums/percussion/synthesizer/vocals
Randy Meisner - bass/vocals
Don Felder - guitar/steel/vocals
Joe Walsh - guitar/organ/keyboards/vocals
Jim Ed Norman - arranger
Sid Sharp - concert master
Recorded:
Criteria Studio, Miami and Record Planr, LA
1.
HOTEL CALIFORNIA
(Don Henley - Glenn Frey - Don Felder) « © '76 Cass County Music, BMI / Red Cloud Music, BMI / Fingers Music, ASCAP »On a dark desert highway cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself this could be heaven or this could be hell
Then she lit up that candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor I thought I heard them say
Welcome to the Hotel California such a lovely place
(Such a lovely place) such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California any time of year
(Any time of year) you can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted she got the Mercedes-Benz
She got a lot of pretty pretty boys that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember some dance to forget
So I called up the captain please bring me my wine
He said we haven't had that spirit here since 1969
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say
Welcome to the Hotel California such a lovely place
(Such a lovely place) such a lovely face
They're livin' up at the Hotel California what a nice surprise
(What a nice surprise) bring your alibis
Mirrors on the ceiling the pink champagne on ice
And she said we are all just prisoners here of our own device
And in the master's chambers they gathered for the feast
They stabbed it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
Relax said the nightman we are programmed to receive
You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave
[ guitar ] **********
2.
NEW KID IN TOWN
(Don Henley - Glenn Frey - John D. Souther) « © '76 Blackwood Music, BMI / April Music, ASCAP »There's talk on the street it sounds so familiar
Great expectations everybody's watching you
People you meet they all seem to know you
Even your old friends treat you like you're something new
Johnny come lately the new kid in town
Everybody loves you so don't let them down
You look in her eyes the music begins to play
Hopeless romantics here we go again
But after a while you're looking the other way
It's those restless hearts that never mend
Johnny come lately the new kid in town
Will she still love you when you're not around
[ guitar ] There's so many things you should have told her
But night after night you're willing to hold her
Just hold her tears on your shoulder
There's talk on the street it's there to remind you
Doesn't really matter which side you're on
You're walking away and they're talking behind you
They will never forget you till somebody new comes along
Where've you been lately there's a new kid in town
Everybody loves him don't they now he's holding her and you're still around
There's a new kid in town just another new kid in town
Everybody's talking bout the new kid in town
Everybody's walking like the new kid in town
There's a new kid in town I don't want to hear it
There's a new kid in town I don't want to hear it
There's a new kid in town there's a new kid in town
**********
3.
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
(Don Henley - Glenn Frey - Joe Walsh) « © '76 Cass County Music, BMI / Red Cloud Music, BMI / Wow And Flutter Music, ASCAP »He was a hard headed man he was brutally handsome
And she was terminally pretty
She held him up and he held her for ransom
In the heart of the cold cold city
He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude
They said he was ruthless they said he was crude
They had one thing in common they were good in bed
She'd say faster faster the lights are turnin' red
(Life in the fast lane) surely make you lose your mind
(Life in the fast lane) are you with me so far
(Life in the fast lane)
Eager for action and hot for the game
The coming attraction the drop of a name
They knew all the right people they took all the right pills
They threw outrageous parties they paid heavily bills
There were lines on the mirror lines on her face
She pretended not to notice she was caught up in the race
Out every evening until it was light
He was too tired to make it she was too tired to fight about it
(Life in the fast lane) surely make you lose your mind
(Life in the fast lane) are you with me so far
(Life in the fast lane) everything all the time
(Life in the fast lane)
[ guitar ] Blowin' and burnin' blinded by thirst
They didn't see the stop sign took a turn for the worst
She said listen baby you can hear the engine ring
We've been up and down this highway haven't seen a god-dam thing
He said call the doctor I think I'm gonna crash
The doctor says he's coming but you gotta pay him cast
They went rushin' down that freeway messed around and got lost
They didn't know they were just dying to get off
And it was (life in the fast lane)...
[ guitar ] **********
4.
WASTED TIME
(Don Henley - Glenn Frey) « © '76 Cass County Music, BMI / Red Cloud Music, BMI »Well baby there you stand with your little head down in your hand
Oh my God you can't believe it's happening again
Your baby's gone and you're all alone and it looks like the end
And you're back out on the street and you're trying to remember
How do you start it over you don't know if you can
You don't care much for a stranger's touch but you can't hold your man
You never thought you'd be alone this far down the line
And I know what's been on your mind you're afraid it's all been wasted time
The autumn leaves have got you thinking about the first time that you fell
You didn't love the boy too much no no you just loved the boy too well
So you live from day to day and you dream about tomorrow
And the hours go by like minutes and the shadows come to stay
So you take a little something to make them go away
And I could have done so many things baby if I could only stop my mind
From wond'rin' what I left behind and from worryin' bout this wasted time
Ooh another love has come and gone ooh and the years keep rushing on
I remember what you told me before you went out on your own
Sometimes to keep it together we got to leave it alone
So you can get on with your search baby and I can get on with mine
And maybe someday we will find that it wasn't really wasted time uh huh ooh
**********
5.
WASTED TIME
(Don Henley - Glenn Frey / arr. Jim Ed Norman) « © '76 Cass County Music, BMI / Red Cloud Music, BMI »[ instrumental ] **********
6.
VICTIM OF LOVE
(Don Henley - Glenn Frey - John D. Souther - Don Felder) « © '76 Red Cloud Music, BMI »What kind of love have you got you should be home but you're not
A room full of noise and dangerous boys still make you thirsty and hot
I heard about you and that man there's just one thing I don't understand
You say he's a liar and he put out your fire
How come you still got his gun in your hand
Victim of love I see a broken heart you got your stories to tell
Victim of love it's such an easy part and you know how to play it so well
Some people never come clean I think you know what I mean
You're walkin' the wire pain and desire looking for love in between
Tell me your secrets I'll tell you mine this ain't no time to be cool
And tell all your girlfriends you been around the world friends
That talk is for losers and fools
Victim of love I see a broken heart I could be wrong but I'm not no I'm not
Victim of love we're not so far apart show me what kind of love that you've got
[ guitar ] Victim of love you're just a victim of love I could be wrong but I'm not
Victim of love now you're a victim of love what kind of love that you've got
Victim of love...
**********
7.
PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW
(Joe Walsh - Joey Vitale) « © '76 Mentally Incompetent Music, BMI / Wow And Flutter Music, ASCAP »Hi there how are ya it's been a long time seems like we've come a long way
My but we learn so slow and heroes they come and they go
And leave us behind as if we're supposed to know why
Why do we give up our hearts to the past and why must we grow up so fast
[ guitar ] And all you wishing well fools with your fortunes someone should send you a rose
With love from a friend it's nice to here from you again
And the storybook comes to a close gone are the ribbons and bows
Things to remember places to go pretty maids all in a row
[ strings + piano ] **********
8.
TRY AND LOVE AGAIN
(Randy Meisner) « © '76 Nebraska Music, ASCAP »When you're out there on your own where your memories can find you
Like a circle goes around you were lost until you found out
What it all comes down to
One by one the lonely feelings come day by day they slowly fade away
Ooh the look was in her eyes you never know what might be found there
She was dancing right in time and the looks she made so fine
Like the music that surrounds her
Should I stay or go I really want to know
Would I loose or win if I try and love again
Ooh gonna try and love again ooh try and love again
Ooh gonna try and love
[ guitar ] Right or wrong what's done is done it's only moments that you borrow
But the thoughts will linger on of the lady and her song
When the sun comes up tomorrow
Well it might take years to see through all these tears
Don't let go when you find it you will know
Ooh gonna try and love again...
**********
9.
LAST RESORT
(Don Henley - Glenn Frey) « © '76 Cass County Music, BMI / Red Cloud Music, BMI »She came from Providence the one in Rhode Island
Where the old world shadows hang heavy in the air
She packed her hopes and dreams like a refugee
Just as her father came across the sea
She heard about a place people were smiling
Spoke about the red man's ways how they loved the land
They came from everywhere to the Great Divide
Seeking a place to stand or a place to hide
Down in the crowded bars out for a good time
Can't wait to tell you all what it's like up there
They called it paradise I don't know why
Somebody laid the mountains low while the town got high
When the chilly winds blew down across the desert
Through the canyons of the coast to the malibus
Where the pretty people played hungry for power
To light their neon ways give 'em things to do
Some rich man came and raped the land nobody caught him
Put up a bunch of ugly boxes and Jesus people bought them
They called it paradise the place to be
They watched the hazy sun sinking in the sea
You can leave it all behind sail to Lahaina
Just like the missionaries did so many years ago
They even brought a neon sign Jesus is coming
Brought the white man's burden down brought the white man's reign
And we'll provide the grand design what is yours and what is mine
Couse there is no more new frontier we have got to make it here
We satisfied our endlees needs and justified our bloody deeds
In the name of destiny and in the name of God
And you can see them there on Sunday morning
Stand up and sing about what it's like up there
They called it paradise I don't know why
You call someplace paradise kiss it goodbye
**********
