Eagles - Hotel California (1976)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 1999 remaster.

A group releases its best album after they've already released their greatest hits album? And it could stand as a greatest hits album itself. Quite unusual for a theme album. The thing has sold over 32 million copies and received numerous accolades to go along with 3 massive hit singles:

• Record of the Year Grammy (Hotel California)
• Best Arrangement for Voices Grammy (New Kid In Town)
• #118 in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020)

However, critics have gone from hating it to loving it back to hating it. Which is why we hate critics. Just appreciate the nice music and the metaphorical lyrics, sheesh. Examples:

• 1977: "An overarranged wash embodying the worst of rock-cum-Hollywood sensibilities." - Rolling Stone
• 1982: "A legitimate rock masterpiece" - The Los Angeles Times
• 1998: "I hate the f*ckin' Eagles, man. - The Big Lebowski
• 2005: "Country-rock reached a refinement never equaled again." - 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
• 2012: "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" - CultureCatch
• 2016: "I really like this thing" - The CD Project

 

Other press from 1976:

• Robert Christgau (B): "Speaking strictly as a nonfan, I'd grant that this is their most substantial if not their most enjoyable LP"
• Stereo Review: "a satisfying, well-turned album"
• CashBox: "bristling with power-house tunes"
• Billboard: "the acme of acoustic-electric soft rock"

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #1 (8 non-consecutive weeks, January - May, 1977). It probably would have held the top spot longer if it hadn't been battling the likes of Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life and Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.

Peak on the CashBox album chart: #1 (11 non-consecutive weeks)

Tracks: My favorite track from the get-go has been Life In The Fast Lane, followed closely by The New Kid In Town. We know those from the radio, but don't sleep on the "filler" tracks like The Last Resort, Wasted Time, and Victim Of Love. How could The Dude not like these guys? No boobs? As for the title track, I'll admit that it's a masterpiece, but it's one that I've heard enough for one lifetime. So, to be honest, I usually start on track 2 and then don't skip any others.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I once worked with a nice enough fellow around the year 2002. He was the lonely type who was socially awkward and, as a result, he liked to show up in my office unannounced and expect me to put down everything and talk to him for an hour. In earlier times, he'd be called a simpleton. Anyway, he believed everything he'd ever heard or read, so when he heard me playing some Eagles, I got the complete run-down on the true meaning of this album's cover. If unfamiliar, click here. He also thought Saddam Hussein was behind the 9/11 attacks, so there ya go. If he were around now, I'd ask his take on Trump's odd fascination with the Kardashians.

The stereo panning on Life In The Fast Lane completely fascinated me as a ten year old. I still think it sounds pretty cool.

For more information on the brief life of the CD longbox,
go visit The Legend of the Longbox.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Long Road Out of Eden (2007)
The Long Run (1979)