The EAGLES


Hotel California

(1976)



1. Hotel California 6'30
(Don Felder / Don Henley / Glenn Frey)
2. New Kid In Town 5'05
(John David Souther / Don Henley / Glenn Frey)
3. Life In The Fast Lane 4'45
(Joe Walsh / Don Henley / Glenn Frey)
4. Wasted Time 4'53
(Don Henley / Glenn Frey)
5. Wasted Time (Reprise) 1'23
(Don Henley / Glenn Frey / Jim Ed Norman)
Strings Arranged & Conducted by Jim Ed Norman
6. Victim Of Love 4'13
(Don Felder / John David Souther / Don Henley / Glenn Frey)
7. Pretty Maids All In A Row 3'55
(Joe Walsh / Joe Vitale)
8. Try And Love Again 5'10
(Randy Meisner)
9. The Last Resort 7'27
(Don Henley / Glenn Frey)

Total Time: 43:21


  • Don Henley - Drums, Synthesizer (9), Percussion (1), Lead Vocal (1, 3, 4, 6, 9)
  • Joe Walsh - Organ (2, 4), Synthesizer (7), Guitar Solo (1), Lead Guitar (3), Gretsch Guitar (8), Electric Piano (2), Piano (7), Slide Guitar (6), Lead Vocal (7)
  • Don Felder - Guitar Solo (1), Pedal Steel Guitar (9), Electric Guitar (2), Guitar (4), Lead Guitar (6)
  • Glenn Frey - Synthesizer (7), Lead Guitar (8), Piano (4), Keyboards, Clavinet (3), Lead Vocal (2)
  • Randy Meisner - Bass, Guitar, Guitarrone (2), Lead Vocal (8)

    Produced by Bill Szymczyk for PANDORA PRODUCTIONS Ltd.
    Engineered by Bill Szymczyk, Allan Blazek, Ed Mashal & Bruce Hensal
    Mixed by Bill Szymczyk in Miami
    LP Mastered at
    STERLING SOUND, New York City
    CDD Mastering by
    WCI RECORD GROUP
    Concert Master: Sid Sharp

    Original Album Package Credits:
    Cover Photography by David Alexander
    Graphics by KOSH
    Poster by Norman Seeff
    Art Direction: Don Henley & KOSH

    We would To Thank:
    Jeri Jenkins & Cindy Johnson of "Home At Last".
    Richard Irwin & Bruce Plummer of NORTHIREST SOUND & LIGHTS.
    Harper Dance. Funny Cummings. Nancy Colbert. Patrick Cullie. Lou Stewart. Michael Rosenfeld. Bob Hurwitz. Walter Wanger. Ron Stander. Roger Montgomery. Mickey Heyess. Dave Reynolds. Katinka Fox. Lorilei Shellist. Linda McCalliard. Pete Wagner. Jimmy Wachtel. Terry Bassett. David Rensin. Larry Solters. Albby Galuten. Bisgeier Breslauer & Company & our friends at ELEKTRA ASYLUM RECORDS.
    Past due Thanks To Alex Sadkin.
    Direction: FRONT LINE MANAGEMENT
    Yeoman duty Tony Taibi. Jage Jackson. Tom Nixon & Richard Fernanda.
    Everything and more: Irv Azoff.
    Special Thanks To: John David Souther & Jim Ed Norman for their music and inspiration, and most of all, Thanks to our respective families and friends for their patience and support.

    Recorded at CRITERIA STUDIOS, Miami & The RECORD PLANT, Los Angeles.
    March - October 1976


    With Joe Walsh joining )is a full-time member, The EAGLES devoted a fall eight months to the task of recording Hotel California. Further time was invested for mixing under the guidance of producer Bill Szymezyk, who'd introduced Walsh to the band. Meticulous craftsmanship during at phases of recording was preceded by more than a year and a half of reflection and writing. Is it turns out, tin hard work, devoted to completing the LP banded the band a fistful îf dividends.
    In LP chart-topper in its own right Hotel California boasts three cuts which became number one singles: "New Kid In Town", "Life In The Fast Lane" and "Hotel California". The latter contributed to the group's growing reputation for writing masterful editorials on the singular state of mind called Southern California.



    1. Hotel California

      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 dimmer
      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 a candle and she showed me the way
      There were voices down the corridor, I thought I h eard them say...
    Refrain:

    Welcome to the Hotel California
    Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
    Plenty of room at the Hotel California
    Any time of year, you can find it here
      Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, She got the Mercedes bends
      She's 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 ...
    Refrain:

    Welcome to the Hotel California
    Such a lovely Place (such a lovely face)
    They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
    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 stab 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 any time you like, but you can never leave'

    2. New Kid In Town

      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?

      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
      That it 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 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, oh my my.
      There's a new kid in town,
      Just another new kid in town.

      Oo-hoo, everybody's talking 'bout the new kid in town.
      Oo-hoo, 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
      There's a new kid in town, everybody's talking
      There's a new kid in town, people started walking
      There's a new kid in town
      There's a new kid in town
    (Repeat & Fade)

    3. Life In The Fast Lane

      He was a hard-headed man he was brutally handsome
      And she was terminally pretty
      She held him up and he held for ransom
      In the heart of the cold, cold city
      He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude
      They said he was ruthless said he was crude
      They had one thing in common: they were good in bed
      She'd say, "Faster, faster. "The lights are turning red."

      Life in the fast lane
      Surely make you lose your mind
      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 heavenly 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 evenin' 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
      Life in the fast lane everything all the time
      Life in the fast lane

      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-damn thing."
      He said, "Call the doctor. I think I'm gonna crash."
      "The doctor say he's coming but you gotta pay in cash."
      They were rushing down that freeway; messed around and got lost
      They didn't care they were just dyin' to get off.

      And it was life in the fast lane
      Surely make you lose your mind
      Life in the fast lane
      Life in the fast lane everything all the time
      Life in the fast lane

    4. Wasted Time

      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 tryin' 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.
      Farewell.

      So you live from day to day
      And you dream about tomorrow, oh.
      And the hours go by like minutes and the shadows come to stay.
      So ya 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 had 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.

    5. Wasted Time ( Reprise )

      ( I n s t r u m e n t a l )

    6. Victim Of Love

      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, oh.
      You're walkin' the wire, pain and desire,
      Lookin' 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, your "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 have you got.

      Victim of love, I see a broken heart.
      I could be wrong but I'm not.
      Victim of love, we're not so far apart.
      What kind of love have you got?

      Victim of love, you're just a victim of love.
      I could be wrong but I'm not, no, I'm not.
      Victim of love, now you're a victim of love.
      What kind of love have you got?
      What kind of love have you got?
      What kind of love have you got?

    7. Pretty Maids All In A Row

      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's pposed to know why.
      Why do we give up our hearts to the past?
      And why must we grow up so fast?

      And all you wishing well fools with your fortunes,
      Someone should send you a rose
      With love from a friend. It's nice to hear 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.

      All in a row, all in a row
    ( Fade )

    8. Try And Love Again

      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 moves she made so fine
      Like the music that surrounds her.
      Should I stay or go? I really wanna know.
      Would I lose or win if I try and love again?

      Oh o-o-o-oh, gonna try and love again.
      O-oh o-o-o-oh, I'm gonna try and love again.
      O-oh o-o-o-oh gonna try and love.

      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.

      Oh o-o-o-oh, gonna try and love again.
      O-oh o-o-o-oh, gonna try and love again.
      O-oh o-o-o-oh, gonna try and love again. O-OH O-O-O-OH
      O-OH O-O-O-OH sometimes lose, sometimes win,
      Sometimes you need a friend
      O-OH O-O-O-OH, O-OH O-O-O-OH

      Gonna try
      Gonna try
      Gonna try gonna try gonna try gonna try
    (Fade)

    9. The Last Resort

      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 smilin',
      They spoke about the red man's way, how they loved the land.
      And 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.
      And they called it paradise, I don't know why.
      Somebody laid the mountains low while the town got high.

      Then the chilly winds blew down across the desert,
      Through the canyons of the coast to the Malibu
      Where the pretty people play hungry for power
      To light their neon way and give 'em things to do.

      Some rich man came and raped the land, nobody caught 'em,
      Put up a bunch of ugly boxes, and Jesus, people bought 'em.
      And they called it paradise, the place to be,
      They watched the hazy sun sinking in the sea.

      You can leave it all behind and 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.

      Who will provide the grand design, what is yours and what is mine?
      'Cause there is no more new frontier, we have got to make it here.
      We satisfy our endless needs and justify 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 some place paradise - kiss it goodbye.