Hotel California (CD - 1976)

The Eagles: Glenn Frey (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Don Felder (vocals, electric & slide guitars); Joe Walsh (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Randy Meisner (vocals, guitarron, bass); Don Henley (vocals, drums, percussion).

Engineers include: Bill Szymczyk, Allan Blazek, Ed Marshal.

Recorded at Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida and the Record Plant, Los Angeles, California from March to October 1976.

Given the extraordinary amount of airplay HOTEL CALIFORNIA garnered in the mid-70s and early '80s, it comes as quite a surprise to hear how fresh this recording sounds on DCC's 24k gold disc version. Familiar tracks benefit from the enhanced soundstage and control room-clarity of this exceptional digital remastering, revealing something of the actual recording studio room sound on many tracks.

A steady growth suddenly mushroomed into a monster as the Eagles, along with Fleetwood Mac, epitomized AOR in the early 70s. This record is supposedly a concept album but most of the purchasers merely enjoyed the accessible songs while driving down to the coast in their Volkswagen Caravanettes with 2.4 children. Joe Walsh was added to give gutsy guitar in the wake of the country flavour of Bernie Leaden, while Randy Meisner grew in stature as a writer with 'Try And Love Again' and 'New Kid In Town'. The title track still bites as Henley's voice blends with Walsh's epic solo. minimize