Fear no Eagles, I say, although some have seen darker designs in this classic tale of lost souls.
Kronomyth 6.2: Motel Hell.
Probably the creepiest song Eagles have ever written, edging out “Witchy Woman” by a few bats’ wings at least. Speculation about the track has always run rampant, prompting me to check out what the Internet had to say about the matter. Lo and behold, the fine folks at Snopes unearthed all manner of weird rumors about Hotel California. Very interesting stuff, especially for aspiring acolytes of evil who might accidentally burn a taper to this topper. The song originally appeared alongside the steely danderful “Pretty Maids All In A Row,” which featured Joe Walsh on lead vocals, piano and synthesizer.
I’m surprised that no one has made a movie based on this film. There have been several films named Hotel California, but they don’t have anything to do with the dead. They did make a movie called Motel Hell, but that was so bad they pitched it as a parody. Which reminds me: When are we going to see more of Hazbin Hotel? It would be nice to see a real studio (Cartoon Network?) throw some money behind it.
Original 7-inch single version
A1. Hotel California (Don Felder/Don Henley/Glenn Frey) (6:08)
B1. Pretty Maids All In A Row (Joe Walsh/Joe Vitale) (3:51)
Original 7-inch single (Italy)
A1. Hotel California (Don Felder/Don Henley/Glenn Frey)
B1. Victim of Love (Don Felder/John David Souther/Don Henley/Glenn Frey)
Back-to-back hits 7-inch single reissue
A1. New Kid In Town (John David Souther/Don Henley/Glenn Frey) (4:49)
B1. Hotel California (Don Felder/Don Henley/Glenn Frey) (6:08)
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch single on February 22, 1977 in the US and Canada (Asylum, E-45386), on April 8, 1977 in the UK (Asylum, K 13079), and in 1977 in Germany (Asylum, AS 13079), Italy (Asylum, W 13070), Japan (Asylum/Warner-Pioneer, P-167Y) and Uruguay (Elektra, 12-74044) with picture sleeve. Reached #1 on the US charts (charted on February 26, 1977 for 19 weeks) (RIAA-certified gold record) and #8 on the UK charts.
- Re-released on back-to-back hits 7-inch single in 1977 in the US (Asylum Spun Gold, E-45085) with “New Kid In Town” on the flip side.
