donderdag 8 september 2011

N°49 EAGLES - HOTEL CALIFORNIA

Sorry you had to wait for number 50 but here it is and it's a classic. Eagles won with their 1976 album Hotel California the prize for best album at the 1978 Grammy Awards and thus they were an award winner the same year as Leo Sayer.

Although none of the current and past musicians are from California, Eagles are to be considered as a Californian band. The award winning album is also a theme album relating to the American state where they all reside after moving to California. The album contains many more classic songs such as Life In The Fast Lane and New Kid In Town.

Hotel California was their fifth album after being founded in 1971. Eagles would release an album each year starting with their firstborn in 1972. The names of the albums in consecutive order: Eagles, Desperado, On The Border, One Of These Nights and then finally Hotel California. In between a Greatest Hits album was released containing songs from their four first records.


Eagles were named after the ultimate american symbol off course and they started off as a backing band for performer Linda Rondstedt. Only a few months after they decided to make it on their own with their bluegrass, country music. Later they would evolve to a more bluegrass rock type of music with a little sniff of a typical Californian sound.

Late 70's, Eagles dived into the studio to record a double album called The Long Run. They'd record for almost two years and finally didn't come up with enough songs so a regular album was being produced. A lot of troubles entered the band during the tour after in 1980 and finally the band split up. Each member strived a solo career mostly a non succesfull one.


Ten years after the split a new album was released in honour of Eagles and producer Travis Tritt insisted that all existing Eagles members would perform in the video of the song Take It Easy. This little reunion led to a new joined venture four years later. Drummer Don Henley said when breaking up Eagles would be back together when hell freezes over. The reunion started of with a live album called: Hell Freezes Over. All seven ex member would play on this album. They have humour that's for sure. Acomplete new album followed in 2007 and was titled Long Road Out Of Eden reminding them to the big fights they once had and that they conquered their internal problems.

I've seen 'em perfom back in 2009 in Antwerp and although the ticket prizes were damn hell expensive I was glad to have seen these pioneers at least once in my life. Chicken skin all the way through and a smile when leaving the concert building. You've got to admit. Eagles are a huge band with some huge songs and Hotel California for sure is one of 'em. Enjoy.

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