Eagles - Hotel California (1976) [Official Digital Download]

Easily one of the most celebrated albums in rock history, The Eagles' Hotel California was both the band's bestselling and most critically acclaimed record. One of Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time," the album topped the Billboard chart in 1977 and featured two wildly successful #1 singles: "Hotel California" and "The New Kid in Town," both which won Grammy awards. The hi-res release of this legendary album is essential listening, lending new clarity and depth to one of rock's most celebrated releases.
The Eagles took 18 months between their fourth and fifth albums, reportedly spending eight months in the studio recording Hotel California. The album was also their first to be made without Bernie Leadon, who had given the band much of its country flavor, and with rock guitarist Joe Walsh. As a result, the album marks a major leap for The Eagles from their earlier work, as well as a stylistic shift toward mainstream rock. An even more important aspect, however, is the emergence of Don Henley as the band's dominant voice, both as a singer and a lyricist. On the six songs to which he contributes, Henley sketches a thematic statement that begins by using California as a metaphor for a dark, surreal world of dissipation; comments on the ephemeral nature of success and the attraction of excess; branches out into romantic disappointment; and finally sketches a broad, pessimistic history of America that borders on nihilism. Of course, the lyrics kick in some time after one has appreciated the album's music, which marks a peak in The Eagles' playing. Early on, the group couldn't rock convincingly, but the rhythm section of Henley and Meisner has finally solidified, and the electric guitar work of Don Felder and Joe Walsh has arena-rock heft. In the early part of their career, The Eagles never seemed to get a sound big enough for their ambitions; after changes in producer and personnel, as well as a noticeable growth in creativity, Hotel California unveiled what seemed almost like a whole new band. It was a band that could be bombastic, but also one that made music worthy of the later tag of "classic rock," music appropriate for the arenas and stadiums the band was playing. The result was The Eagles' biggest-selling regular album release, and one of the most successful rock albums ever.

Analyzed: The Eagles / Hotel California
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DR Peak RMS Duration Track
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DR10 0.00 dB -11.94 dB 6:31 01-Hotel California
DR9 0.00 dB -11.30 dB 5:04 02-New Kid In Town
DR9 0.00 dB -10.85 dB 4:46 03-Life In The Fast Lane
DR10 0.00 dB -13.67 dB 4:55 04-Wasted Time
DR11 -0.79 dB -17.14 dB 1:24 05-Wasted Time: Reprise
DR8 0.00 dB -10.46 dB 4:10 06-Victim Of Love
DR12 0.00 dB -14.91 dB 3:59 07-Pretty Maids All In A Row
DR9 0.00 dB -11.06 dB 5:10 08-Try And Love Again
DR9 0.00 dB -13.35 dB 7:32 09-The Last Resort
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Number of tracks: 9
Official DR value: DR10

Samplerate: 192000 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 5022 kbps
Codec: FLAC