Ten Albums "Everybody" Owned -- Including Me: Hotel California (#10)

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Thanks to everyone who chimed in on my series of discussions about legendary albums that I never bought. Now it's time to turn the tables, and look at the big sellers that I did own. I'm more "numbering" them than putting them in a "favorite" or "least favorite" order, except the #1 album, which may surprise you. Then again, it may not. But first, here's one that's no surprise to anyone who knows me. #10: Hotel California - Eagles Gather 'round, kiddies, and let the middle-aged lady tell you of a fascinating story. There was a magical land called "FM rock" in a magical time called the 1970s. It was populated by people called "DJs." You could call these people and request a song! Or ask them a question about a song they just played! And, in that magical land they would play something other than "Hotel California" off this album!!!!! This was when the Eagles ruled the roost (pardon the pun). Their original greatest hits album battles with Thriller as the best-selling album in history (and I owned that as well). They'd gone from an upstart band to a popular band to megastars in the space of two years, thanks to #1 hits like "Best of My Love" and "One of These Nights." Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is listed as the first album in history to be certified "platinum," but let's qualify that: "platinum" sales awards began in 1975. Then, in 1976, they unleashed this beast on the world. It hit a chord with people, for whatever reason. It also marked a dramatic shift in sound: while the first single, "New Kid in Town" (which was about Bruce Springsteen), had a country-ish feel, it was certainly nowhere near as "country" sounding as "Lyin' Eyes" or "Hollywood Waltz" from the previous album. That's due in no small part to the fact that Bernie Leadon, who was very active in the country-rock scene (he was in the Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons), had left the band, to be replaced by hard rockin' Joe Walsh. (And, in an ironic twist, Walsh's one contribution to the album is the ballad "Pretty Maids All in a Row.") And, of course, I was right in line to get a copy. The irony of this album is that it contains both my favorite Eagles song -- "The Last Resort" -- and my least favorite Eagles song (and one of my least favorite songs, period), "Life in the Fast Lane." I don't have a physical copy of the album any longer. In fact, here's something that may shock you: the only Eagles album I still have a physical copy of is Desperado. I don't think Hotel California is the best Eagles album, nor the worst. The songs on it that are good are great (a listen to "Wasted Time," the closer of side one, will explain why I think so much of Don Henley's singing voice), but I wasn't a big fan of the title song before it became the third or fourth most overplayed song in history. (Oh, for those magical days when you'd hear "Victim of Love" or "The Last Resort" off this album on the radio!) But yes, I helped the sales of this classic top the 33 million mark. Hotel California Recorded by the Eagles Produced by Bill Sczymczyk Released in 1976 The great "Wasted Time":