Hotel California

Every Sunday night in the late 70’s, I would do my best to stay awake long enough to hear Casey Kasem count down the hits on American Top 40. The show started at 8pm, which just happened to be my bedtime. So after my mom hit the lights and closed my bedroom door, I would quietly reach over and turn on my radio alarm clock. I had it tuned to 101.3 KDWB, with the volume down low and my single plastic earpiece plugged in, ready to go. I always used the ‘sleep’ option, which kept the music playing for something like 45 minutes. But I never once made it to the end. For me, the Top 40 was like the countdown you get from an anesthesiologist. It went: 40, 39, 38….zzzzzzzzzz.

However, on March 13^th, 1977, I know I made it all the way to number 35. And I remember the experience very clearly, as if it was yesterday.

Casey’s introduction to the song on the countdown went something like: “This next song is the title track from their latest release and makes its American Top 40 debut at number 35. Here are the Eagles and ‘Hotel California’….”

For the next six minutes I was completely engrossed. I listened to every word and every note, soaking it all in. To me, the song had an other-worldly feel to it. And in that deeply relaxed state just short of sleep, I was mesmerized. I imagined what it would be like to be on a dark desert highway…and then experience all those strange happenings in that bizarre hotel. As a ten year-old, my imagination knew no limits. I could visualize the whole thing. It wasn’t just the words to the song, either – the music was like nothing I’d ever heard before. I loved it.

Eventually, Casey came back on the air and brought me back to reality. The spell was broken, but my fascination lingered. I made a decision right there that I had to buy the album…if only for that one cool song.

Becoming an Eagles Fan

So the following weekend I went to the local Musicland store and bought the Hotel California album, at a hard-earned cost of seven dollars and 99 cents. That’s a lot of money for a kid in 1977. I brought the record home and listened to the whole thing several times. I was so excited to hear my new favorite song again. But I soon loved all the others on the record, too. It was fantastic.

And so began my love of the Eagles.

Coincidentally, just a few weeks later, I made my first trip to California. I recall trying to persuade my parents to visit “the Hotel California.” I hoped to catch a glimpse of that cool building on the cover of the album that I had studied so intently while listening. Maybe we could even go inside and check it out? Who knew…maybe the Eagles would all be there to welcome me? (Remember I was only 10). But no such luck. I asked a few people about it and they all just laughed. They either didn’t know, or they weren’t taking me seriously. Years later I found out that it was the Beverly Hills Hotel on the album cover, with the interior shots taken in a different hotel altogether.

In the summer of ’77, a third single from Hotel California was released, Life in The Fast Lane. It immediately became a hit. Along with New Kid in Town and Hotel California, the Eagles now had hits from the first three songs on their new album. Very impressive.

However, as I wore out my record listening over and over, my favorites eventually became two of the lesser known songs – Wasted Time and The Last Resort. These are still two of my favorite Eagles songs today.

The Record Club

Later on that summer, I joined the Columbia House record club. I was absolutely astounded that you could get THIRTEEN records (or 8-track cassettes) for just the cost of a DOLLAR! I would learn a few valuable life lessons joining this club, such as being prompt with return mail, reading fine print, and the significant impact of “shipping and handling” costs.

I remember taking several days to go through the list of albums, finally deciding on my favorite thirteen. It wasn’t an easy task. But I knew that the Eagles’ Greatest Hits (1971-1975) had to be one of my choices. And when my records arrived, this was the first one I listened to.  I was surprised to find that I already knew every single song on the record. These guys were amazing!

I don’t recall every album that came in that package, but I do specifically remember the Beach Boys’ Endless Summer, the latest from The Bay City Rollers and a record from a band called Paper Lace (one-hit wonder with The Night Chicago Died). There were also albums from Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin and Peter Frampton. But in spite of this huge influx of new records, Hotel California was still my favorite.

Over the Years

Like most people, I was pretty bummed out when the Eagles announced their break-up in 1980. I held out hope that they would eventually regroup, until Don Henley provided his famous quote that the band would only play together again “when hell freezes over.”  I had recently overheard my grandpa say that the Vikings would only win a Super Bowl after this same occurrence, so I didn’t take it as a good sign.

The closest I thought I might ever get to the Eagles in concert was when Don Henley came to town in the late 1980’s. And while I really loved his solo work, I was absolutely thrilled when he sprinkled in a few Eagles hits into the set list. I’ll never forget what it felt like as he played Life in the Fast Lane, Desperado and…yes, Hotel California. Hearing these songs live was one of my greatest concert moments, at least at that point in time. If I never got to see the Eagles, at least I had that one great experience.

But just like so many couples that promise to stay together forever, and then don’t, musicians that promise to never play together again, sometimes do. And so it was with the Eagles. In 1994 their aptly named “Hell Freezes Over” tour, and resulting live album, were a huge hit worldwide.

Unfortunately, Michelle and I missed their tour in 1995. We were newlyweds at the time, trying to make ends meet while also saving diligently for our first house. But we were thrilled that the Eagles were back together and making some new music.

It would be almost a decade before they returned again to Minnesota, in 2003. This time around we didn’t hesitate – this was one concert we wouldn’t miss. I remember them playing a whopping 30 songs that night, including the classics, some new music, and also solo hits from Henley, Frey and Walsh. It was a solid two and-a-half hours of hits. I finally got to see the Eagles, and it was worth the wait.

Full Circle 

It was an Eagles concert another decade later, though, that left the biggest impact on me. The band had just kicked off their “History of the Eagles” tour in the summer of 2013, after releasing a special DVD with the same title earlier that year. We had watched the amazing “History” footage, and were really excited for this concert.

It was tough to get good tickets for this particular show, so Michelle and I were thrilled to get seats in the fourth row, center section. These were perfect. And what an amazing show it was. Hit after hit, the band nailed every song, making them sound just like the records I listened to when I was a kid.

I couldn’t help but think back over the prior 40 years, appreciating the history of my own life as well as that of the band.

Toward the end of the night, they played Hotel California, and I was in a state of pure consciousness. It was as if all the years in between disappeared and I was once again little Billy, lying awake past his bedtime and getting his first real taste of the Eagles, courtesy of Casey Kasem. I experienced chills, goose bumps and tears as I enjoyed this song once again, absorbing the significance of the experience.

It was a full circle moment.

 

An Awesome Encore

During the summer of 2014, the Eagles “History” tour kept adding more dates. We decided we had to see them again, and set our eyes on a Saturday night show in Des Moines, Iowa. Looking to make an even bigger deal out of the experience, we were delighted when our fun friends Nancy and Jeff accepted an invitation to join us. It would be a concert road-trip party! The only thing we didn’t have yet was tickets. We stubbornly held out until the last minute, gambling on some good tickets showing up. And sure enough, we ended up in the front row.

We had an absolute blast the day of the show. It was a beautiful early September evening in Iowa and we milked it for all it was worth. Seeing the Eagles from the front row was something I’ll never forget. It was pure awesomeness. At the time I considered us lucky to see them once more on their latest tour, making it feel like a bonus. Little did I know this would be our final Eagles concert – more like one final encore. In hindsight, I’m so grateful that we made it happen.

 

A Shocking End

When I heard the news that Glenn Frey passed away last month, I didn’t believe it at first. I had to see it with my own eyes. Even then, as I pulled up the news on my computer and saw the headline, it was like someone punched me in the gut. I felt physically ill. How could it be? He was only 67 years old. I just saw him on stage a little more than a year ago and he looked and sounded great.

Then it dawned on me that this was probably the end of the Eagles, as well. Glenn was their co-founder and undisputed band leader. Even if they did go on without him, it would never be the same again.

I stopped to think about how the Eagles have been around for basically my entire life, or at least as far back as I can remember. I thought about my experiences as a kid, listening to their records in my bedroom. I thought about how their hits have been played consistently on the radio for over 40 years now. I thought about all those years when I wished they would get back together, and then about the excitement and high from finally getting to see them in concert.

Basically, the Eagles history is my history too.

Thank you Glenn, Don, Joe, Timothy (and the rest) for your awesome contribution to the world. You made beautiful songs, sold millions of records, and most importantly – touched a billion souls.

That’s no small feat.

 

Here’s a video of Hotel California from 1977, when the Eagles were at their absolute peak. Enjoy!