Hotel California is the fifth studio album by the American rock band the Eagles, and is one of the best-selling albums of all time. Three singles were released from the album, each reaching high in the Billboard Hot 100: “New Kid in Town” (No. 1), “Hotel California” (No. 1), and “Life in the Fast Lane” (No. 11). The album became the band’s best-selling album after Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975), with over 16 million copies sold in the U.S. alone and over 32 million copies sold worldwide. The album was ranked number 37 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

The album was recorded by Bill Szymczyk at the Criteria and Record Plant studios between March and October 1976, and then released on Asylum in December. It was their first album with guitarist Joe Walsh; who had replaced founding member Bernie Leadon, and is the last album to feature bassist Randy Meisner. It is their sixth album (including Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)), and fifth of new material. The front cover is a photograph of the Beverly Hills Hotel by David Alexander. The album topped the charts and won the band two Grammy Awards for “Hotel California” and “New Kid in Town”. The album was nominated for Album of the Year but lost to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.

Released: 8 December 1976

Recorded: March – October 1976 at Criteria Studios, Miami, FL and Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles, CA

Genre: Rock

Length: 43:28

Label: Asylum

Producer: Bill Szymczyk

Singles released from the Album:

“New Kid in Town” Released in December 1976

“Hotel California” Released in March 1977

“Life in the Fast Lane” Released in May 1977