The classic Eagles song created with “that Philly influence”
No conversation about the defining albums of the 1970s would be complete without mention of the storied Hotel California by the Eagles. A staple of the rock genre that captured a specific moment in time and recorded by a band that had refined their distinctive formula, it stands as one of the most successful in history.
Of course, much of the conversation about the record centres around the title track, which represents the pinnacle of Eagles’ musical achievement. Musically, it has everything required to be a classic, including the two-minute and 12-second-long electric guitar solo performed by Don Felder and Joe Walsh. Notably, the former brought his parts to life on a Gibson double neck, in a complete manifestation of the era in which the song was written when the absurdity of rock ‘n’ roll reigned supreme.
Broadly, the track also has a great deal of mythos attached to it, given that it is inextricable from the band’s lifestyle and the hopes and dreams that the idea of the City of Angels traditionally prompts for those flocking to become its residents.
Yet, as with every classic album, it is not just ‘Hotel California’ that takes all the plaudits. The record is brimming with highlights from start to finish, including the singles ‘Life In The Fast Lane’ and ‘New Kid In Town’, which also paint a picture of the heady celebrity lifestyle the Eagles lived in Los Angeles during the 1970s.
Musically, the album is so refined that it represents a culmination of the band’s respective influences into an effective sonic palette. According to Glenn Frey, who wrote the song ‘Wasted Time’ alongside Don Henley and Don Felder, they specifically attempted to channel the “influence” of Philadelphia soul from staples such as Teddy Pendergrass.
Frey explained in the liner notes for The Very Best Of The Eagles: “I loved all the records coming out of Philadelphia at that time. I sent for some sheet music so I could learn some of those songs, and I started creating my own musical ideas with that Philly influence.”
“Don was our Teddy Pendergrass. He could stand out there all alone and just wail. We did a big Philly-type production with strings — definitely not country rock,” he added. “You’re not going to find that track on a Crosby, Stills & Nash record or Beach Boys record. Don’s singing abilities stretched so many of our boundaries. He could sing the phone book. It didn’t matter.”
Listen to ‘Wasted Time’ by the Eagles below.
