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It turned out to be the only Eagles album featuring the lineup of Henley, Frey, Walsh, guitarist Don Felder, and co-founder and bassist Randy Meisner. Hotel California featured the addition of former James Gang guitarist Joe Walsh, who joined shortly after co-founder Bernie Leadon's departure. The album's third single, "Life In The Fast Lane," just missed the Top Ten, peaking at Number 11 in the spring of 1977. Hotel California included two Number One hits featuring the group's main songwriters and distinctive lead vocalists, with late guitarist Glenn Frey taking the lead on "New Kid In Town," and drummer Don Henley singing the album's famous title track.
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The band will take its new Hotel California-based show on the road starting next month. The 31-song concerts, which featured an accompanying orchestra and choir, kicked off with the classic album, with the band going on to play a further 23 tunes - including a few dips into both Don Henley and Joe Walsh's solo catalogues. In October, the band wrapped a handful of "Hotel California" shows in Vegas. The album, which was released on December 8th, 1976, was the group's third chart-topper in a row, following 1975's One Of These Nights and 1976's compilation Eagles/Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975.
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It was 43 years ago today (January 15th, 1977), that the Eagles' album Hotel California hit Number One.
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