10 Most Overrated Rock Albums Of The '70s

10. Eagles - Hotel California

It’s tough to say nowadays whether this album really is “rated” per se. The Eagles have turned into somewhat of a punchline, the epitome of boomer music and a clear generational divide. At the same time, Hotel California has gone platinum 26 times and is still held up as a rock classic by many reputable publications, and therefore must take its lumps.

There can’t be many records that have aged with less grace than this one. It opens with the title track, all six and a half minutes of it, and while the complex composition and twin guitar solos remain impressive, that’s a goofy song to say the least.

From there The Eagles continue their posturing, with “Life In The Fast Lane” another stand out, one of many Don Henley songs about good looking folks driving around L.A and being good looking.

They take a stab at sincerity with closer “The Last Resort”, an early environmental number that means well but ends the album on a drag. It’s not hard to see why this one sold so well, but it’s about as of its time as an album can be.