15 Greatest Classic Rock Guitar Solos
3. Hotel California - Eagles
Told through the extended metaphor of a fictional desert hotel, "Hotel California" offers a bleak look into the American Dream and all of its ideals throughout its seven minute runtime.
The title track from the band's fifth studio album is also perhaps their most recognisable. Thoroughly engrossing and entrancing, the symbolic lyrics are wonderfully complemented by the dense layers of acoustic and electric guitars that takes full advantage of the new studio recording techniques that would have been available to the band in the early to mid 1970's.
The numerous guitar fills that weave in and out of the main choruses are all distinct from one another, played with different guitars and tones to create a unique blend of sounds.
The main guitar solo, which closes out the song, ends Hotel California on a wistful, but also exciting note, mainly down to the dual guitar work from Joe Walsh and Don Felder.
On the whole, the ending solo is exquisite, and "Hotel California" in its entirety is an astounding exhibition of the group's songwriting and musical talent.