Don Felder interview about Hotel California

[simonallaway]

Here's a brief but cool interview with Don Felder concerning his guitar work on Hotel California:

About his '59 Les Paul:
"When it came time to record the track for real, I went to that guitar and an old Tweed Deluxe and I used that for all the electric guitar parts on that track"

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/don-felder-les-paul-0902/

[eleventeen]

When I was buying & selling guitars in NYC 1979-1980, I did loads of business with Tony Dukes. Yeah, he definitely had a way of scaring up some great guitars. What was cool about Tony was that if you paid $100 or $150 more for a Strat, he'd find you a Fiesta red one instead of a normal sunburst and you'd have something pretty darn special. He would reliably deliver great guitars. Nice guy, very straight-ahead businessman. All the Texas guys, like Billy Gibbons, bought guitars from him.

[Jim Coash]

Don may be a jerk, at least according to some of The Eagles, but he is right on about guitars and amps.  He can also play!  Jim

[alerich]

I think The Eagles had no shortage of jerks in their various incarnations. Frey and Henley can't stand one another. They merely tolerate each other for $$$. I love Don Felder's playing and he did co-write one of the most iconic rock songs of all time (and I did not) but man... I have never seen anyone pad their resumé so thoroughly with one song - one riff, really. The lyrics to that song are incredible and he didn't pen a word of them. I did enjoy his book, however.

[Ritchie200]

With all the "personalities", I can just imagine Joe walking in and going "You kids need to grow up and lets play some tunes dudes!"    Heck, he may have been the only sensible bandmate/glue that kept them together for as long as they were - that's a scary thought!


While I can appreciate the Eagles catalog and the individual abilities, I was never a big fan.  What I REALLY don't get is the Hotel California solo being voted over and over as the best lead in a song, ever....  Let's just look at a few of the other multi-lead competition (in my mind).  Allman Bros, Wishbone Ash, Boston, etc., etc.,.... My gosh, pick any of their songs and their efforts are head and tails, mountain top to valley, above the Kiss-Detroit-Rock-City simple lead on Hotel California.  Best ever?  Not even close.  Another mystery of the universe....


Jim

[Jim Coash]

I am in complete agreement.  The big Eagles fan in our house is my wife.  We saw them at Tiger Stadium and she really liked the show but I think there are plenty of other better bands out there, come and gone.  My favorite Joe was his earlier work in The James Gang.  My friends and I played the first album over and over.  Most bands have leadership and other issues but working with Don Henley must be a real chore. Jim

[alerich]

When Felder joined the band during the On The Border sessions he remarked that he felt like he was joining a band that was in the process of breaking up. I like the Eagles. There are better bands out there but it's not a pole vaulting competition. I'm also one of those folks who happens to really like the ending solos in HC, especially Felder's parts. I think the note selection and phrasing are impeccable. It's not just someone picking up a guitar and going for it. Some thought and mathematics went in to it.

[Willabe]

I like the Eagles. There are better bands out there but it's not a pole vaulting competition.

Me too! And your right it's not a competition.   

With all the "personalities", I can just imagine Joe walking in and going "You kids need to grow up and lets play some tunes dudes!"    Heck, he may have been the only sensible bandmate/glue that kept them together for as long as they were - that's a scary thought!

 

While I can appreciate the Eagles catalog and the individual abilities, I was never a big fan.  What I REALLY don't get is the Hotel California solo being voted over and over as the best lead in a song, ever....  Let's just look at a few of the other multi-lead competition (in my mind).  Allman Bros, Wishbone Ash, Boston, etc., etc.,.... My gosh, pick any of their songs and their efforts are head and tails, mountain top to valley, above the Kiss-Detroit-Rock-City simple lead on Hotel California.  Best ever?  Not even close.  Another mystery of the universe....

I'm also one of those folks who happens to really like the ending solos in HC, especially Felder's parts. I think the note selection and phrasing are impeccable. It's not just someone picking up a guitar and going for it. Some thought and mathematics went in to it.

Jim, I think your off on this part;  "and their efforts are head and tails, mountain top to valley, above".

Walsh and Felder are right on the money in that song, the notes, very melodic over the cords, plus lot of intricate nuances, great timing/phrasing and great tone going on.

To me there is no 'Greatest' solo ever and sometimes it's just apples to oranges. What's good is good, if you like it, you like it. I mean Kiss has sold A LOT of records.     

But really, Walsh and Felder on that track, to me sound about as good as it get's.

They did need 1 more instrument on it though, then it would have been perfect!!!!!               



                     Brad     

[Ritchie200]

Brad, I really think you and Judy Tenuta need to hook up....


Jim Coash, we used to do Funk 49, Walk Away, and while everyone else was doing Rocky Mountain Way - we did Meadows.  I love that song! His later solo stuff like Confessor is awesome. 



Before yall get the wrong idea, Malmsteen bores me after 5 minutes.  One of my all time favorites is Gilmore's Comfortably Numb solo - cant get much more of a "minimal" pole vault than that!  The difference is while Hotel California sounds like a mechanical exercise, Comfortably Numb makes the hair on my neck stand up.  And while I agree with you guys that there is a place for everything and every song does not have to blow you over to be considered a great tune..I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  However, when you are talking about the all time greats or the best of the best, it IS a competition and the chafe needs to be separated from the wheat. 


I think there are an incredible number of awesome guitar players out there.    My criteria may be very different from yours.  However, when we get to the point of the flock several obvious names will fall out.  And while you may not like Beck, Hendrix, Les Paul, Segovia, Chet Adkins, Roy Clark, OR (the undisputed champion) Ritchie Blackmore , you simply can not deny their ablility or their influence on the guitar and music.  So when we are talking best solo ever? Eagles?    Metaphorically speaking, MY flock has already taken off and the Eagles are still on the pond....




PLEASE know this is my very humble opinion and the security system around my house will alarm when Eagles fans are within 10 miles of my property...


Jim

[Willabe]

Brad, I really think you and Judy Tenuta need to hook up....

(Sung to the tune of 'Julie, Julie, Julie do you love me?)   

     Judy, Judy, Judy do you love me, Judy, Judy, Judy do you care?     

- we did Meadows.  I love that song! His later solo stuff like Confessor is awesome.

Me TOO!!!!! I think Walsh has written many very good songs. Great slide player, IMO, 1 of the best!

OR (the undisputed champion) Ritchie Blackmore

Now here's where your going off track,

Everybody knows it's     Rory Gallagher (Irish Tour)       


     
                     Brad     

[Ritchie200]

Touche!!!   


Jim

[Jim Coash]

I like a lot of guitar players, including most of those you mention.  Besides early James Gang my band(s) played plenty of Hendrix, Cream, Mountain, Yardbirds, Beatles, Stones and others.  "Ummagumma" by Pink Floyd was a huge influence.  Eventually I came to love Frank Zappa.  Of course we had to play plenty of surf music, top ten hits and some things we weren't too exited about in order to get work.  When we had a keyboard player, we started learning more Doors tunes.  Because my brother and I played a lot of folk music when we played in the "family" band we could always add some PP&M, Lightfoot and Kingston Trio to any gig.  I acquired my stage name, "Jimi Sonic" after the band heard MC5 play at "The Crazy Horse" in Kalamazoo.  Our drummer suggested that I looked and played a lot like Fred "Sonic" Smith.  Jim