Was Hotel California based on a Jethro Tull song?

Richland123 · #1 10-15-2010, 11:30 AM

Was Hotel California based on a Jethro Tull song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xny0U...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgO7M...eature=related

SactoBass · #2 10-15-2010, 11:43 AM

There is a similar chord progression no doubt, but that's about the extent of the similarity.

Don Felder was noodling with his guitar on Malibu beach one day and he came up with a chord progression that unknowingly happened to be similar to Tull's song. Don presented that chord progression to the rest of the Eagles band, and they wrote a song around that chord progression.

To suggest that the Eagles sat down and listened to Tull's song first, and took that and tweaked it into an Eagles song is pure balderdash and poppycock. Of course, everyone loves a conspiracy, so it's "fun" to pretend that the Eagles stole a song from Tull, but the truth is, it didn't happen that way at all.

rockambo · #3 10-15-2010, 11:56 AM

It's funny how songwriting works. You cannot copywrite a chord progression, but it seems that so many songs develop from a simple chord progression and are almost devoid of a melody. I think that these songs are exceptions and have stronger melodies. Does anyone write from melodies anymore? Maybe it's a result of writing a song on the guitar as opposed to a piano?

I know it's a popular debate, but the enigmatic lyrics in "Hotel California" and "Me and Julio (Down By the Schoolyard)" continue to annoy me.

DavidE · #4 10-15-2010, 01:20 PM

According to your first link, Ian says that The Eagles opened up for Tull just after Take it Easy became a hit and that The Eagles must have heard Tull playing We Used to Know on that tour. Was Don Felder even in the band on that tour?

Best I can tell with some quick research, The Eagles opened for Tull around 1970. Felder joined the Eagles some time in 1974 though he may not have toured until 1975. Felder wrote all the music (including the harmony solos) to Hotel California in 1976.

SactoBass · #5 10-15-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidE

According to your first link, Ian says that The Eagles opened up for Tull just after Take it Easy became a hit and that The Eagles must have heard Tull playing We Used to Know on that tour. Was Don Felder even in the band on that tour?

Best I can tell with some quick research, The Eagles opened for Tull around 1970. Felder joined the Eagles some time in 1974 though he may not have toured until 1975. Felder wrote all the music (including the harmony solos) to Hotel California in 1976.

Bingo!

...except Don Felder joined in 1973, not '74, as 1973 was when they recorded their third album "On the Border" which featured Don Felder. That album came out in March 1974, but they recorded it in 1973 in London. But certainly, Don Felder was not in the picture back when the Eagles opened for Tull.

Yerf Dog · #6 10-15-2010, 01:40 PM

Either way I find it fun to play.

SactoBass · #7 10-15-2010, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

Either way I find it fun to play.

Me too!!

And quite a few people seem to be unaware that Randy played a Rickenbacker 4001 on the recording of the song HC. I also saw Randy play his Ric during that song on their HC tour in summer 1976 (yep, before the album came out in Dec 1976). I believe there is a YT vid somewhere showing Randy playing his Ric during that song.