There are few things in the world more thrilling than discovering a beloved song that has been re-interpreted in a fashion that’s as good, or even better, than the original, particularly by the original artist (Eric Clapton’s acoustic “Layla” for example). The Eagles’ meet the challenge here with their classic, “Hotel California.”

The song – title song of the album of the same name – was a No. 1 hit in 1977, won a Grammy, and ultimately became the band’s best-loved song (breaking through a very high bar).

Naturally, they headed out on that same dark desert highway again in 1994 for their reunion tour, video and CD called “Hell Freezes Over” (Don Henley famously said when the band disbanded that they would only reunite when Hell froze over).

Not so surprisingly they broke out eight guitars for the new version of the song, including a couple of Spanish guitars, tailored to a riveting flamenco-inspired arrangement that includes the signature dual guitar play by Don Felder and Joe Walsh as the song ends – a solo that was originally voted the best of all time no less in Guitarist magazine.

The result was a new sound that breathed new life into old favourite and welcomed fans back to such a lovely song.

Lyrics

On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night

There she stood in the doorway
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinkin’ to myself
This could be heaven or this could be hell
Then she lit up a candle
And she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor
I thought I heard them say

Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (any time of year)
You can find it here

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted
She got the Mercedes Benz, uh
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys
That she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard
Sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember
Some dance to forget

So I called up the Captain
“Please bring me my wine”
He said, “We haven’t had that spirit here since 1969”
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say

Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face

They livin’ it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis
Mirrors on the ceiling
The pink champagne on ice
And she said, “We are all just prisoners here of our own device”
And in the master’s chambers
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives
But they just can’t kill the beast

Last thing I remember
I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
“Relax”, said the night man
“We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave”