Please save Hotel California.
I just don't think ballads transfer over very well to a live rock band application. And I just don't think they really shine with them. They really are more like a guitar band to me than a vocal band. That's just my 2c.
When someone was talking about Randy's pronunciation of "life in the fast lean", I'm like whoa! I can't even tell the harmonies apart here to tell who is singing what on harmony. I can pick out the lead singer but that's about it! Where as I can pick out each guitarist with ease. Shows my bias I suppose but it's still how I process it. I just don't care about the harmonies. When people talk about how they weren't as good with Joe as they were with Bernie, I'm like - who cares! They need to rock more, and croon less, lol. I like it when they put on the distorted guitars and let loose. Hotel California isn't all that distorted until the solos come in, but it's still more of a rocker to me than Wasted Time, Desperado, and Seven Bridges Road. And I like that. I really am more of a AC/DC, Aerosmith, Stones, Zeppelin guy than CSN or the Oak Ridge Boys.
To me the Eagles always shined more as a hard rockin' guitar outfit than a vocal-conscious harmony band. They really are better at Life In The Fast Lane and Hotel California than they are at Seven Bridges Road or Desperado, to me anyway. They were more Aerosmith than Crosby, Stills, and Nash to me. Obviously I'm probably in the minority here, per usual, but it's still a valid point to bring up I think. They really can rock.
I'm not harmony-conscious so I couldn't tell you who's singing what. I'm just not into it I guess. It never is what brought me into the band. The first two records did nothing for me, about the time of OTB/OOTN I get into it more but my favorites will always be Hotel California and The Long Run for albums. And I like that greasy rock n' roll swagger more than I do smooth California country rock. It puts me to sleep, haha.
Vote for Seven Bridges Road, Wasted Time, or even The Long Run if you have to, but please save Hotel California! It's the band at their best. I would very much appreciate saving HC for at least another round.
Thank you all!