I thought the 2 recordings of Hotel California by the Eagles are great.  The original, electric version is great but so is the acoustic remake done live.  The shame is that the live acoustic version could have been much, much better.  They end the song so abruptly at the end.  In my opinion, they could have played forever.  Which is closer to what they did live with the electric version of the song.

Here is the thing, I probably got tired of this song faster than any other song in my listening history.

When I saw them on that speciic tour, the electric version was really good.

For a song that was literally beaten to death by the radio they did a great job with the acoustic version. Don't get me wrong, the original is probably their masterpiece as far as production. Five guitar parts (I have the sheet music) and it's not muddied up by the layering. Don Felder came up with the original charts for the song (not the lyrics) and does a very cool flamenco style intro, and a well crafted solo. The acoustic version is a refreshing change, and as far as the ending, the original is a fade...how is that supposed to come across live?


After writing this, perhaps the Eagles would be a good artist of the day topic. They've been around long enough.

I agree that the acoustic version of Hotel California is pretty good. My favorite version of the song is the live electric version that's on Eagles Live 80.

I put Hotel California on my list of the 10 best rock songs and I think it belongs there.  Felder's intro and the closing solos are brilliant.  Henley's allegorical lyrics are first-rate.  I love this song.  I know the Eagles get knocked because of their slickness and with some justification, but the musical talent can't be denied. 

   While both the acoustic and electric versions the Eagles do of Hotel California are great songs,there's another version IMO that is pretty good too.The Gipsy Kings did a Spanish-Flamenco acoustic version(as heard in "The Big Lebowski").It's not as instrumentally intricate as the Eagles versions,but still enjoyable.
   As far as remaking of a great song,the Rolling Stones remake of H-onky Tonk Woman is very different from the original but still is a great song.It's called Country Honk off the Let it bleed album.It's a nice version of a song whose words fit in perfectly with a country music style.While I'm not a big fan of country music the Stones really do an excellent job with a Country style of music.Far Away Eyes and Love in Vain are 2 more examples.I would have to say Country Honk is my favorite remake of a great song. 

 Just to add,H-onky has been deemed unaccceptable by the mods so that's why I had to spell it the way I did. 

"All Along The Watchtower" - Jimi (Dylan)
"Pressing On" - John Doe (Dylan)
"Goin to Acapulco" - Jim James w/ Calexico (Dylan)

So many Dylan covers, so little time....

Also interesting that someone would bring up "Lebowski" on an Eagles-themed thread....

Neil Young has many live versions of his greatest songs that are very good.

Deep Purple often extended their live versions well beyond they studio version, and the playing was awesome.

Blue Oyster Cult remade "Astronomy" on the 'Imaginos' LP and while it's not as good as the original from 'Secret Treaties' is is suffiently different and very good.

This album is full of wonderful covers, particularly Where to Now St. Peter and War of Man.

In Response to Re: Greatest remake of a great song:
[QUOTE]"All Along The Watchtower" - Jimi (Dylan) "Pressing On" - John Doe (Dylan) "Goin to Acapulco" - Jim James w/ Calexico (Dylan) So many Dylan covers, so little time.... Also interesting that someone would bring up "Lebowski" on an Eagles-themed thread....
Posted by Mattyhorn[/QUOTE]

There you go! I was reading along from the top saying to myself, surely somebody will say it.

The title of this thread leaves open some interpretation of the meaning.