Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Hotel California  By  cover art

Hotel California

By: Barney Hoskyns
Narrated by: Nick Landrum
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.31

Buy for $19.31

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The classic account of the LA Canyons scene between 1967 and 1976, featuring Joni Mitchell; Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young; The Eagles; James Taylor; and Jackson Browne. Ambition, betrayal, drugs and genius all combine with great music making.

©2005 Barney Hoskyns (P)2012 Talking Music

What listeners say about Hotel California

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    132
  • 4 Stars
    81
  • 3 Stars
    32
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    124
  • 4 Stars
    72
  • 3 Stars
    27
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    120
  • 4 Stars
    66
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Solid Hollywood Music History.

Would you consider the audio edition of Hotel California to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version of this book. I suspect though that I would have been tempted to gloss over certain aspects of the book itself, and thus run the risk of missing out on some interesting observations and insights. There are some really nice nuggets of insight in this book that are more interesting than the, overall, thrust of the story.

What other book might you compare Hotel California to and why?

"Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon" should be the required companion piece for this book, though "Weird Scenes" is more tabloid and conspiracy driven in nature than "Hotel California." "Weird Scenes" also deals more with all of the happenings leading up to the late sixties and, ultimately, culminates with the Manson Family; while "Hotel California" documents the gradual take over of the music business by Corporate entities and Cocaine Cowboys, which goes well into the '70s.

What does Nick Landrum bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Nick Landrum does an amazing job of reading Hotel California. It seems like he really brings out the nuances of the book and the various characters involved that might otherwise be missed by a casual read of the written text.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The book does an effective job of documenting how drugs (Cocaine mostly) and the bottom line driven Corporate landscape began to suffocate and thus kill all that was creative about the early music scene in Hollywood. It also illuminates a number of interesting musical casaulties of that time that prompted me to go back and listen to their works.

Any additional comments?

This is a very serious and important look at the not particularly positive growth of the music industry in Hollywood, and how the bottom line first managers, agents, and distributors controlled what American and, to some degree, what the rest of the world would listen to. It also documents how drugs (mostly cocaine) eroded away many of the artists ability to effectively express themselves musically. Be warned that the book really slams the likes of David Geffen, David Crosby, and the "Eagles."

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Spoil assholes

Thought this was a great story about these spoiled POS. Never a fan of the Eagles, but still enjoy CSNY, Little Feet and FBB. Always heard Stills and Crosby were major asses, but these accounts seem to solidify these rumours. Neil has always been reported to have mental issues.
This was a great listen to find out the behind the scenes tragedy of Grahm Parson and Loyall George.
Enjoyed, too bad they could not continue their wonderful momentum into a new era, like some of the other great bands that started in the same years.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A really wonderful book.....

For anyone who grew up during this period of time, and was into music, this book a for you. If you're a fan of Linda Ronstadt, Gram Parsons, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Eagles, etc., you'll find it very interesting to see how all these people interacted to become who they are.... and for some still are.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Born in the wrong decade

This is a great overview of the prevailing artistic genre of the late 60's and early 70's--a wistful listen. However, the downside is that it covers a great deal of information, so there's not the space to really dig deep in the gritty details.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A real tour de force

This was my generation and Hotel California has it all covered. Nick Landrum does an outstanding job. Absolutely recommended!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

New Meaning...

Behind the scenes of my favorite era of music. This book gives new meaning to the songs, concerts, and artists who served as the backdrop to my life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very very very OK

After making my way thru this thing I felt more educated about this period and place in music history but less impassioned with the characters. The writing didn’t inspire me to care more. It made me want to care less. It dragged from the mid-point onward. Hoskyn’s Woodstock book was much more interesting because he uncovered the deeper motives, character, pain and underlying passions of the that time and place. Maybe his heart and connections for interviews rested on the East Coast. One other point, Nick’s female affected voice was... not very attractive. Sorry Joni

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a time it was

Grew up listening to most of these guys and women. Great behind the scene stories. Well done.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

Too many heroes and villains. The author seemed to have little sense of gray areas among the artists covered. Favorites were over-glorified and those disliked were trashed unfairly. Some statements were also incorrect. Could have used some fact-checking. Overall just superficial at times and unwarranted criticism at others.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Boring & disorganized

I guess those who loved this book must be really into 1960s-70s minutia. Hoskyns would take you song by song through records no one's ever heard of, and his opinions are not of concern to me. Also, he's really hung up on Geffen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!