"Hotel California" the song is so great, it could pretty much carry the album, but it doesn't need to. While I also enjoy the other songs, "Hotel California" is so good that it causes everything else on this album to be eclipsed, even though much of the rest of the music is very good. The Eagles created a series of very good songs, but when they recorded and released "Hotel California," I think every listener realized that it was destined to be a great song from the beginning. Surrealistic, clearly southern California desert influenced, a song that becomes great because it is musical art accessible to nearly everyone.