In an age where it’s too easy to spend too long obsessing over the fine details and effectively achieving nothing, it’s always heartening to hear recording tales from an age where engineers would let the tape roll first, then just let the lightning strike…
Case in point being the recording of The Eagles’ immortal Hotel California, a track that while meticulously written and expertly played, kept something back for the moment. And, as you’d expect and hope for such an iconic song, rather than simply reading from a score or following a pre-agreed plan, its legendary solo really was lightning caught a bottle.
