The 2,300,000,000-streamed classic rock song that dominated 1977

The Eagles’ ‘Hotel California’ was the classic rock song that spent the longest at the top of the US charts in 1977, despite staying at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for just one week. The article says the track marked a shift towards a heavier rock sound for the band, helping make it their most successful album’s defining song.

Joe Walsh’s guitar style is credited with bringing the band greater rock credibility as they moved away from their country roots. The album spent eight non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard 200, while the song later sold three million digital downloads and amassed more than 2.3 billion Spotify streams. Eagles guitarist Don Felder recalled doubting that its long intro and solo would work as a single.