49 Years Ago Today, The Eagles' 'Hotel California' Reached No. 1 on Billboard

The Eagles were a household name when they released their fifth studio album, Hotel California, in December 1976.

The Los Angeles-based rock band had already produced three No. 1 hits, including "New Kid in Town," the first single off Hotel California. Before that, their most recent album, 1975's One of These Nights, went platinum four times.

The second single from their new album would change everything though, becoming the band's most recognizable song. Forty-nine years ago today, May 7, 1977, that track "Hotel California" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Hotel California" becomes an all-time classic

Between Don Henley's haunting lyrics and the guitar work of Don Felder and Joe Walsh, it's not a shock how "Hotel California" became popular from the get go.

The song went No. 1 in the United States and Canada and cracked the top 10 in four other countries. It would also win the Grammy for Record of the Year in February 1978.

In the decades since, "Hotel California" has been covered or sampled by numerous artists, and was ranked No. 311 on Rolling Stone's most recent list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

The song also made the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, and Walsh and Felder's guitar solo has been cited as one of the greatest ever.

Eventually, Hotel California would become the Eagles' best-selling album, going platinum 28 times.

Now, if only people could decide on the meaning

Since "Hotel California" debuted, its lyrics have generated debate among fans and critics. Some have thought the song was about Satan or devil worship; others felt it centered on drug use.

Over the years, Henley has given several different answers about the song's meaning, ranging from "our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles" to saying "that it's not really about California; it's about America."

"It's about the dark underbelly of the American dream. It's about excess, it's about narcissism. It's about the music business. ... It can have a million interpretations," Henley explained.

Whatever you think it means, you can't deny the impact "Hotel California" has had on the rock music world.