HOTELS MADE FAMOUS IN SONG
Posted On: 8/15/14
Written By: Nate Brunet
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As we near the end of the busy summer season, the roads are a little less congested, waits at restaurants are getting shorter and hotels aren’t completely booked. That’s why the town has instituted Ocean City Hotel Week, a week and a half-long promotion beginning this Sunday where several participating hotels and motels offer deals to ensure visitors keep this town populous for the rest of summer. While I wish I had time to take a nice vacation in one of Ocean City’s many hotels with a scenic view of the ocean, I’d like to share with you my six favorite songs about hotels.
“Little Hotel Room”
By: Ray Charles & Merle Haggard
Off the album: Friendship (1984)
This album had an appropriate title, as every song in this album is a duet with Charles and a prominent country artist or band. Legendary guest appearances include Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Chet Atkins, George Jones and of course, Merle Haggard. This was one of Charles’ few albums that reached #1 on the charts, even though this release peaked on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Charles had two other #1 records on the U.S. Billboard chart, the first being 1962’s Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which is coincidentally another country and folk album featuring western staples covered by Charles. His other #1 record, Genius Loves Company, was his first posthumous album released two months after his death. The record is full of new songs and big guest performances recorded shortly before his passing.
By: Ray Charles & Merle Haggard
Off the album: Friendship (1984)
This album had an appropriate title, as every song in this album is a duet with Charles and a prominent country artist or band. Legendary guest appearances include Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Chet Atkins, George Jones and of course, Merle Haggard. This was one of Charles’ few albums that reached #1 on the charts, even though this release peaked on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Charles had two other #1 records on the U.S. Billboard chart, the first being 1962’s Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which is coincidentally another country and folk album featuring western staples covered by Charles. His other #1 record, Genius Loves Company, was his first posthumous album released two months after his death. The record is full of new songs and big guest performances recorded shortly before his passing.
”Heartbreak Hotel”
By: Elvis Presley
Off the album: Heartbreak Hotel Single (1956)
The ‘50s were clearly a different time back then, as you will never see one of the most popular songs of an artist being omitted from their studio album in this era. This was Elvis’ first #1 single, recorded at the same time as most of the songs on his debut album Elvis Presley, but the song was never originally included on the LP. It was, however, later added as the first song on the album for its 1999 reissue. Interesting for our readers from the great state of Maryland, the last time this song was performed live by him was on May 29, 1977, at the Baltimore, Maryland, Civic Center.
By: Elvis Presley
Off the album: Heartbreak Hotel Single (1956)
The ‘50s were clearly a different time back then, as you will never see one of the most popular songs of an artist being omitted from their studio album in this era. This was Elvis’ first #1 single, recorded at the same time as most of the songs on his debut album Elvis Presley, but the song was never originally included on the LP. It was, however, later added as the first song on the album for its 1999 reissue. Interesting for our readers from the great state of Maryland, the last time this song was performed live by him was on May 29, 1977, at the Baltimore, Maryland, Civic Center.
“Smoke on the Water”
By: Deep Purple
Off the album: Machine Head (1972)
Yes, the song including one of the most recognizable guitar riffs of all time – a major inspiration to the heavy metal music genre – is about a hotel. Well… sort of. As has become a custom in my column, I’m stretching things a bit here to make it work. The “Smoke on the Water” that the song is about describes the scene the band saw first-hand from their hotel of The Montreux Casino in Switzerland burning down. While the band was working on their next album in the hotel, there was a Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention concert held at the casino. During a solo by keyboardist Don Preston, an audience member fired a flare gun into the ceiling, starting the fire. The band references “some[one] stupid with a flare gun” in the song.
By: Deep Purple
Off the album: Machine Head (1972)
Yes, the song including one of the most recognizable guitar riffs of all time – a major inspiration to the heavy metal music genre – is about a hotel. Well… sort of. As has become a custom in my column, I’m stretching things a bit here to make it work. The “Smoke on the Water” that the song is about describes the scene the band saw first-hand from their hotel of The Montreux Casino in Switzerland burning down. While the band was working on their next album in the hotel, there was a Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention concert held at the casino. During a solo by keyboardist Don Preston, an audience member fired a flare gun into the ceiling, starting the fire. The band references “some[one] stupid with a flare gun” in the song.
“Hotel Yorba”
By: The White Stripes
Off the album: White Blood Cells (2001)
While this song is on The White Stripes’ third album, it was the first single of the band to be commercially released. Hotel Yorba used to be a functioning hotel in the band’s hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Although it is now used for government subsidized housing, the original building still exists and the band was allowed to record in one of its rooms. The White Stripes were not allowed to film the song’s music video inside the hotel, so it was shot outside. Apparently the band still didn’t adhere to many requests, since according to an article in Rolling Stone, they were banned for life from the property. I can’t imagine the band was appeasing many of the building’s tenants with their boisterous music.
“Roadhouse Blues”
By: The Doors
Off the album: Morrison Hotel (1970)
Not to teach a lesson to kids that it’s good to cheat, but the only mention of a hotel here is on the album’s cover. Still, if I ever entered the real Morrison Hotel back in the day, I’d expect to be greeted by this awesome tune being played in the lobby. The band wasn’t actually allowed to take a picture with the hotel’s window, as depicted on the album cover, so they snuck in when no one was paying attention and took the photo. The album’s back cover depicts an eatery called the Hard Rock Café, which is the direct inspiration of the current worldwide (and totally unrelated) restaurant chain.
By: The White Stripes
Off the album: White Blood Cells (2001)
While this song is on The White Stripes’ third album, it was the first single of the band to be commercially released. Hotel Yorba used to be a functioning hotel in the band’s hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Although it is now used for government subsidized housing, the original building still exists and the band was allowed to record in one of its rooms. The White Stripes were not allowed to film the song’s music video inside the hotel, so it was shot outside. Apparently the band still didn’t adhere to many requests, since according to an article in Rolling Stone, they were banned for life from the property. I can’t imagine the band was appeasing many of the building’s tenants with their boisterous music.
“Roadhouse Blues”
By: The Doors
Off the album: Morrison Hotel (1970)
Not to teach a lesson to kids that it’s good to cheat, but the only mention of a hotel here is on the album’s cover. Still, if I ever entered the real Morrison Hotel back in the day, I’d expect to be greeted by this awesome tune being played in the lobby. The band wasn’t actually allowed to take a picture with the hotel’s window, as depicted on the album cover, so they snuck in when no one was paying attention and took the photo. The album’s back cover depicts an eatery called the Hard Rock Café, which is the direct inspiration of the current worldwide (and totally unrelated) restaurant chain.
“Hotel California”
By: The Eagles
Off the album: Hotel California (1976)
There are many interpretations of this song – one of the most popular in rock history – including theories of alcoholism, insanity and even Satanism. However, it is a song of many metaphors, and the band has stated it’s about living the high life in Los Angeles. Even further, vocalist Don Henley said in a recent documentary that “Hotel California” was about “a journey from innocence to experience.” While Hotel California may not be a real establishment, the hotel depicted on the album’s cover most certainly is. It’s a picture of the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel, and the album’s back cover is of the Lido Hotel’s lobby in Hollywood.
By: The Eagles
Off the album: Hotel California (1976)
There are many interpretations of this song – one of the most popular in rock history – including theories of alcoholism, insanity and even Satanism. However, it is a song of many metaphors, and the band has stated it’s about living the high life in Los Angeles. Even further, vocalist Don Henley said in a recent documentary that “Hotel California” was about “a journey from innocence to experience.” While Hotel California may not be a real establishment, the hotel depicted on the album’s cover most certainly is. It’s a picture of the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel, and the album’s back cover is of the Lido Hotel’s lobby in Hollywood.