I love these 2 songs a lot. Both released in 1976, they have a lot in common.Memory Motel last for 7 minutes while Hotel California clocks at 6;30 minutes. They both are very melodic, built on slow tempos with beautiful chord progression.Hotels and motels are symbols often used in American literature/movies.The stories told and the lyrics in the songs are intriguing and they draw us in, making us wonder what is the story behind the surface.
Fantastic songwriting and musical arrangements. I can't pick one as my favorite. Love them equally!

And tying it all together are these lyrics from the first rap song ever (Rappers Delight), “Hotel, motel, Holiday Inn.”

She got a mind of her own, and a Mercedes-Benz

When doing research on the songs I read about musical similarities between Hotel California and a Jethro Tull's song called "we used to know". Ian Anderson was cool with it and did not complain.

Personally I like Memory Motel better; the arrangement is more advanced, and Jagger's and Richard's voices are beautiful. Of Course Hotel California is a great classic with good vocals.. To me mostly because of the guitars though. The guitar solo in particular. Damn, Taylor could have played it.

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rollmops
When doing research on the songs I read about musical similarities between Hotel California and a Jethro Tull's song called "we used to know". Ian Anderson was cool with it and did not complain.

I always thought those two songs sounded alike, especially in their beginning, say 1-1.5 minutes. But what always turned me OFF this Tull track is the fact that they sound out of tune!!

Rod

Hotel California reminds me of Angie.

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Harlem Shuffler
Hotel California reminds me of Angie.

That's because both song have the same harmonic rhythm, more or less.

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rollmops
When doing research on the songs I read about musical similarities between Hotel California and a Jethro Tull's song called "we used to know". Ian Anderson was cool with it and did not complain.

Yes it as absolutely true.
This one is lesser known than Latimore's Redneck in the Soul Band and Miss You

[doctorstonesblog.blogspot.com]

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TheflyingDutchman

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Harlem Shuffler
Hotel California reminds me of Angie.

That's because both song have the same harmonic rhythm, more or less.

As well as a similar chord progression in the beginning of the verses.

Hotel California has a reggae beat.

There’s no doubt that the hotel song is good and that many people like it. Still, and given that this is a Stones fans’ forum, I’ll venture to disagree. They’re not comparable. Memory Motel is good to cosmic levels. The hotel song plays in another league.

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Send It To me
She got a mind of her own, and a Mercedes-Benz

Isn't it she got the Mercedes bends?

Found this on reddit.com:

It's not:

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted / She got the Mercedes Benz, but

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted / she got the Mercedes bends, the bends being a wordplay on Benz, referencing the diver's sickness (what happens when a diver surfaces too quickly.) - a comment on too much money, too much luxury, too fast.

d.f

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026-01-10 14:12 by keefriffhards.

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DandelionPowderman

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TheflyingDutchman

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Harlem Shuffler
Hotel California reminds me of Angie.

That's because both song have the same harmonic rhythm, more or less.

As well as a similar chord progression in the beginning of the verses.

Yeah the use of Am and E are identical.

Anyway Memory Motel is a far better tune IMHO.

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emotionalbarbecue
There’s no doubt that the hotel song is good and that many people like it. Still, and given that this is a Stones fans’ forum, I’ll venture to disagree. They’re not comparable. Memory Motel is good to cosmic levels. The hotel song plays in another league.

The songs are nothing alike.

One was a universal hit and a number one single in the US and Canada and a Top Ten single in a few European countries, with 26 seconds edited out for the single version, the other song was only an album track.

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GasLightStreet

The songs are nothing alike.

One was a universal hit and a number one single in the US and Canada and a Top Ten single in a few European countries, with 26 seconds edited out for the single version, the other song was only an album track.

That's a logistic comparison which has nothing to do with music.

I can only agree with GLS.

The two songs don't sound similar.

The one song was a classic hit and the other isn't even on compilation albums and no one knows the song anyway.

Two separate statements in my opinion.

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TheflyingDutchman

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GasLightStreet

The songs are nothing alike.

One was a universal hit and a number one single in the US and Canada and a Top Ten single in a few European countries, with 26 seconds edited out for the single version, the other song was only an album track.

That's a logistic comparison which has nothing to do with music.

In bold.

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GasLightStreet

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TheflyingDutchman

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GasLightStreet

The songs are nothing alike.

One was a universal hit and a number one single in the US and Canada and a Top Ten single in a few European countries, with 26 seconds edited out for the single version, the other song was only an album track.

That's a logistic comparison which has nothing to do with music.

In bold.

Motel and Hotel might drop the penny for you ?

Hearts Of Stone - The Jewels 1954

Heart Of Stone -- The Rolling Stones 1964



ROCKMAN