Sunset Marquis

Album: Crisco (2026)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Sunset Marquis" is Miranda Lambert's country-disco postcard to the legendary West Hollywood hotel. The secluded retreat has long been a haven for musicians and celebrities, making a famous encounter by the pool far more likely than at the average Motel 6.

    "Every time I'm there, you never know who you're going to run into or what kind of memories you're going to make," Lambert said. "It has this timeless energy that feels like stepping into another era."

    Lambert set out to capture the hotel's atmosphere, aiming to let us "see it, smell it and experience" its late-night charm.
  • Released on August 7, 2026, "Sunset Marquis" is the closing track on Lambert's 10th album, Crisco. The breezy, 1970s-influenced groove highlights the country-disco blend running throughout the record.
  • Lambert co-wrote the track with Ashley Monroe (her Pistol Annies bandmate), Waylon Payne, David Garcia, and co-producer Jesse Frasure, with Kris Wilkinson providing string arrangements.
  • The song plays in If These Walls Could Rock, a feature-length documentary film exploring the Sunset Marquis hotel's rock-and-roll legacy through stories from regulars like Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Slash, Dave Grohl, Sheryl Crow, and Cyndi Lauper.
  • The Sunset Marquis has inspired or played a role in a surprising number of tracks and music history moments:

    "Born In The U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen: After reading Ron Kovic's memoir Born on the Fourth of July, Springsteen met Kovic by the Sunset Marquis pool. Their conversation sparked a lasting friendship and helped shape Springsteen's Vietnam-era songwriting, including this iconic track.

    "Somewhere In The Night" by Barry Manilow: Co-writer Richard Kerr composed the melody while staying at the hotel. While Helen Reddy recorded the first charting version, Manilow turned it into a Top 10 hit in 1978.

    "We're Not Makin' Love Anymore" by Barbra Streisand: Songwriters Michael Bolton and Diane Warren finished writing the track at the Sunset Marquis before Streisand recorded it for her 1989 compilation A Collection: Greatest Hits...and More.

    "(It) Feels So Good" by Steven Tyler: Tyler wrote the lyrics and vocal melody poolside in about two hours after collaborator Marti Frederiksen sent over the instrumental track.

    "Phone in a Pool" by Ben Folds: The song was born out of frustration when Folds impulsively tossed his phone into the Sunset Marquis pool to disconnect from constant demands, only for fellow guest Kesha to jump in and try to rescue it for him.

    "Trip the Light Fantastic" by Greta Van Fleet: Frontman Josh Kiszka found inspiration at 2:00 a.m. at the hotel bar while watching an ice cube rise and fall in his drink, leading to the song's Eastern-inspired mantra ("Ah Sri Rama Jayam Ram").

    "Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me))" by Rod Stewart: Stewart filmed the song's 1981 promotional video around the Sunset Marquis property, performing poolside amid a classic hotel party scene.

    "Sunset Marquis" by Courtney Love: Love wrote and performed an unreleased track named after the hotel during her Nobody's Daughter era, reflecting on her turbulent stays there.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Michael Bolton

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.