Don Henley - Building The Perfect Beast

Don Henley

Building The Perfect Beast

1984

Rock

USA

Tracklist:


1.The Boys of Summer
2.You Can't Make Love
3.Man With a Mission
4.You're Not Drinking Enough
5.Not Enough Love in the World
6.Building the Perfect Beast
7.All She Wants to Do Is Dance
8.A Month of Sundays
9.Sunset Grill
10.Drivin' With Your Eyes Closed
11.Land of the Living



     Donald Hugh "Don" Henley (born July 22, 1947 in Gilmer, Texas) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up. Henley sings lead vocals on Eagles hits such as "Witchy Woman", "Desperado", "Best Of My Love", "One Of These Nights", "Hotel California", "Life In The Fast Lane", and "The Long Run". He formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships with Glenn Frey.
     After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Henley pursued a solo career and released his debut album in 1982. He has released four studio albums, two compilation albums, and one live DVD. His solo hits include "Dirty Laundry", "The Boys of Summer", "All She Wants to Do Is Dance", "The Heart of the Matter", "The Last Worthless Evening", "Sunset Grill", "Not Enough Love in the World", "New York Minute" and "The End of the Innocence".
     Henley has also played a founding role in several environmental and political causes, most notably the Walden Woods Project. Since 1994, he has divided his musical activities between the Eagles and his solo career.
   
     In 1970, Henley moved to Los Angeles to record an album with his early band, Shiloh. Shiloh's album was produced by fellow Texan Kenny Rogers. Shortly thereafter, Henley met Glenn Frey. They both became members of Linda Ronstadt's backup band. Touring with her was the catalyst for forming the group. As a result, two months later they, along with Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner, became their own act, Eagles.
   
     After experimenting with synthesizers and a pop sound on his solo debut, Don Henley hits the mark on his sophomore release, Building the Perfect Beast. This album established Henley as an artist in his own right after many successful years with the Eagles, as it spawned numerous hits. While the songs seem crafted for pop radio, it's hard to fault him for choosing arrangements that would get his messages to the masses. Unlike most pop in the 1980s, however, Henley had deep intellectual themes layered beneath the synthesizer sounds and crisp production. In the opening song "Boys of Summer," he talks about trying to recapture the past while knowing that things will never be the same. Henley has a gift for writing about the heart and soul of America and for mixing his love for the country and small-town life ("Sunset Grill") with cynicism about government ("All She Wants to Do Is Dance") and modernization ("Month of Sundays"). Although the politics and the sound of the album make the decade of release easy to place, Henley's earnest delivery and universal messages give many of the tracks a timeless feel, which is no small feat. This is Henley's most consistent album, and it is the place to start for those wanting to sample his solo work. — Vik Iyengar 



Lindsey Buckingham  -  Guitar, Vocals, Harmony Vocals 
Belinda Carlisle  -  Vocals, Harmony Vocals 
Don Henley  -  Percussion, Drums, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer, Chant, Harmony Vocals, Art Direction, Synthesizer Arrangements 
Randy Newman  -  Synthesizer, Synthesizer Arrangements 
Charlie Sexton  -  Guitar 
Mike Campbell  -  Synthesizer, Guitar, Percussion, Producer 
Martha Davis  -  Vocals, Chant, Harmony Vocals 
Jim Keltner  -  Drums 
Carla Olson  -  Vocals, Chant 
Patty Smyth  -  Vocals, Chant, Harmony Vocals 
Albhy Galuten  -  Synthesizer, Synclavier 
Benmont Tench  -  Synthesizer, Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer Arrangements 
Michael Boddicker  -  Synthesizer, Programming, Emulator, Sequencing, Synthesizer Arrangements 
Niko Bolas  -  Engineer, Mixing 
Bill Cuomo  -  Synthesizer, Percussion, Programming, Percussion Programming 
Tim Drummond  -  Bass 
Marie Pascale Elfman  -  Vocals, Ensemble 
Mark Ettel  -  Assistant Engineer 
Dan Garcia  -  Assistant Engineer 
Jerry Hey  -  Horn, Horn (Alto), Horn Arrangements 
Maren Jensen  -  Art Direction 
Larry Klein  -  Bass 
Tom Knox  -  Engineer 
Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar  -  Organ, Synthesizer, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Keyboards, Guitar (Synthesizer), Producer, Chant, Omnichord, Synthesizer Arrangements, Percussion Arrangement 
Greg Ladanyi  -  Producer, Engineer, Mixing 
Dominique Mancinelli  -  Vocals, Ensemble 
Kevin McCormick  -  Drums, Drums (African), African Drums 
Samuel Moore  -  Vocals 
Michael O'Donahue  -  Vocals, Chant 
David Paich  -  Synthesizer, Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer Arrangements 
Pino Palladino  -  Bass 
Steve Porcaro  -  Synthesizer, Programming 
Mike Reese  -  Mastering 
Doug Sax  -  Mastering 
David Schober  -  Assistant Engineer 
Duane Seykora  -  Assistant Engineer 
Allen Sides  -  Engineer 
J.D. Souther  -  Vocals, Chant 
Richard Wachtel  -  Vocals 
Ian Wallace  -  Drums 
Waddy Wachtel  -  Chant 
Richard Bosworth  -  Engineer, Assistant Engineer 
Sam Moore  -  Harmony Vocals 
Jeri McManus  -  Art Direction, Graphic Coordinator 
Herb Ritts  -  Photography