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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 /TiVo
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Danny Kortchmar, Guitar, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - DON HENLEY, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - LARRY KLEIN, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Porcaro, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - David Schober, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Ladanyi, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Campbell, Producer, Guitar, Percussion, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dan Garcia, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Duane Seykora, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Bosworth, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
Lindsey Buckingham, Participant - Danny Kortchmar, Producer, ComposerLyricist - DON HENLEY, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Pino Palladino, Participant - Greg Ladanyi, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
J.D. Souther, ComposerLyricist - Charlie Sexton, Participant - Danny Kortchmar, Producer, ComposerLyricist - DON HENLEY, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Greg Ladanyi, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Belinda Carlisle, Participant - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
Danny Kortchmar, Producer, ComposerLyricist - DON HENLEY, Producer, MainArtist - Steve Porcaro, Participant - Greg Ladanyi, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
Benmont Tench, ComposerLyricist - Danny Kortchmar, Producer, ComposerLyricist - DON HENLEY, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Greg Ladanyi, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
Patty Smyth, Participant - Danny Kortchmar, Producer, ComposerLyricist - DON HENLEY, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Mike Boddicker, Participant - Greg Ladanyi, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John David Souther, Participant - Martha Davis, Participant - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
Patty Smyth, Participant - Danny Kortchmar, Producer, ComposerLyricist - DAVID PAICH, Participant - DON HENLEY, Producer, MainArtist - Steve Porcaro, Participant - Greg Ladanyi, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martha Davis, Participant - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
Danny Kortchmar, Producer - DAVID PAICH, Participant - DON HENLEY, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Greg Ladanyi, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
Patty Smyth, Participant - Benmont Tench, ComposerLyricist - Danny Kortchmar, Producer, ComposerLyricist - DAVID PAICH, Participant - DON HENLEY, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Mike Boddicker, Participant - Pino Palladino, Participant - Greg Ladanyi, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
Stan Lynch, ComposerLyricist - Danny Kortchmar, Producer, ComposerLyricist - DON HENLEY, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Greg Ladanyi, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
Patty Smyth, Participant - Danny Kortchmar, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - DON HENLEY, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Pino Palladino, Participant - Greg Ladanyi, Producer - NIKO BOLAS, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Ladanyl, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1984 Geffen Records
Album review
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 /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:46:58
- Main artists: Don Henley
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Geffen
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 1984 Geffen Records ℗ 2014 Geffen Records
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