Defending the indefensible: Don Henley

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It never even occurred to me that there was anything good about "Boys of Summer" until I heard the Ataris version, which is classic. The original still doesn't do that much for me although I appreciate why it's a good song, even a good production if you go for that thing. And also, the line about the sticker on the Cadillac seems less BS in the Ataris version because it at least still sounds like a punk song not like a synthed-out 80s yuppie studio artifact. I'd take "Witchy Woman" over that.

Why did critics always describe "End of the Innocence" as "intelligent"? I hated that song so much in Grade 5.

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:11 (nineteen years ago) link

Congrats, Cuz: You managed to mention three of the four Eagles hits I dislike the most! ("One Of These Nights" being the fourth.)

Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:12 (nineteen years ago) link

synthed-out 80s yuppie studio artifact

Oh wait, maybe that actually goes with the "Don't look back, you can never look back" part.

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:12 (nineteen years ago) link

It's weird. I know I must have heard all these Eagles songs many times but nothing really comes to mind at most of their names.

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:13 (nineteen years ago) link

myonga: "one of these nights" never did a whole lot for me; sorry i couldn't hit for the songs-you-hate cycle! "take it to the limit" i like for the huge chorus, "new kid in town" for the girl-groupy outro, which sneakily makes me like the rest of the song retroactively every time i hear it; and "i can't tell you why" is just purty.

the solo songs you mentioned sound to me neither better nor worse than the typical eagles song; they sound exactly like eagles songs.

fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:26 (nineteen years ago) link

"Look, I've had a rough night, and I hate the fucking Eagles, man..."
http://www.zelluloid.de/images/szenen/382c6b8bd1f80.jpg

Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:44 (nineteen years ago) link

I just d/led "Dirty Laundry". I stopped it partway through the guitar solo. Now I'm totally mystified - I think it just sounds like a bad Bryan Adams song (like circa 1994 or something) except more 80s. "Witchy Woman" all the way!

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:49 (nineteen years ago) link

(Actually, I can name a half-dozen or so Eagles songs that I like. [Pretty sure none of 'em are Glen Frey songs, tho.] I don't even mind "Hotel California"!)

Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:51 (nineteen years ago) link

(Is "New Kid In Town" the song that goes "Johnny come lately/The new kid in town"? That beats this shit too. And "Take It Easy" is OK - the "seven women on my mind" has a certain something to it and it's a nice laid-back chorus.)

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:52 (nineteen years ago) link

I have no problems with Don Henley at all.

And I really like The Eagles

Glenn Frey totally sucks though

roger adultery (roger adultery), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:54 (nineteen years ago) link

I can't believe I'm downloading Eagles songs. "Witchy Woman" rocks even better in reality than in memory. Elaine's favourite Eagles song!

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 04:56 (nineteen years ago) link

For the first time I'm realizing that I might actually really like the Eagles. How's that Greatest Hits?

sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 05:10 (nineteen years ago) link

Well, it IS the all-time top selling record in the USA, sundar.


What's the consensus on "Heart of the Matter"? I though that was a good song when I was like 10. Should I download it or will I be disappointed?

AaronHz (AaronHz), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 05:24 (nineteen years ago) link

one year passes...
you are all cunts dissing the best singer of all time not to mention he's songwriting which is unbelievable, all you halfwits only know the famous tunes like boys of summer and all she wants to do is dance ever heard of lilah, land of the living, the last worthless evening or the sad cafe by the eagles, why not listen to more of the music before you critisize it, after all we know henley is an asshole but he's good at it and manages to get his way right?

keefy, Monday, 15 May 2006 10:41 (seventeen years ago) link

eleven months pass...
I heard "Dirty Laundry" all of a sudden in the pet food store. A great big GRIN stretched across my face. I couldn't help it. That song makes me instantly feel like I'm 11 years old again.

Then I realized that was the second time in a roughly a month's time that a Don Henley song had stopped me in my tracks in a store - ("Boys Of Summer" smacked me on the jaw earlier). This guy is so square it's not funny, I mean I'm sure his albums are probably horrible as a whole and lord knows I cannot STAND the Eagles. But that guy had his moments in the 80's, and that one song he did more recently..."even if, even if, you don't love my anymore" whatever that one is wasn't too bad, either.

But please stop me from making me the mistake of buying one of his albums, I know I would regret such a terrible act of guilt.

Bimble, Saturday, 5 May 2007 05:03 (sixteen years ago) link

Also I remember how crap "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" was.

Bimble, Saturday, 5 May 2007 05:08 (sixteen years ago) link

boys of summer is great. his voice is cool and different. possibly very good lyricist? i dunno much about him really tho.

SusanD, Saturday, 5 May 2007 05:28 (sixteen years ago) link

"after all we know henley is an asshole but he's good at it"

good at being an asshole? yeah

Charlie Howard, Saturday, 5 May 2007 06:23 (sixteen years ago) link

I once sampled the drums for that song that goes "kick 'em when their up, kick 'em when their down" which I think is by Don Henley. Otherwise I really hate this guy.

And for the record, I could never understand how Joe Walsh was in the eagles. He's so much cooler than any of the other guys.

filthy dylan, Saturday, 5 May 2007 14:10 (sixteen years ago) link

This isn't really defending him at all, but I remember watching him accept an award for "The End Of Innocence" at the 1990 VMA's and he looked miserable, as if he was having pretty much zero fun.

"The Boys Of Summer" is tremend.

billstevejim, Saturday, 5 May 2007 18:01 (sixteen years ago) link

Delerium Tremend.

Bimble, Saturday, 5 May 2007 20:17 (sixteen years ago) link

Fantastic electrobeats notwithstanding, "All She Wants To Do is Dance" would be a lot funnier if it was "All He Wants To Do Is Bitch."

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 5 May 2007 20:43 (sixteen years ago) link

eagles of yore
http://www.jollyrogues.com/henley.jpg

gershy, Saturday, 5 May 2007 20:47 (sixteen years ago) link

He gave us "Hotel California", "The Last Resort", "One Of These Nights" and "The Boys Of Summer". For that alone, he deserves some respect.

The man behind the best Eagles material was mostly Glenn Frey though.

Geir Hongro, Saturday, 5 May 2007 22:10 (sixteen years ago) link

I've always loved the End of The Innocence song, too. It came out as I was graduating high school so it seemed to fit, too.

Bimble, Sunday, 6 May 2007 00:24 (sixteen years ago) link

one year passes...

SHE WANTS TO PARTY SHE WANTS TO GET DOWN

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 02:31 (fifteen years ago) link

Down at the Sunset Grill?

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 02:42 (fifteen years ago) link

CUZ THERE'S NOT ENUFF LUV IN THE WORLD

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 02:43 (fifteen years ago) link

It's very rare that someone as widely loved as Don Henley is COMPLETELY indefensible. Vox populi vox dei.

Tyrone Quattlebaum (Hurting 2), Tuesday, 28 October 2008 02:44 (fifteen years ago) link

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/specials/grammy07/afterparty/sting.jpg

velko, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 02:53 (fifteen years ago) link

Gad, he's smug even when relaxing.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 03:05 (fifteen years ago) link

oh come on, you guys! desperado!? right? right.

Kevin Keller, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 03:43 (fifteen years ago) link

Dirty Laundry is a good jam

Tyrone Quattlebaum (Hurting 2), Tuesday, 28 October 2008 03:57 (fifteen years ago) link

Yeah, it really is.

The Ungrateful Dead (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Tuesday, 28 October 2008 05:09 (fifteen years ago) link

i used to have the 7" of this:

tipsy mothra, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 05:12 (fifteen years ago) link

I once had an argument with the guitarist in my band on a long road trip about whether the Henley song was called 'Boys of Summer' (my claim) or 'Poisoned Summer' (his claim). We even wagered $10 on it. I pretended to be hesitant when making the wager because I really wanted to win, because he was such a c*nt. So I went, 'Er, er, alright, $10'. He then said words to the following effect:

'See, moley, that's the difference between you and me. You'll always lose bets because you're jewish, you're nervous. That's why jews will never be good poker players. You jews don't have the pokerfaces to win on a bet like this, cos you're too neurotic. You give yourselves away'.

I made him pay the $10. The only real issue was what nickname to give him from that point on. The singer and I couldn't decide between 'Pokerface' and 'Poisoned Summer'. In the end we just sacked him.

moley, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 05:55 (fifteen years ago) link

!

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 14:27 (fifteen years ago) link

"I made him pay the $10."

insert jewish joke here instead.

beta blog, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 14:58 (fifteen years ago) link

Every Don Henley solo album means fewer other Eagles were involved.

mottdeterre, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 15:05 (fifteen years ago) link

I read the Don Felder book about his days in the Eagles. I don't like their music, but I figured there would be some good dirt in there. It was pretty good, but Frey comes across as an even bigger asshole than Henley, if that's possible.

Bill Magill, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 15:07 (fifteen years ago) link

four months pass...

hope this isn't too tacky, but i can't let his words go to waste: http://tinyurl.com/cc6wrh

Someone Still Loves You Evan and Jaron (Tape Store), Monday, 16 March 2009 03:28 (fifteen years ago) link

Ah, yes — Mr. Christgau, the self-proclaimed “Dean of American Rock Critics.” I have never found anything in his work that was constructive or illuminating. His rants are mean-spirited, pretentious drivel that often miss the mark entirely. His tastes are narrow, his views myopic and he writes primarily to impress other critics rather than to educate or enlighten the average listener. The guy is so caught up in his own prejudices that he usually can’t see the forest for the trees and his toxic screeds devolve into nonsense — like the one above, which, I assume, is supposed to be some kind of clever, semantical wordplay, but is so clichéd and daffy that it’s meaningless. Christgau is like the nutty, eccentric professor who tries hard to be hip, but can never get there because he is locked in the ivory tower of his pedantry. Because he’s so gone, so deranged, I could no more be offended by him than by a besotted bum who cursed at me on the street. As that old philosopher Joe Walsh once said, “You Can’t Argue With a Sick Mind.”

velko, Monday, 16 March 2009 05:55 (fifteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

I have a special love of "The End of The Innocence" because it came out when I graduated from high school, and it seemed to fit that feeling of graduating. Also the guy who played piano...Bruce Hornsby...he came from like very near my hometown...I think he recorded something very near my hometown. Yeah, he had some video with a bunch of basketball players from there or something. Not sure I really want to remember the details, but you know...

Earl of Gothington Manor (Bimble), Monday, 6 April 2009 10:23 (fifteen years ago) link

I only get to have three pieces of pride for my small hometown and they are:
1) Dave Matthews Band
2) Happy Flowers
3) Bruce Hornsby

That's it. That's all I get. I'll take the abuse, that's fine, but not unless you know Happy Flowers.

Earl of Gothington Manor (Bimble), Monday, 6 April 2009 10:31 (fifteen years ago) link

The line "Oh beautiful for spacious skies/Now those skies are threatening" is absolute shit.

Naive Teen Idol, Monday, 6 April 2009 15:08 (fifteen years ago) link

i prefer "heart of the matter" ...

tylerw, Monday, 6 April 2009 15:10 (fifteen years ago) link

did Hornsby play the piano for the End of the Innocence? maybe my favourite thing he's ever done...

also I just got kicked in the stomach by "Last Worthless Evening"...

jagged-electronically mäandernden underbody (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 6 April 2009 15:49 (fifteen years ago) link

Much as I hate the smugness of the lyrics, "All She Wants To Do is Dance" is one helluva electro-groove.

The Screaming Lobster of Challops (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 6 April 2009 15:58 (fifteen years ago) link

From Wikipedia:

"The End of the Innocence" was the lead single and title song from Don Henley's third solo studio album, The End of the Innocence, in 1989. The song was written by Bruce Hornsby, with lyrics added by Henley, and both perform the song live in their respective concerts. The Henley version became his fifth solo Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, which is more than any of the other Eagles members, peaking at number 8. It also became his fourth number 1 single on the Mainstream Rock chart.

There are two political comments in the video by Henley. At the line "they're beating plowshares into swords, for the tired old man that we elected king", it shows a series of posters of President Ronald Reagan, and at the line "armchair warriors often fail" it shows a TV set showing scenes of the congressional testimony of Oliver North.

After George H. W. Bush became president, instead of the lyric "they're beating plowshares into swords, for the tired old man that we elected king" Bruce Hornsby began singing his version with the line " for the tired old man that is no longer king" since Reagan was out of office.

"The End of the Innocence" excerpt
Play sound
From the album The End of the Innocence. This sample includes a portion of chorus.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

The music video for the song was directed by future film director, David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club) and earned Henley an MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1990.

Earl of Gothington Manor (Bimble), Monday, 6 April 2009 16:00 (fifteen years ago) link

Don't really care about "All She Wants To Do Is Dance", but I haven't heard "Last Worthless Evening" in quite awhile, Drugs A. Money. Will listen again soon.

Earl of Gothington Manor (Bimble), Monday, 6 April 2009 16:01 (fifteen years ago) link

"give me the 2 piece chicken"

"Felder leg or Felder thigh?"

Fash Gordon (Neanderthal), Friday, 16 December 2022 01:41 (one year ago) link

Fingers please

Florin Cuchares, Friday, 16 December 2022 02:04 (one year ago) link

gotta have something to Walsh it down with

Fash Gordon (Neanderthal), Friday, 16 December 2022 02:08 (one year ago) link

"Someone place an order...?"

https://i.imgur.com/8iPrNJR.jpg

Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 16 December 2022 02:11 (one year ago) link

Witchy woman sauce = creamy balsamic peppercorn

calstars, Friday, 16 December 2022 02:20 (one year ago) link

Timothy B. Schakes

Building the Perfect (Chicken) Breast

Cirque de Soleil Moon Frye (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 16 December 2022 13:11 (one year ago) link

I'm thinking of ordering the Desperadonuts(TM). They bake them to the limit.

There's gonna be some heartburn tonight, I know.

Cirque de Soleil Moon Frye (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 16 December 2022 13:16 (one year ago) link

LMAO

Maybe they can start a chain of The Sad Café's while they're at it.

birdistheword, Friday, 16 December 2022 15:27 (one year ago) link

The Best of My Grub

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, 16 December 2022 15:34 (one year ago) link

order the New York Minute omelette, where what you get isn't what you ordered

Fash Gordon (Neanderthal), Friday, 16 December 2022 16:11 (one year ago) link

you guys gave up on this shit too fast!

this thread motivated me to listen to Building… in total for the first time: in 85, the AOR station in Louisville played the SHIT out of "Sunset Grill," "Drivin' with your eyes Closed" and ""Not Enuff Love…" alongside the two legit hits, and so it was interesting to hear the other shit…

1.) on a bunch of cuts, he's singing way way way too high, straining his ability to hit the notes, 2.) it's very surprising that he had no hand in the writing for "All She Wants to Do is Dance" and it's all Kootch; one would think the conceit of trenchant geopolitical satire framed through criticizing women for enjoying dancing couldn't be more Henley…

veronica moser, Wednesday, 21 December 2022 15:50 (one year ago) link

he sounds almost queeny when he barks the line "That don't keep the boys from makin' a buck or two."

Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 21 December 2022 16:42 (one year ago) link

My grandson, he comes home from college
He says, "We get the government we deserve"
My son-in-law just shakes his head and says, "That little punk, he never had to serve"

Then at 2:30 Randy Newman comes up with a solo that's even more strained and less convincing.

birdistheword, Wednesday, 21 December 2022 21:28 (one year ago) link


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