Don Henley released Building the Perfect Beast

Building the Perfect Beast Don Henley

Released: November 19, 1984 Peak: 13 US, 14 UK, 17 CN, 4 AU, 16 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 3.0 US, 0.06 UK, 3.06 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Click on a song titled for more details. The Boys of Summer [4:45] You Can’t Make Love [3:34] Man with a Mission [2:43] You’re Not Drinking Enough [4:40] Not Enough Love in the World [3:54] Building the Perfect Beast [4:59] All She Wants to Do Is Dance [4:28] A Month of Sundays [4:31] Sunset Grill [6:22] Drivin’ with Your Eyes Closed [3:41] Land of the Living [3:24] Total Running Time: 47:01

Rating: 3.966 out of 5.00 (average of 26 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Henley’s Second Solo Outing The Eagles were one of the most successful acts of the 1970s, landing five multi-platinum albums and five #1 singles. When the members went their separate ways, they “faced the Eighties with a much less certain hold on their audience.” RS While Glenn Frey and others “steered a safe, commercial course” RS Henley wrote “and recorded songs with a sociopolitical conscience, working at a painstaking pace,” RS releasing only three albums in the decade. When he embarked on a a solo career, he pondered if he could do it alone. He wondered about putting another band together before saying, “Nah, I can do this.” UCR That first outing was was 1982’s I Can’t Stand Still. The lead single, “Dirty Laundry,” was a #3 hit and propelled the album to #24 on the Billboard album chart and gold status. “Compared to the commercial heights he’d reached as a member of the Eagles, however, that was small potatoes – and a far from definitive statement for a singer-songwriter seeking to define himself as an artist in his own right.” UCR The follow-up album, 1984’s Building the Perfect Beast, was much more successful, reaching #13 and going triple platinum. It also went a long way in defining the kind of artist Henley wanted to be. He said, “I drank a lot of Scotch making that first album…And then after it was done, I figured, ‘Yeah, I can do this,’ so this album was much more confident. ... I stretched further and took more chances.’” UCR Sound of the ‘80s The album’s drum “machine-assisted arrangements,” UCR “synthesizer sounds and crisp production” AM are hallmarks of ‘80s pop music and these songs definitely “seem crafted for pop radio.” AM “Unlike most pop in the 1980s, however, Henley had deep intellectual themes” AM beneath it. “Building the Perfect Beast is a meticulously crafted and programmed set of songs about love and politics.” RS The album finds him “deepening the pointed observations on human relationships that had always defined his best work” UCR such as on “the wistful, gorgeous ‘Boys of Summer.’” RS In general, “the first side is given to personal reflections on love and loss…Side two is more issue oriented.” RS “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.” AM Danny Kortchmar Henley brings in guitarist Danny Kortchmar as a co-songwriter (and even sole songwriter on a couple of tracks). He “made a name for himself as a producer and co-writer with many artists in Henley’s peer group” UCR working with James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and others. Through two years of writing, Henley and “Kootch” “developed a level of trust and communication that allowed Henley the opportunity to take new risks.” UCR Danny helps give the songs arrangements that “are more varied and generally edgier than the Eagles’ easy-rolling songs – a development consistent with Henley’s growing politicization.” RS Henley said, “Maybe what I’m trying to do is find a purpose for being in the music business…I’m trying to make people think a little bit and be aware of things. Maybe rock & roll is not the vehicle for this sort of thing – but I don't see why it can’t be.’” RS Other Musicians Henley also “employed a long list of session ringers” UCR including bassist Pino Palladino, drummer Jim Keltner, Toto’s Steve Porcaro and David Paich, and Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. The album also features appearances from Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), Belinda Carlisle (the Go-Go’s), Martha Davis (the Motels), Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Randy Newman, Charlie Sexton, JD Souther, and Patty Smyth (Scandal). He also “set about building the perfect solo band, intending to up his game when it came time to take the new songs on the road.” UCR He said, “I wanted some new, fresh people, so I just went out looking for them. I went to clubs all over town…I held auditions for three or four weeks. I must have gone through God knows how many guitar players. It was excruciating.’” UCR Awards Building the Perfect Beast garnered five Grammy nominations, winning Best Male Vocal Performance for “The Boys of Summer.” That song was also nominated for Song and Record of the Year. Henley also won four MTV Video Music Awards in 1985, including Video of the Year for “The Boys of Summer.” The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

The Boys of Summer Don Henley

Writer(s): Don Henley, Mike Campbell (see lyrics here) Released: single (10/26/1984), Building the Perfect Beast (1984) B-side: “A Month of Sundays” Peak: 5 BB, 6 CB, 6 GR, 6 RR, 33 AC, 15 AR, 12 UK, 15 CN, 3 AU, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.20 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 64.0 video, 686.53 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: “The Boys of Summer” was the lead single from Building the Perfect Beast, Don Henley’s second solo album after the Eagles disbanded in 1980. The title of the song comes from a book about the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team by Roger Kahn. However, the song isn’t about baseball. Henley used the title “to represent everything youthful and vibrant with which the narrator can no longer compete.” AS Henley explained that it “is about aging and questioning the past.” WK The narrator is nostalgic about a past relationship, convinced that he can win his ex back once she gives up on fleeting romances with the boys of summer. There is a reference in the lyrics to a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac. Henley said it was “an example of his generation selling out.” WK While driving on the San Diego freeway, he actually saw a Cadillac Seville – what he called “the status symbol of the right-wing upper-middle-class American bourgeoisie” – with a Grateful Dead bumper sticker on it. SF Mike Campbell, “Tom Petty’s right-hand man,” SF created the rhythm on a drum machine and offered it to Petty, but the synthesizers didn’t fit with the album, Southern Accents, that they were doing at the time. Jimmy Iovine, who was producing the album, connected Campbell with Don Henley who then wrote lyrics for it and said he wanted to record it. Campbell ended up playing guitar on the song and producing. SF The black-and-white video was directed by French graphic designer/photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino. It shows the main character as a boy, young adult, and middle-aged man – each reminiscing about a past relationship. It won Video of the Year and three other awards at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1985. In 2003, the Ataris did a pop-punk cover of the song which reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the alternative-rock chart. The Hooters also covered the song in 2007.

You Can’t Make Love Don Henley

Writer(s): Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar Released: Building the Perfect Beast (1984) Peak: 4 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.90 streaming About the Song: Had a fifth single been released from Building the Perfect Beast, this seems the most likely candidate. The song features Lindsey Buckingham on guitar and harmony vocals.

Man with a Mission Don Henley

Writer(s): Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, J.D. Souther Released: B-side of “Not Enough Love in the World” (May 1985), B-side of “Sunset Grill” (August 1985), Building the Perfect Beast (1984) Peak: 32 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.03 streaming About the Song: The weakest track on Building the Perfect Beast was inexplicably slated as the B-side for not just one, but two of the album’s singles. Charlie Sexton makes an appearance on guitar and Belinda Carlisle provides harmony vocals. The song was co-written by JD Souther.

You’re Not Drinking Enough Don Henley

Writer(s): Danny Kortchmar Released: Building the Perfect Beast (1984) Peak: 29 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.44 streaming About the Song: This beautiful song was written solely by Danny Kortchmar. It features Sam Moore (famously of Sam & Dave) on harmony vocals.

Not Enough Love in the World Don Henley

Writer(s): Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Benmont Tench Released: single (May 1985), Building the Perfect Beast (1984) B-side: “Man with a Mission” Peak: 34 BB, 30 BA, 29 CB, 25 GR, 30 RR, 6 AC, 17 AR, 63 CN, 7 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.42 video, 5.33 streaming About the Song: This was the third single from Building the Perfect Beast. This ballad served as a predecessor to the adult contemporary fare that Henley mastered on his third album, 1989’s The End of the Innocence. Cher covered the song on her 1996 album It’s a Man’s World. It was released as a single, reaching #31 in the UK.

Building the Perfect Beast Don Henley

Writer(s): Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar Released: B-side of “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” (February 1985), Building the Perfect Beast (1984) Peak: 7 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.02 streaming About the Song: The album’s title cut tackles the topic of genetic engineering. RS JD Souther adds “chant voices” to the track along with Patty Smyth, Martha Davis, and Waddy Wachtel.

All She Wants to Do Is Dance Don Henley

Writer(s): Danny Kortchmar Released: single (February 1985), Building the Perfect Beast (1984) B-side: “Building the Perfect Beast” First Charted: 1/26/1985 Peak: 9 BB, 9 CB, 8 GR, 6 RR, 12 AR, 13 CN, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 4.20 video, 43.93 streaming About the Song: The second single from Don Henley’s second solo album gave him his fourth top-10 solo hit on the Billboard Hot 100, following 1981’s “Leather and Lace” (#6, with Stevie Nicks), 1982’s “Dirty Laundry” (#3) and “The Boys of Summer” (#5) from Building the Perfect Beast. It was also his third time to top the album rock chart. The song features backing vocals from Patty Smyth and Martha Davis. The song’s upbeat, danceable beat betrays more serious lyrical content. Written solely by Danny Kortchmar, the song addresses “America’s reckless foreign policy.” RS It criticizes the United States’ intervention in Central America, particularly the Reagan administration’s funding of the right-wing Contras group to overthrow the government in Nicaragua.

A Month of Sundays Don Henley

Writer(s): Don Henley Released: B-side of “The Boys of Summer” (10/26/1984), Building the Perfect Beast (1984) Peak: 3 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.99 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: Far Out magazine’s Tim Coffman called this “the most gripping song Don Henley ever made.” FO The only song on Building the Perfect Beast to be written solely by Henley “reads like a slice-of-life poem that happens to be set to music.” FO Henley grew up in Texas as the son of blue-collar workers surrounded by farmland. He sings “A Month of Sundays” from the perspective of a farmer watching his livelihood replaced by assembly lines. He also laments losing his better half, although we’re never sure what happened to her. It’s a “gut-wrenching” FO tale. “You can’t help but feel for this man at the end of his life, wondering where everything went wrong.” FO

Sunset Grill Don Henley

Writer(s): Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Benmont Tench Released: single (August 1985), Building the Perfect Beast (1984) B-side: “Man with a Mission” First Charted: 12/15/1984 Peak: 22 BB, 20 CB, 11 GR, 14 RR, 18 AC, 7 AR, 52 CN, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 5.90 video, 0.07 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: “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.” AM “The album's longest and most ambitious piece, ‘Sunset Grill,’ describes in disturbingly vivid images a character’s sense of entrapment in an evil, convulsive metropolis: ‘You see a lot more meanness in the city / It’s the kind that eats you up inside / Hard to come away with anything that feels like dignity.’” RS In the spirit of the iconic ‘80s sitcom Cheers, the song is a tribute to the local hangout “where everybody knows your name.” The titular restaurant is an actual hamburger joint on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Patty Smyth of Scandal is featured singing harmony vocals. Randy Newman helped arrange the synthesizers for the song. Pino Palladino plays bass. He worked as a session musician with the likes of Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Tears for Fears, and The Who. The song was released as the fourth single from Building the Perfect Beast in August 1985, but had already been a top-10 hit on the album rock track eight months earlier.

Drivin’ with Your Eyes Closed Don Henley

Writer(s): Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Stan Lynch Released: Building the Perfect Beast (1984) First Charted: 4/13/1985 Peak: 9 AR, 8 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.93 streaming

Land of the Living Don Henley

Writer(s): Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar Released: Building the Perfect Beast (1984) Peak: 22 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.02 streaming

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review AS American Songwriter FO Far Out magazine (10/6/2024). “‘A Month of Sundays’: the most gripping song Don Henley ever made” by Tim Coffman RS RollingStone.com (11/16/1989). “100 Best Albums of the Eighties” SF Songfacts page for “The Boys of Summer” UCR UltimateClassicRock.com (11/19/2019). “40 Years Ago: Don Henley Builds a Near Perfect Beast” by Jeff Giles WK Wikipedia page for “The Boys of Summer” Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/2/2006; last updated 10/1/2025.