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.
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