Don Henley Building The Perfect Beast CD

Personnel includes: Don Henley (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, percussion); Lindsey Buckingham (guitar, background vocals); Danny Kortchmar (guitar, omnichord, keyboards, organ, synthesizer, synthesizer guitar, synthesizer horns, bass, percussion); Mike Campbell (guitar, synthesizer, percussion); Charlie Sexton (guitar); Ben Tench (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); David Paich (piano, synthesizer); Mike Boddicker (synthesizer, emulator, programming); Bill Cuomo (synthesizer, percussion programming); Steve Porcaro (synthesizer, programming); Randy Newman (synthesizer); Larry Klein, Pino Palladino, Tim Drummond (bass); Ian Wallace, Jim Keltner (drums); Belinda Carlisle, Sam Moore, Patty Smyth, Martha Davis (background vocals).
Producers: Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Greg Ladanyi, Mike Campbell.
Recorded at Record One, Sherman Oaks, California; Bill Schnee Studio, Universal City, California; The Villa, North Hollywood, California.
Personnel: Don Henley (vocals, chant, keyboards, drums, percussion); J.D. Souther, Michael O'Donahue, Martha Davis, Patty Smyth, Carla Olson (vocals, chant); Lindsey Buckingham (vocals, guitar); Richard Wachtel, Marie Pascale Elfman, Dominique Mancinelli, Samuel Moore, Belinda Carlisle (vocals); Danny Kortchmar (chant, guitar, organ, omnichord, keyboards, synthesizer, guitar synthesizer, percussion); Waddy Wachtel (chant); Mike Campbell (guitar, synthesizer, percussion); Charlie Sexton (guitar); Jerry Hey (horns, alto horn); David Paich, Benmont Tench (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Albhy Galuten (synthesizer, Synclavier); Bill Cuomo (synthesizer, percussion, programming, percussion programming); Michael Boddicker, Steve Porcaro (synthesizer, programming); Randy Newman (synthesizer); Jim Keltner, Kevin McCormick, Ian Wallace (drums).
Audio Mixers: Greg Ladanyi; Niko Bolas.
Recording information: Bill Schnee Studio, Universal City, CA; Ocean Way Recording Studios; Record One, Sherman Oaks, CA; The Villa, North Hollywood, CA.
Ensembles: Marie Pascale Elfman; Dominique Mancinelli.
Photographer: Herb Ritts.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Danny Kortchmar; Don Henley; Marie Pascale Elfman; Dominique Mancinelli; Patty Smyth.
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
Although the 1980s production values sound a bit dated, Don Henley's BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST is made up of 11 smartly written songs that stand the test of time. Henley's second solo endeavor, the release shows the various faces of the singer/songwriter, surrounded here by an excellent group of musicians, including longtime partner Danny Kortchmar. From the rocking "Man with a Mission" to the folk narrative "Month of Sundays" to the country ballad "You're Not Drinking Enough," BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST is a recRolling Stone - Ranked #73 in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Albums Of The 80s" survey.
Q (5/95, p.125) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...In contrast to the often-morose style of The Eagles, Henley is much more upbeat, combining a simple, direct energy with some dramatic synthesizers (as on the striking title track) into the acceptable face of American mainstream rock while keeping his wits about him..."
Q (Magazine) (p.110) - "'The Boys Of Summer' was the measure of Henley's best work with the Eagles: a compelling treatise on growing old and disillusioned..."