Don Henley Inside Job CD

Personnel includes: Don Henley (vocals); Randy Newman (conductor); Stevie Wonder (keyboards, background vocals); Dorian Holley, Darryl Phinnessee, Mervyn Warren, Josef Powell, Carmen Twillie, Julia Waters, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, Monalisa Young, Terry Young, Kevin Dorsey, Michael Mishaw, Mervyn Warren, Kip Lennon, Mark Lennon, Michael Lennon, Pat Lennon, Jana Anderson, Valerie Carter (background vocals); Michael Fisher, Glenn Frey, Randy Jackson, Danny Kortchmar, Stan Lynch, Jai Winding, Stuart Brawley, Don Felder, David Paich, Dean Parks, Benmont Tench, Mike Campbell, Scott F. Crago, Timothy Drury, Gregg Bissonette, Frank Simes, Jebin Bruni, Lance Morrison, Steve Gurr, Larry Klein, Jimmie Vaughan, John Corey.
INSIDE JOB was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. "Taking You Home" was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and "Workin' It" was nominated for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
Personnel: Stevie Wonder (keyboards, background vocals); Luther Waters, Darryl Phinnessee, Pat Lennon, Dorian Holley, Kipp Lennon, Michael Mishaw, Jana Anderson, Joseph Powell, Julia Waters, Mark Lennon, Maxine Willard Waters, Mervyn Warren, Michael Lennon, Monalisa Young, Oren Waters, Terry Young, Valerie Carter, Kevin Dorsey , Carmen Twillie (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Rob Jacobs.
Recording information: ASC Sumet Studios, Garland, TX; Jai Winding Studios, Santa Monica, CA; Le Mobile, Dallas, TX; Record Plant, Hollywood, CA; Royaltone, North Hollywood, CA; Samain Sound, Malibu, CA.
Don Henley essentially sat out his '90s recording contract, waiting until he could sign to another label that would allow him greater artistic freedom and royalties. He finally signed to Warner and released his fourth solo album, Inside Job, in the spring of 2000. Considering his long absence from recording, it shouldn't come as a total surprise that the album sounds as if it could have been cut in 1990 or even 1986 (check out the obnoxious synth solo on the opening track). That is not entirely a bad thing, however. It would have been rather embarrassing if Henley was trying to run with the young boys, and he sounds very comfortable settling into a role that is something less than an old master and something more than a crotchety old-timer. It falls somewhere between that, since his simmering anger -- always apparent but raised to the surface on his solo records -- still can be heard, which makes him seem a little cranky on occasion, when he gets carried away with his temper. For the most part, though, he sounds relaxed, comfortable, and reflective on Inside Job, more so than he ever has. The heart of the record is in the slower numbers, where he honestly lays out his feelings about his new love and marriage. Whenever he sticks to personal relationships, and thereby gentler music, Inside Job stays winning. It's brought down when he steps up to the podium to rail against the modern world, but this isn't quite enough to sink the record. Inside Job lacks the melodic craftsmanship that made Building the Perfect Beast a blockbuster, and it isn't as focused as The End of the Innocence, but it is a solid comeback record from an artist who spent a little too long out of the spotlight. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The former Eagle's first solo album in more than a decade doesn't sound much like the Eagles. Musically, the album is a melange of folk rock, mild funk, blues, and piano driven New Age balladry reminiscent of Bruce Hornsby. Lyrically, the songs continue in the vein of Henley's last recorded original outing, the 1994 Eagles reunion single "Get Over It."
The years seem to have mellowed Henley enough that he sees the irony of a rock star addressing important issues like ecology ("Goodbye to a River") or class warfare. Other notable tracks here include "Taking You Home," a lush romantic ballad, and "Nobody Else in the World But You," featuring some deft keyboards by gRolling Stone (1/4/01, p.110) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Top 50 Albums of 2000".
Rolling Stone (6/8/00, p.126) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...A sonic marvel....each song finds its own atmospheric sound....Henley's extraordinary vooice...drenches the arrangements with powerful feeling....work that easily ranks among the finest of his career."
Q (6/00, p.106) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Provides loads more leverage for tastefully executed self-flagellation and finger-pointing....The upside of mature, adult rock."
Mojo (Publisher) (6/00, p.100) - "...The man is undeniably a pro and...he delivers an impeccably played and produced album full of songs demonstrating his concern about ecology, politics, big business and more..."