Don Henley End of the Innocence CD - Import

Special Japanese limited edition in an LP sleeve replica with the original artwork.

Personnel includes: Don Henley (vocals); Danny Kortchmar, John Corey, Stan Lynch (various instruments); Waddy Wachtel (acoustic guitar); Steve Jordan (guitar, drums, background vocals); Mike Campbell (guitar); David Paich (strings, piano, keyboards); Wayne Shorter (soprano saxophone); Steve Madaio (trumpet); Bruce Hornsby (piano, keyboards); Jai Winding (keyboards); Bob Glaub, Pino Palladino, Larry Klein (bass); Jeff Porcaro (drums); Michael Fisher, Jim Keltner (percussion); Patty Smyth, Valerie Carter, W. Axl Rose, Take 6, Ivan Neville, Charlie Drayden, Melissa Etheridge, Edie Brickell, Sheryl Crow, J.D. Souther, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Carmen Twillie (background vocals).
Producers: Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Bruce Hornsby, John Corey, Stan Lynch, Mike Campbell.
Don Henley took some time before completing his highly anticipated third album, The End of the Innocence. Although he manages to duplicate much of the magic of his previous album, Henley has backed off of the synthesizers and expanded his musical palette. He uses background vocals to great effect, whether it's the tragic ballad "New York Minute" (with vocal group Take 6) or the angry rocker "I Will Not Go Quietly" (with Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses). His collaboration with Bruce Hornsby on the opening title track show a mature Henley singing about disillusionment over a beautiful piano riff that gives the song a timeless air of nostalgia. While he still tackles political issues and writes about small-town life in America, Henley also mixes in romantic ballads, including the closer "Heart of the Matter." In this epic song, Henley explores the emotional complexity of relationships and coming to terms with oneself during the aftermath. Throughout the album, he manages to balance being cynical yet hopeful, and his great melodies allow his poignant lyrics to penetrate. This album is highly recommended for those who like their pop music with a message. ~ Vik Iyengar
This 1989 release captures Don Henley at his best, and boasts well-crafted songs elevated by stunning poetic images and reflective narratives. In fact, few pop artists know how to illuminate the human condition with quite the same amount of insight and ethos as Henley. "The Last Worthless Evening" and "The Heart of the Matter" offer unique perspectives on love and romance, while other tracks seek even greater, more expansive, artistic truth.
The melancholy title track creatively blends together political denunciations (allusions to Ronald Reagan) with personal reckonings of lost virtue. In addition, jazz legend Wayne Shorter's soaring soprano sax solo on the bridge adds an emotional climax that's truly extraordinary. Another single from the record, "New York Minute" tells a tale of suicidal desperation, but ends with a kind of crippled hope; this song finds resiliency in faith and understanding in defeat. THE END OF THE INNOCENCE stands as an important pop record because of its lyrical brilliance, and its ability to speak so intimately to its listeners.

Q - 4 Stars - Excellent