Don Henley - Building the Perfect Beast

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, All Music Guide

Name Credits Albhy Galuten Synclavier, Synthesizer Allen Sides Engineer Belinda Carlisle Vocal Harmony, Vocals Benmont Tench Keyboards, Synthesizer, Synthesizer Arrangements, Piano Bill Cuomo Percussion, Synthesizer, Programming, Percussion Programming Carla Olson Vocals, Chant Charlie Sexton Guitar Dan Garcia Assistant Engineer Danny Kortchmar Guitar, Bass, Omnichord, Percussion Arrangement, Synthesizer Arrangements, ?, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Organ, Producer, Percussion, Chant, Guitar (Synthesizer) David Paich Piano, Synthesizer Arrangements, Synthesizer, Keyboards David Schober Assistant Engineer Dominique Mancinelli Vocals, ?, Ensemble Don Henley Keyboards, ?, Drums, Producer, Percussion, Vocal Harmony, Art Direction, Synthesizer Arrangements, Vocals, Chant Doug Sax Mastering Duane Seykora Assistant Engineer Greg Ladanyi Mixing, Producer, Engineer Herb Ritts Photography Ian Wallace Drums J.D. Souther Chant, Vocals Jeri McManus Art Direction, Graphic Coordinator Jerry Hey Horn Arrangements, Horn (Alto), Horn Jim Keltner Drums Kevin McCormick Drums, African Drums, Drums (African) Larry Klein Bass Lindsey Buckingham Vocals, Guitar, Vocal Harmony Maren Jensen Art Direction Marie Pascale Elfman Ensemble, Vocals, ? Mark Ettel Assistant Engineer Martha Davis Vocals, Chant, Vocal Harmony Michael Boddicker Programming, Synthesizer, Sequencing, Synthesizer Arrangements, Emulator Michael O'Donahue Vocals, Chant Mike Campbell Producer, Synthesizer, Percussion, Guitar Mike Reese Mastering Niko Bolas Mixing, Engineer Patty Smyth ?, Chant, Vocals, Vocal Harmony Pino Palladino Bass Randy Newman Synthesizer Arrangements, Synthesizer Richard Bosworth Engineer, Assistant Engineer Richard Wachtel Vocals Sam Moore Vocal Harmony Samuel Moore Vocals Steve Porcaro Programming, Synthesizer Tim Drummond Bass Tom Knox Engineer Waddy Wachtel Chant