# What is your opinion of Don Henley? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096 "2011-09-30T01:56:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/1 "2011-09-30T01:56:59Z")
Here I refer to the solo works of Don Henley, not his time with the Eagles. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/2 "2011-09-30T01:58:33Z")
I like “Dirty Laundry.” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/3 "2011-09-30T02:05:42Z")
You needed at least one more option: _I enjoyed both his work with the Eagles and his solo stuff, and also, India Arie completely fucked up "Heart of the Matter._ ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/4 "2011-09-30T02:10:00Z")
You left out [Don Henley Must Die](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60xnz85vYbc) ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/5 "2011-09-30T02:15:19Z")
I said “meh” assuming that meh means boring. It’s better than being chained in a pit of filth, but worse than a lot of other things. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/6 "2011-09-30T02:22:44Z")
I like Don Henley both as an Eagle and as a solo artist. I especially like “Building the Perfect Beast” and “The End of the Innocence.” I will listen to both those albums in their entirety. I consider “I Will Not Go Quietly” as one of my favorite tunes. However, to me, he is the voice of the Eagles. Not to take anything away from Frey, Schmidt, or Walsh. I thought some of his best vocal work was in their last album, “Long Road Out of Eden.” I thought some of his standout songs on that album were “Too Busy Being Fabulous,” “Waiting In the Weeds,” “Fast Company,” and “Business As Usual.” Edit - But yeah, he is a fine solo artist with a good body of material. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/7 "2011-09-30T02:25:09Z")
Moved thread and poll from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/8 "2011-09-30T02:27:12Z")
I don’t like The Eagles at all, but I actually kind of like some of his solo work. I wouldn’t call myself a fan or anything, but Boys Of Summer and Dirty Laundry are good songs. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/9 "2011-09-30T02:30:48Z")
Don’t like him. Not quite chained-to-a-pit-of-filth dislike, but stronger than a meh, largely because songs I may have once been meh about I’ve heard played enough that they are now actively irritating. Hearing _The Boys of Summer_ on the radio can make me kind of stabby. But then I am also a non-fan of **The Eagles** , who never did much for me. They too have crossed over from meh, to somewhat irritating. _Hotel California_, which I once considered tolerable, now languishes in the same pit of discards as the likes of _Freebird_ - I’d be perfectly happy if I never heard either again. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/10 "2011-09-30T03:08:08Z")
I don’t like the Eagles, but I like the solo stuff from them. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/11 "2011-09-30T03:24:35Z")
He’s done some great work, but I’m more of a Joe Walsh fan. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/12 "2011-09-30T04:48:07Z")
Yeah, you left out my option… love the Eagles, love Don Henley. Couldn’t really choose a favorite between the two. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/13 "2011-09-30T05:24:15Z")
Only song of his solo stuff I find listenable is _End of the Innocence_ which is for all practical purposes a Bruce Hornsby song. BH wrote the music and lyrics, and played piano on the track. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/14 "2011-09-30T05:26:24Z")
I haven’t listened to a whole lot of his stuff, or the Eagles for that matter, but I quite like the entire Actual Miles compilation. Yes, I know it’s a Greatest Hits thing, but still, they’re pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/15 "2011-09-30T06:19:02Z")
Don Henley is the Miller Lite of rock. Joe ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/16 "2011-09-30T06:23:11Z")
I love his magic tricks and goofy moustache. Oh wait, that’s Doug Henning. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/17 "2011-09-30T06:36:08Z")
I was watching a cop show once where one cop asked another if the suspect “sang” (ratted on his friends during an interrogation). The answer: “Like Don Henley.” I remember thinking, so did he give up his friends or not? ---
**Author:** ![Pitter\_Patter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90db22/32.png) [@Pitter\_Patter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitter_Patter)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/18 "2011-09-30T07:04:17Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Only song of his solo stuff I find listenable is _End of the Innocence_ which is for all practical purposes a Bruce Hornsby song. BH wrote the music and lyrics, and played piano on the track. This. Great album, but Henley himself? Meh. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/19 "2011-09-30T07:22:01Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > You left out [Don Henley Must Die](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60xnz85vYbc) Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096/20 "2011-09-30T10:25:42Z")
I am not a huge fan, but I think he is competent at his craft. I was a high-school kid yearning for an unrequited love when “Boys of Summer” was on the charts. So I love that particular song. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-don-henley/598096.md?page=2)