I liked his solo tunes when they were new, but, as with most classic rock songs I once liked, I eventually reached the point where I’d heard them enough to last for the rest of my life.
He totally gets credit from me for “All She Wants To Do Is Dance.” Not for its musicality (passable but not great), but for the sly mocking of a lot of the very people the song would appeal to in the first place. They don’t really know the words, or at least don’t get their meaning- they just like the song. And thus make the song’s point.
“Dirty Laundry”
“Johnny Can’t Read”
“The End of the Innocence”
“The Last Worthless Evening”
“The Heart of the Matter”
“Month of Sundays”
“New York MInute”
“All She Wants to Do is Dance”
“Building the Perfect Beast”
“Sunset Grill”
“The Boys of Summer”
“The Garden of Allah”
“They’re Not Here, They’re Not Coming”
“Dammit, Rose”
“My Thanksgiving”
“Goodbye to a River”
That’s a body of solo work as good as–or better than–most artists.
(Yeah, I’m a fan.)
I once called the rock radio station in my major American city and complained about an abominably bad Don Henley song they were overplaying. The DJ apologized to me.
I’ll take the pit of filth, thanks. The sounds of my own madness will be more soothing.
Add “I Will Not Go Quietly,” “Driving With Your Eyes Closed,” “Not Enough Love In The World,” and “Inside Job” and that’s the perfect Don Henley playlist there.