Product Description

Although the 1980s production values sound a bit dated, DonHenley's BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST is made up of 11 smartly written songs that stand the test of time. Henley's secondsolo endeavor, the release shows the various faces of the singer/songwriter, surrounded here by an excellent group of musicians, including longtime partner Danny Kortchmar. From the rocking "Man with a Mission" to the folk narrative "Monthof Sundays" to the country ballad "You're Not Drinking Enough", BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST is a record built upon variety. Two Henley hits are also found on this album, namely thesteamy "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" and the reflective, bittersweet "The Boys of Summer", the latter of which features some of the artist's finest lyrics, along with music by Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell.

Track Listing

1. The Boys Of Summer
2. You Can't Make Love
3. Man With A Mission
4. You're Not Drinking Enough
5. Not Enough Love In The World
6. Building The Perfect Beast
7. All She Wants To Do Is Dance
8. A Month Of Sundays
9. Sunset Grill
10. Drivin' With Your Eyes Closed
11. Land Of The Living

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9758 in Music
• Released on: 1999-03-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 47 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Henley--arguably the most talented member of the Eagles--had toyed with playful pop hooks on his I Can't Stand Still solo bow in 1982. Two years later he got down to business on this brainy, politics-themed sophomore disc, which indicted his native Hollywood as venomously as "Hotel California" once did. Surfaces were still somewhat glossy--there's no denying the foot-tapping elan of "Boys of Summer or "All She Wants to Do Is Dance". But the vitriol rolling just beneath those surfaces was deep, intellectual stuff. Henley, as he continued to prove with the more eloquent The End of the Innocence a few years later, is someone his fans can neither underestimate nor predict. Can we say the same of Glenn Frey or Randy Meisner? --Tom Lanham

Customer Reviews

The Beast of Summer
Anything located in the eighties synth-swamp was likely to sound sterile, but this album, despite being waist deep in the stuff, largely overcomes the era's production values with a combination of wit, acidity and swagger. Of course, 'The Boys Of Summer' would be irresistible in any decade, just like 'Hotel California'. But there are several other tracks here that ooze class, including everything in the first half. The slower, Eaglish 'You're Not Drinking Enough' harks back more to the excellence of his 1970s output than anything else. Henley, though, sounds more liberated on the rocked up 'All She Wants To Do Is Dance', while the mini epic, 'Sunset Grill' is the highlight of the later tracks. If anything, this is an album to admire more now than when it was made.

A few great tracks...
I bought this CD on the strength or "Boys of Summer" , the favourable reviews and the fact that I'm a die-hard Eagles fan.
There are some great tracks here but there are also some rather drawn out 80's style tracks that are longer on production than substance..
I guess I was maybe expecting too much as most albums of the period were similar in that they had their share of "fillers"..
Overall - good but not great.

It really starts here
The progression which transformed the Eagles between their country-ish debut album and the final stunning "The Long Run" continued after the band split, so that, separately, the former band members have produced a body of work which far surpasses that of the Eagles as a band.

Though best known for the iconic "Boys of Summer", "Building the Perfect Beast" is a superb and consistent album, far better than "I Can't Stand Still". The album continues the rocky, gritty feel of its predecessor, and stand-out tracks include "A Month of Sundays", "Driving with Your Eyes Closed" and - a personal favourite - "Sunset Grill". Great stuff, an effortless five-stars, and a must-own album for rock fans. Yet the best was STILL to come....