Rewind: 1989: Don Henley Releases His Third Solo Album

Released 27th June 1989

Geffen Records

Produced by

Don Henley, Mike Campbell, John Corey, Bruce Hornsby, Danny Kortchmar, Greg Ladanyi, Stan Lynch

US Charts #8

UK Charts #17

Singles from the Album

End of the Innocence. US #8

The Last Worthless Evening. US #21

The Heart of the Matter. US #21

End of the Innocence was the third solo album from Don Henley. It was a long wait for the album, 5 years to be exact and after it's release he wouldn't record another solo record for 11 years! This was mainly down to a contract dispute with his record label, which was resolved when the Eagles reunited in 1994.

It is by far his biggest selling album with well over 6 Million Units moved in the States alone.

In some quarters it is quite uncool to mention having an affection for the music of the Eagles or any of the solo works of its members (bar Joe Walsh it would seem!) but I'm old enough now to not ever be bothered about whether something is cool or not. I'll throw my hat in the ring and say it, I absolutely love this album. His previous release, Building the Perfect Beast had contained the exceptional 'Boys of Summer' and I had assumed that he would never top that, but on End of the Innocence he did so with a number of songs - the title track penned by Bruce Hornsby and himself and 'New York Minute'. It's actually interesting because when I first heard the title track on the radio without knowing that Hornsby had Co-written it I thought he must have played on it because the piano sound is just so reminiscent of his own work.

'Heart of the Matter' is the song for me that makes this album great. Written by Don Henley, Mike Campbell (of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers) and long time collaborator J.D. Souther, for me it's pretty much the perfect pop song.

Album Personel

Don Henley – drums, vocals, background vocals, harmony vocals
    Timothy Drury – keyboards, background vocals, harmony vocals
    Edie Brickell – background vocals, harmony vocals
    Mike Campbell – guitar, keyboards
    Valerie Carter – background vocals, harmony vocals
    John Corey – guitar, keyboards
    Sheryl Crow – background vocals
    Charley Drayton – background vocals, harmony vocals
    Melissa Etheridge – background vocals, harmony vocals
    Michael G. Fisher – percussion
    Bob Glaub – bass
    Bruce Hornsby – piano, keyboards
    Stanley Jordan – guitar, drums, background vocals, harmony vocals
    Steve Jordan – drums, electric guitar, background vocals, harmony vocals, wah wah guitar
    Jim Keltner – percussion, drums
    Larry Klein – bass
    Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar – guitar, keyboards
    Stan Lynch – percussion, drums
    Steve Madaio – trumpet
    Ivan Neville – background vocals, harmony vocals
    David Paich – piano, strings, keyboards
    Pino Palladino – bass
    Jeff Porcaro – drums (on "New York Minute")
    Axl Rose – background vocals, harmony vocals
    Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone
    Patty Smyth – background vocals, harmony vocals
    J.D. Souther – background vocals
    Take 6 – background vocals, harmony vocals
    Carmen Twillie – background vocals, harmony vocals
    Waddy Wachtel – acoustic guitar
    Julia Waters – background vocals, harmony vocals
    Maxine Waters – background vocals, harmony vocals
    Jai Winding – keyboards, keyboard bass