Celebration of "Building the Perfect Beast"

[Troubadour]

Happy Birthday, Building The Perfect Beast!

I've loved reading the reviews. My favourite songs on this album are Boys of Summer and Not Enough Love In The World, closely followed by Sunset Grill, A Month Of Sundays and You're Not Drinking Enough. I also like You Can't Make Love. The others I can take or leave.

Building The Perfect Beast definitely sounds very '80s now, but to have Boys Of Summer, Sunset Grill and Not Enough Love on one album is pretty impressive. I just love Don's voice on Not Enough Love In The World. It's so sweet, and I adore the whole vibe of the song. I love the lyrics already quoted by Dreamer and Soda, but this part always stands out to me, too: "Sometimes it's so hard to smile, for the world, for the camera, and still have something left..." It's very Don! The lines that follow are probably my favourites in the song. "You don't have to prove nothin' to nobody - just take good care of yourself." It also has some great bits in it - like the "oh darlin'" part, and the verse that begins "I'm not easy to live with..." (Can you tell I love it?)

Overall, I'd say this is a great album, with some real high points - songs that have become embedded in Don/Eagles history. Some songs are a little too '80s in sound for me, and will never be anything more than fillerish album tracks... but there's none that I actively dislike. I just think Don was experimenting and going with the 'scene' with some songs, and to me, it's not entirely 'him'. Songs like Boys of Summer, Sunset Grill and Not Enough Love, however, still manage to be funky and 'of their time', whilst being true Henley, and showcasing his poetic lyrical abilities and sharp political/societal observations. That's enough for me to love this album.

[sodascouts]

There's a Henley interview this week celebrating the 25th Anniversary of this album on In the Studio with Redbeard, but I'm not sure if there's anything new to it. However, there is a cute story on the site in the right sidebar regarding Henley and Sheryl Crow:

http://www.inthestudio.net/

[AzEaglesFan]

Besides the 2 Glenn Frey vinyl records I also found Building the Perfect Beast CD. They had a couple of other Don CDs but I have both or them already so I didn't get them. No vinyl Don records.

[sodascouts]

Happy birthday to Building the Perfect Beast, my favorite of Don's solo albums!

[Ive always been a dreamer]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BUILDING THE PERFECT BREAST!!!

I think that's supposed to be BEAST - I kinda got mixed up after reading about this is another thread. I love the sentiment that Soda expressed about Building the Perfect Breast being about Don paying homage to reconstructive surgery!

Anyway, of course, this is the album that contains the magnificent "The Boys of Summer". Unfortunately, it also contains the title track, which is one of Don's worst songs ever, IMHO. As I said previously in this thread, the whole album is full of ups and downs. Hmmm - on second thought maybe Don was thinking of boobs when he released it. In any event, the album is way too uneven for me to call it a favorite. However, I like most of it nonetheless.

[Stars]

Speaking of "Building the Perfect Beast", one of our library patrons returned his personal copy of the CD to the library recently. I was pleased to be the one to call him up and let him know that he left his Don Henley CD in our book drop, and that he could come by when he had a chance and pick it up! I remember saying to my co-workers, "Oh, I'll give him a call", just so I could mention Don's name on his answering machine!

[Ive always been a dreamer]

I'd have done exactly the same thing, Carla.

[whitcap]

Bringing this thread forward for the 27th anniversary!

Here's my ranking of the songs from favorite to least favorite:

1. Driving With Your Eyes Closed
2. Land of the Living
3. All She Wants to do is Dance
4. A Month of Sundays
5. Sunset Grill
6. Not Enough Love in the World
7. You Can’t Make Love
8. You’re Not Drinking Enough
9. The Boys of Summer
10. Man with a Mission
11. Building the Perfect Beast

[sodascouts]

Happy Birthday to the Perfect Beast!

My ranking:

1. Boys of Summer
2. Not Enough Love in the World
3. You Can't Make Love
4. All She Wants to Do Is Dance
5. You're Not Drinking Enough
6. Sunset Grill
7, A Month of Sundays
8. Land of the Living
9. Driving With Your Eyes Closed
10. Building the Perfect Beast
11. Man with a Mission

[WalshFan88]

Happy Birthday to Building the Perfect Beast!

I'll do my rankings later but I'll just say that Boys of Summer is my favorite Don Henley solo song and All She Wants To Do Is Dance is my third favorite Henley solo song. Dirty Laundry from "I Can't Stand Still" is my second favorite Henley solo song.