For reasons unknown, but which were probably determined by the configuration of the universe this week, I wanted to post some music by Don Henley et frères. The first is one of my favorite songs by the Eagles, a group I didn’t really appreciate when they were around. “I Can’t Tell you Why, written by Henley, Glenn Frey, and Timothy Schmit, all members of the group, was recorded in 1979.
The second song, “Boys of Summer“, was released by Henley on a solo album in 1984. He’s not in great voice during this live performance, which is the only one I could find on YouTube. Lyrics are by Henley; music by Mike Campbell. It’s hard to believe this song is nearly thirty years old. It’s one of several in which Henley mourns his lost youth, which he’s been doing since he was in his thirties.
Wikipedia explains the song’s origin:
Henley’s song has a haunting rhythm and timbre, cemented by Campbell’s 1-7-5 repetitive riff over a vi-IV-V-IV chord pattern. Superficially, the song appears to be about the passing of youth and entering middle age, with the theme of ‘summer love’ apparent in the choruses, and of reminiscence of a past relationship. [JAC: Superficially? I can’t detect any deeper meaning, but that’s okay.]
In a 1987 interview with Rolling Stone, Henley explained that the song is more about aging and questioning the past—a recurring theme in Henley’s lyrics (cf. “The End of the Innocence”, and “Taking You Home”.)
In an interview with NME in 1985, Henley explained the ‘Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac’ lyrics as an example of his generation selling out:
“I was driving down the San Diego freeway and got passed by a $21,000 Cadillac Seville, the status symbol of the Right-wing upper-middle-class American bourgeoisie – all the guys with the blue blazers with the crests and the grey pants – and there was this Grateful Dead ‘Deadhead’ bumper sticker on it!”
In an interview with Knoxville.com, Neil Giraldo, Pat Benatar’s guitarist and husband, says that Henley came in the studio while he was in the process of recording the song “Love Is a Battlefield” using an up tempo beat, and asked Giraldo if he could steal the sound for use in his song, “The Boys of Summer”, to which Giraldo gave his permission.
The recorded version of the song, without the strained voice, is here.
What a drag it is getting old.
Hope I die before I get old.
Maybe there will be a cure before then.
The Cadillac and all this talk of music and dying made me think of Qiot Riot. My friend and I was waiting for their bus to roll up behind a venue so I could possibly get a picture. A crapy chevy Astro van pulls up with mag wheels and they all get out. I asked them for a photo and Debrow muttered an expletive and kept walking. Carlos Cavazo however stopped and posed for a photo with me. Debrow has since died of a cocaine overdose.
You got that right.
Dirty Laundry sounds rather quaint today. Henley’s critique of the news industry, although harsh, was fully warranted — yet journalism standards were still a lot higher in 1982 than they are now.
For sure.
I cannot tell you how much I despise that song. Actually, I lied. I can, and am about to try.
I think it was because of the bodybuilder meathead frat-type occupying the dorm room right across the hall from me. His place was so filthy and full of his grimy workout clothes that he made the entire bottom floor of the place smell like a gym locker full of butt-cheese and foot fungus. And every day at exactly the same time (while I labored over organic chemistry and QM) he waltzed into his place, opened the door, cranked the amp up to eleven, and put that hideous song on.
I had no idea, until now, that it had anything to do with journalism.
Great story! Thanks (I think — that laundry image is going to reek in my brain for quite a while. As Bruce Cockburn said, “Open up the windows, let the bad air out!”)
I guess on reflection my deep distaste for this song has nothing to do with its compositional merits… When I mentioned this story to one of my bros, it immediately made him think of the problem he has with the song “Turning Japanese”… for much the same reasons (timing and volume, not olfactory).
But “Turning Japanese” occupies a warm and fuzzy place in my heart… for reasons having nothing to do with its compositional merits. Music is a funny thing.
He wrote dirty laundry as a screw you to the press inre his statutory rape incident back in the day.
Hi Jerry,
much as you may like Don Henley and this great song, if you have a few minutes to spare, try this far more elegiac version from the mighty Show of Hands – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B0iJTFXAR8
Just had a listen — darn good.
Likewise and agreed.
Yes, lovely rendition. Better than the original in some ways.
Superb cover.
Thanks so much for the link.
Yes, great stuff. A couple of my favorites as well.
I strongly recommend all to view “The Eagles Farewell Tour (I), Live in Melbourne” and “History of the Eagles”. Both are excellent.
It’s apparent from the “History” that Randy Meisner is the only one not to have had a face-lift …
Steuart Smith was a great addition to the band. He can play all those Leadon and Felder leads perfectly. (And, apparently, anything else on guitar.)
Loved the Eagles in the 70s though I never saw them in concert back then. After they reunited some years ago I saw them in concert twice. They’ve become much better musicians since they matured and sobered up (are you listening Joe Walsh?). As evidence, listen to the reunion tour version of Hotel California with the guitar intro:
New Hotel California
There’s a two part documentary on the History of the Eagles on Showtime that is interesting. It shows how big they were in the 70s, the fights that eventually fractured the band, and some great sounding concert videos.
A bit pedantic, but ‘I Can’t Tell You Why’ wasn’t released as a single until 1980. There was no Eagles in 1970.
Correct. It was written with Timothy Schmidt, who did not join until after Randy Meissner left in about 1978.
Thanks– fixed! The song was first released in 1979 on the album “The Long Run”, and, when released as a single the following year, was Timothy B. Schmit’s first hit with the Eagles.
GCM
I was never much of a Dead fan…as a high-schooler in the early 70s, I was much more into the Allman Brothers, and shortly afterwards, yes, the Eagles.
But having been a lawyer for almost 20 years now, I do, like most other lawyers I know, have a closet full of Jerry Garcia neckties. Talk about selling out…when we play the “if I had a time machine” game, that’s my comment: I’d go back to the Haight, circa 1970, and tell the Dead that in 40 years, their music would be largely forgotten and irrelevant (Dead fans may send me their death threats care of this blog), but the Estate of Garcia would be raking it in from all of the lawyers buying its silk.
BTW, Henley’s best-of, “Actual Miles,” is constantly blasting from my car’s speakers. “In the Garden of Allah” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Garden_of_Allah_(song)) has to be one of the greatest songs of all time, and not just to a cynical lawyer, although his riff about expert witnesses is particularly delicious. (And about THAT, see THIS: http://www.amazon.com/Whores-Court-Psychiatric-Testimony-American/dp/0060391979.)
I disliked the Dead’s music quite a lot, but there is no group whose work I respect more. I still miss Jerry Garcia.
I find the Dead’s music to be excruciatingly boring. Never did understand the craze.
Acid and marijuana …
Ha Ha! That does match my observations from rooming with a dedicated Dead Head in college. His major was Golf, he was by far the messiest person I have ever lived with and he smoked weed like many people drink coffee. He was never in a hurry about anything. He was a nice guy and often a lot of fun, but the music? Uggg! He must have had at least 100 tapes of boot leg recordings and he tried to convert anyone that stood still long enough. The music quickly came to sound all the same to me.
These are terrific selections. My favorite Don Henley song is “End of the Innocence”. Copies on YouTube have been suppressed due to copyright.
Probably the most successful U.S. rock band in history. I’m not really a fan of the Joe Walsh era; I much prefer the country/rock Eagles. So many of their great songs are tinged with regret: Lyin Eyes, Tequila Sunrise, Desperado and my personal favorite Take It To The Limit.
You would agree with Bernie Leadon who left for that reason (Frye and Henley wanted to rock more) and Walsh stepped in.
I love the old stuff — and I love the new stuff, including the Long Road Out of Eden record. Great record.
(And the term “record” is dating me. Last night my Mom stopped by and we spoke briefly of music. She said something about “33-1/3 rpm records”. Wow.)
Mmm, Boys of Summer. It’s a beautiful song because every line visualizes an entire scene. It’s simple poetry.
“But I can see you/ your brown skin shining in the sun/ I see you walkin’ real slowly/ smilin’ at everyone”
I kinda liked “Boys of Summer” and bought the album on the strength of it… but all the other tracks were disappointing.
/@
1985. First year of University. First year having left home. The Boys of Summer echoing through the hostel. Takes me back everytime I hear it.
I love ‘boys of summer’. It reminds me of a comment made by George Melly about the beatles ‘penny lane’ – ‘it makes you feel nostalgic for a place you never knew’.