Bruce riffs on the third solo studio album by Don Henley, “The End of the Innocence” from June of 1989 (The End of the Innocence / I Will Not Go Quietly / New York Minute / The Heart of the Matter). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: “Batdance” by Prince STAFF PICKS: “Headed for a Heartbreak” by Winger - Brian. “Trouble Me” by 10,000 Maniacs — Rob. “Tehran” by The Offspring — Wayne. “Crossfire” by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble — Bruce. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “Follow Your Bliss” by The B-52's. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
The Eagles had been broken up for almost a decade, and it would be another 5 years before their reunion, but Don Henley was still a huge name in the music world. The End of the Innocence, Henley's third solo studio album, would be a more reflective and less synthesizer-heavy album, and would be Henley's best selling album.
After the break-up of the Eagles, Henley put out “I Can't Stand Still” in 1982, from which the hit single Dirty Laundry would arise. 1984 would see the appearance of “Building the Perfect Beast,” from which the best remembered single would be the monster hit “Boys of Summer.” Henley had established himself as a successful solo artist through these albums.
So, Don Henley had a celebrity status by the end of the 80's, and he would collaborate with many musicians across diverse genres in making this album. The result would cover lots of territory, from the rocking sounds of “I Will Not Go Quietly” to the sad reflections of “New York Minute” and many other musical and emotional stops along the way.
We hope you enjoy our observations on this excellent and pensive work.
The End of the Innocence
This is the title track, the first track on the album, and the first and most successful single. It was co-written and co-produced by Bruce Hornsby, who plays piano on it. Henley is overtly political on this one, and throughout the album. In the David Fincher video for the song, Oliver North is shown in his Iran/Contra congressional testimony during the line, “armchair warriors often fail,” and Reagan is shown during the lyrics, "they're beating plowshares into swords for this tired old man that we elected king."
I Will Not Go Quietly
This is the heaviest song on the album. Most of this album is pretty introspective, but not this one. Axl Rose contributes backing vocals! “Well, don't you ever get lonely? Don't you ever get down? Don't you ever get tired of all the wicked tongues in this town?”
New York Minute
A track with an almost symphonic feeling, this song features a number of well known collaborators. David Paich (Toto) plays piano, Jeff Porcaro (Toto) is on drums, Pino Palladino (session musician for many, including Jeff Beck, the Who, and Nine Inch Nails) is on fretless bass, and Christian Jazz a capella group Take 6 is featured in the chorus. This is one of Henley's songs which made it onto the Hell Freezes Over tour and album when the Eagles reunited in 1994.
The Heart of the Matter
Mike Campbell (of The Heartbreakers) wrote and produced this music. It tells of loss and moving on with forgiveness. "What are those voices outside love's open door make us throw off our contentment and beg for something more?"
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
“Batdance” by Prince (from the soundtrack for the motion picture “Batman”)
Michael Keaton would show us his darker side in this first big budget adaptation of the Caped Crusader since the campy 60's series.
STAFF PICKS:
“Headed for a Heartbreak” by Winger
Brian brings us Kip Winger's hit from his debut album. Winger was one of the big hair bands of the late 80's, but Charles Fredrick Kip Winger also has an impressive vocal range and was classically trained.
“Trouble Me” by 10,000 Maniacs
Rob's staff pick features the alternative rock which was about to drift into mainstream. This hit is off their fourth album entitled "Blind Man's Zoo." Natalie Merchant adds a distinctive voice as front woman for the group. The lyrics are inspired by Merchant's father who was sick in the hospital. “Why let your shoulders bend underneath this burden when my back is sturdy and strong?”
“Tehran” by The Offspring
Wayne's staff pick kicks in some California punk rock. The song is an anti-war creed. Interesting that frontman Dexter Holland has a PhD in molecular biology, is a licensed pilot, and has his own brand of hot sauce. The album never came out on CD, only album or cassette.
“Crossfire” by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Bruce features this track off SRV's fourth studio album, "In Step." It was the first one after he had gone through drug and alcohol rehab, and "In Step" refers to the 12-step program of Alcoholics anonymous. The song itself talks about the almost Darwinian pressure of modern life.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
“Follow Your Bliss” by The B-52's
The Athens band The B-52's were making a strong resurgence in 1989 with their album “Cosmic Thing,” and this instrumental track wraps us up this week.