Don Henley Songs Ranked
Donald Hugh Henley (born July 22, 1947) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and founding member of the Eagles. He was the drummer and co-lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971 until the band broke up in 1980, and has reprised those duties for the group’s reunions since 1994. Henley sang the lead vocals on Eagles hits such as “Witchy Woman”, “Desperado”, “Best of My Love”, “One of These Nights”, “Hotel California”, “Life in the Fast Lane”, “The Long Run” and “Get Over It”.
After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Henley pursued a solo career and released his debut album I Can’t Stand Still, in 1982. He has released five studio albums, two compilation albums, and one live DVD. His solo hits include “Dirty Laundry”, “The Boys of Summer”, “All She Wants to Do Is Dance”, “The Heart of the Matter”, “The Last Worthless Evening”, “Sunset Grill”, “Not Enough Love in the World”, and “The End of the Innocence”.
Henley has also played a founding role in several environmental and political causes, most notably the Walden Woods Project. From 1994 to 2016, he divided his musical activities between the Eagles and his solo career.
Here are all of Don Henley’s songs ranked.
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15. Get Over It (Hell Freezes Over, 1994)
“This is one of the eagles relatively recent songs that is telling everyone that they need to chill, stop bi*ching, stop seeing each other over stupid stuff, and just get over it, it is their way of saying that we are getting too pessimistic in our culture and that we need to switch directions.”
14. Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough (Absolute Music 14, 1992)
“This song definitely has some strong emotions behind it. Two people love each other so much but things just can’t work out between them no matter what…maybe distance got in the way or something like that. Who knows….This was me and my ex’s break up song though”
13. Words Can Break Your Heart (Cass County, 2015)
“Pretty good album if you like Don Henley you will like it if not nothing here would make you change your opinion. I realize that many music fans revile Henley and find him pretentious but I have always had a mild fondness for his solo music. “
12. The Last Worthless Evening (The End of the Innocence, 1989)
“A Great song of love sometimes hurts but if you’re looking there is someone new that can be better for you than what you had.”
See more; Don Henley Albums Ranked
11. Miss Ghost (Inside Job, 2000)
“Lovely song. Those who like Henley’s Garden Of Allah, Sunset Grill or Waiting in the Weeds, would greatly enjoy this too. I like it more than any other song in “Inside Job”
10. Leather and Lace (Bella Donna, 1981)
“I understand why you might think that this is cheesy, corny or sickly sentimental. It probably is. But that sad mountain folk melody gets me nonetheless.”
9. New York Minute (The End of the Innocence, 1989)
“This is a haunting song about loss, and how quickly bad things can happen. How we can suddenly lose the ones we love. Harry the successful stockbroker just disappears one day. Was it suicide? This is a song about life being unpredictable, how the wolf is always at the door. Even when it seems everything is fine.”
8. I Will Not Go Quietly (The End of the Innocence, 1989)
“If you want a song that lights a fire under you…this is the one. It bolsters your stamina if you listen to it before that “big confrontation”.
7. Sunset Grill (Building the Perfect Beast 1985)
“Sunset Grill” stands head and shoulders above any other song on Building the Perfect Beast. Heck, it is as good as any song that I can think of from the 1980s. Why is that? It’s certainly not the lyrics, which are just mundane. It doesn’t break any musical ground that I know of.”
6. The Heart of the Matter (The End of the Innocence, 1989)
“Beautiful song. One of his best ever. I love how he says that he’s learning to live without her, but he misses her sometimes. That’s real right there. It’s like he’s trying to stay busy, but when he stops and thinks for a minute, she’s there.”
See more: Glenn Frey Albums Ranked
5. Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat (Leap of Faith, 1992)
“On the soundtrack Leap of Faith starring Steve Martin, this is the absolute best version of this song I’ve ever heard. Would love to see this song come back.”
4. The End of the Innocence (The End of the Innocence, 1989)
“Don sounds a bit bored here but does a credible job with another of his nostalgia themed ballads. Bruce Hornsby more than chips in with the nice piano work.”
3. Dirty Laundry (I Can’t Stand Still, 1982)
“This type of song usually comes off as smug to me, but it works pretty well here. Maybe it’s the insistent keyboard lick, which lasts nearly all of the songs five-and-a-half minutes without wearing out its welcome somehow. Or the lyrics, which exist in that muddy area where good-natured ribbing meets pointed satire.”
2. The Boys of Summer (Building the Perfect Beast, 1984)
“Some songs transcend the limits of their own genre. The Boys of Summer is one of them. Sure, it is 80s corporate rock. Sure, it was produced with car radios in mind. Sure, they were already counting the money as they did the final re-mix. But the thing is both catchy and atmospheric, both celebratory and a little sad. Unlike most songs of the time, the synthesizers are used to create atmosphere rather than just drown everything in syrup.”
1. All She Wants to Do Is Dance (Coyote Ugly, 1984)
“Love the movie and soundtrack too! If you’ve never seen it, do so soon. And look for John Wayne in it, I love him and so surprised when saw him almost life-size. Songs are great, not one bad one in the bunch. They make me happy even the slower ones.”