1984 Don Henley – Boys Of Summer (US:#5 UK:#12)
“
The Boys of Summer“ is a song released in 1984 by Eagles vocalist and drummer Don Henley, with lyrics written by Don Henley and music composed by Henley and Mike Campbell.
It is the lead track and first single from Henley’s 1984 album Building the Perfect Beast and reached the top five in the United States as well as the top position on the Top Rock Tracks chart and number 12 in the UK Singles Chart.
Henley’s song is 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. “The Boys of Summer” is written in the key of E minor. 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. Both “Love Is A Battlefield” and “The Boys of Summer” rely heavily on the Linn LM-2 drum machine.
Album
Building the Perfect Beast is the second solo studio album by Don Henley, the lead vocalist and drummer for the Eagles. The album was released on 19 November 1984 on the Geffen label. A commercial and critical success, it is generally regarded as the culmination of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of Henley’s solo work. […]
Musicians
| Bass | Larry Klein |
| Guitar | Mike Campbell |
| Guitar | Danny Kortchmar |
| Synthesizer | Steve Porcaro |
| Synthesizer | Danny Kortchmar |
| Synthesizer | Mike Campbell |
| Percussion | Mike Campbell |
| Vocals | Don Henley |
Produced By
Don Henley
Danny Kortchmar
Greg Ladanyi
Mike Campbell
Songwriter
Don Henley
Mike Campbell
Charts
US:#5
UK:#12
September 3, 2016 @ 14:28
It is truly amazing, the music that was brought to life from the minds and hands of these incredibly talented humans. Their music is a part of what influenced me in my own, part time, music career. Yes, it started with The Beatles…which I believe was the ‘pollination’, if you will, of the budding musical prodigies that are these phenomenal composer/musicians of my era. BIG love and heartfelt hugs and thanks to all of you, who colored my audio world so beautifully for so many years. ? …and Danny Kortchmar, if you read this, please give Linda Ronstadt my love and hugs too, as she was my biggest vocal influence. Thank you!
September 3, 2016 @ 19:57
More than just Steve on the rest of the album
September 4, 2016 @ 12:24
You can find them here: http://www.sessiondays.com/2016/04/1984-don-henley-building-perfect-beast/