anecdoter's Full Review: Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits by Don Henley
Since Don Henley is one of the artist who writes either really good songs or songs that you avoid like the plague, it is hard to justify why anyone would want to buy any of his first three solo albums after the release of this greatest hits collection. Of course, all the serious Don Henley fans would have most likely bought the albums as they were released. Music aficionados with deep pockets will also want to buy Don's earlier albums to discover the little gems that never made it to the radio (of which there are a lot). However, people, such as myself, with limited money for music, and are just recently begun to appreciate this quite capable and talented artist, will find this to be the best starting point in discovering the varied and complex music of Don Henley.
Wrapped up in this neat, little package are ten previously released songs, that whether you admit to it or not, you probably sang along to on the radio when you thought no one was looking. Also included are three new songs that more than justify the cost of this album to anyone who already has the other ten songs. Just having all of Don's best songs on one single disc/cassette is more than well worth the price of admission - not to mention saving you considerable wear and tear on your eject button.
The songs are arranged according to release dates, with the lone song from "I Can't Stand Still" ("Dirty Laundry") occupying track #1. Given the chronological order, the songs show a clear progression of Don's talent for writing lyrics and his own personal growth. The earlier tracks are more or less simple songs, while still very good, may leave some people with a craving for a little more substance. Later tracks progressive into more complex works, both musically and lyrically; this progression culminates in last original Don Henley track on the album (the last song is a cover), "You Don't Know Me At All." This song is fierce, again, both in lyrics and music, rock song about walking away from a sham of a relationship.
As I have stated before, this album opens up with "Dirty Laundry," Don's response to the media circus that surrounded the incident with the young girl found in his house in the early 80's. While a good song, with humorous lyrics, it is beginning to show its age. The typewriters clacking in the background make for an excellent example of the use of non-instruments adding to music, however, the voices of the background singers in the chorus sound weak, and, in my opinion, actually detract from the song.
"Boys of Summer" is probably one of my favorite Don Henley songs. Flowing behind lyrics of desperation and determination is a great rock beat that screams at you to turn it up. While most people do not think of Don Henley as a rock performer, this song illuminates the contrary. The breath-taking guitar lines in this song match the intensity of the lyrics and can send shivers up the spine of those who have been in situations that this song portrays. The music, complimented by great renditions of sea gulls, paints an auditory landscape of both fleeting summer and love.
One of two songs on this album that were not written by Don Henley, "All She wants to do is Dance" has a great groove to it. You can tell that Don Henley didn't write the lyrics, but they are still of some quality and do make a point. This pop song is also beginning to show its age, and Don Henley performed it much better on his Inside Job tour.
"Not Enough Love in the World" is one of those songs that have helped contribute to the sappy image of Don Henley. While the music may be of sour syrup (saddening), the lyrics are of Don's best and have probably comforted many people when they discover their love is doomed to fail. This song is one of the rare pieces that never seem to age, or even yellow; one could just as easily imagine this song being released today as it was nearly twenty years ago.
"Sunset Grill" is my least favorite song on this album. The lyrics are inspired and convey a sense of placelessness; however, the music is drab and does seem to rise to the occasion. The ending of this song drags on for far too long with trumpets and horns that sound like they're guiding incoming vessels into a foggy harbor and the whole auditory scene does not seem to fit the lyrics of the song. My only guess is that this brass section was supposed to convey hope for the song's main character's complacent life.
I can probably take or leave "The End of the Innocence." The piano driven lyrics are good, but not exceptionally so and the lyrics seem to be a little on the weaker side. However, the concept of one's innocence being stripped away, like the flesh of an onion, due to life's events, is one that saves this song from being placed in the forgettable pile.
"The Last Worthless Evening" is my favorite song on the album and should serve as inspiration to anyone trying to court a perspective partner. The acoustic guitar opinions with an infective melody and the lyrics are well polished and seem to hit the nail on the head, or so to speak, every time. One caveat: the female backup singers singing "Time, Time, Ticking" could (and should!) have been replaced by one or two well-crafted lines.
"A New York Minute" is probably one of Don Henley's best known songs and deserves to be. The depressing music carries the sadness and hopelessness that the lyrics convey. While sad, the song seems to say that the happiness of today will make up for the sadness of tomorrow.
Hard-hitting, "I Will Not Go Quietly" is a great rock song. While the end seems to drag on just a little too long, this is probably the best Don Henley song you have never heard. Despite the relatively "heavy" music, the lyrics are well-written and do a great job illustrating the feelings of one determined to hold on to a good relationship when the other person's hope begins to falter. Of interesting note is the mention of a "W. Axle Rose" in the credits... perhaps this accounts for the "uumph!" in the song.
"The Heart of the Matter" is the emotional heart of this album. It is easy for anyone to write a song about failed relationships or fighting to keep a relationship a float; it is not easy for someone to put there pride aside, for everyone to see, and say: it hurt, but I understand. The music and lyrics are great - if you haven't heard it already, do so now. This song contains more shards of wisdom than most entire albums.
As one of those songs that people either hate or love, "The Garden of Allah" is one of the new songs that some people probably wish was never written. I happen to enjoy this song about a chance encounter with the devil, but I have heard many complaints about it - and I have several of my own. For example, Sheryl Crow's backup singing is unnecessary and can be annoying at times. Also, this is probably the only song on the album you won't sing along to, as the lyrics are relatively lengthy and are more complex than the relatively simple phrases we're accustomed to in songs - which isn't a bad thing!
"You Don't Know Me At All" is the climax of this album. A fierce song with biting guitar licks and harsh lyrics, you will be very surprised that the seemingly mild-mannered Don Henley wrote this song. This new song tells the tale of a man, frustrated with the world he lives in, leaving behind a relationship that should have never happened. Of interesting note is the gothic, "horror-movie" organ at the end of the song - an interesting, perhaps unnecessary addition.
Mellow, but lyrically outstanding is "Everybody Knows," a cover of a Leonard Cohen tune (from "I'm Your Man). Don Henley does not have the best cover of this song - I think that belongs to a pop singer whose name I have never learned - but it is a significant improvement over the creepy polka style of Mr. Cohen. This depiction of modern society has some of the best lyrics I have heard in a song; anyone who would be turned away by Leonard Cohen's style should listen to Don's version to comfortable take the rich lyrics in.
Great old songs, some good new ones that will be welcome in the library of anyone who remotely likes Don Henley... what's not to like? Not much, unless you really nit pick. However, since recording technology has greatly improved during the time between this album's 1995 release and the release dates of the original songs, the ten old tracks should have been remastered. This is not to say that the music sounds tinny; remastered tracks would take better advantage of today's music technology and sound closer to what Mr. Henley had originally envisioned.
The cover, with Don Henley dressed as a used car salesman, is interesting to say the least. One wonders if the cover is a subtle condemnation for the album itself. Maybe Don felt the compilation was just a ploy for the record company to make money; if so, it is understandable considering the fiasco that was The Eagles, Greatest Hits Vol. 2.
However, this album does not follow in those footsteps and should be one of two albums that anyone interested in Don Henley should purchase - the other being his latest release, Inside Job - which was released after this album. This Greatest Hits would also make a good compliment to anyone's music collection as the songs cover a wide range of emotions and are of good to excellent quality.
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