Product ReviewsThe End of the Innocence by Don Henley (CD, Jun-1989, Geffen)

Man what an album! It’s a must buy! The heck with this review go buy it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My dad has this album when I was about 14 in ‘08 my dad, and I played this album til it wore out well I got to looking on eBay for this cd, and I just had to have it I mean there’s not a bad song on the whole darn cd my favorite song on this cd is “Heart Of The Matter”. My second favorite song is “New York Minute”.
“The End Of The Innocence” is a great album overall. Songs like “Last Worthlessness Evening”, and who can forget “I Will Not Go Quietly”? Love it. I mean it’s the best of Henley’s Solo albums I mean it’s his pre reunion with Eagles in 94 love those guys the original eagles It’s not the same without Glenn Frey Rip Glenn! Anyway buy this cd “The End Of The Innocence” is a great one to drive to exercise to, and make love to. Buy this album capeesh you won’t be sorry!Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: greggrapp

End Of The Innocence - a classic

This CD is masterful, and an instant classic. How many non - "greatest hits" CD's are there, in which 8 of 10 tracks are good to excellent? At least 4 of the 10 tracks are so good that they are classics. How many albums can say that 50% of their songs become instant classics, and 3 others are really good? Only a tiny minority can. As good as the rockers are on this album, very strong material with a fairly strong blues influence and a pretty strong edge, the truly legendary and most memorable songs here are the ballads - end of the innocence, the last worthless evening, new york minute, and the heart of the matter, all very substantive songs that are lyrically and powerfully poignant. To boot, they represent diverse and varied themes. Henley's voice is distinctive and strong and unmistakable, and serves him extremely well whether he's rocking or lamenting. The emotional impact of the lyrics and the way they are sung is rarely found. Thematically, in end of the innocence Henley laments political and other corruption, the last worthless evening is a sweet and very effective "wooing" song, new york minute is a complex song about disillusionment, and the heart of the matter, an extremely powerful and poignant song, is both a mournful lament of lost love and a hopeful and optimistic ballad about the power and import of conciliation and forgiveness of a lover who has moved on, and accepting that as closure. Pretty heady stuff. The rockers are not only edgy, but kind of bluesy and fun, both musically and lyrically. I particularly like "If Dirt Were Dollars", for its humor and sarcasm, and there are some under-recognized lyric lines in some of the rockers that are downright clever ("You would walk on your lips through busted glass, just to get next to that.." and the story of the homeless man with delusions of grandeur in "If Dirt..") This album is possibly even the equal of the sensational "Building The Perfect Beast", but it isn't more of the same in any way - it's got it's own themes musically and lyrically and thematically. IMO, both are instant classics and both easily outshine Henley's other two solo efforts. And this may be controversial, but if you gather all the best songs from End Of The Innocence and Building The Perfect Beast, and throw in Dirty Laundry and Johnny Can't Read from his first solo album, you would have a body of work that is as impressive as The Eagles Greatest Hits..it's not really that surprising though, when you think about it. The Eagles' best rockers are clearly Hotel California and Life In The Fast Lane - both written by Don Henley. The Eagles' best ballad is almost certainly "Desperado", also by Don Henley. When I saw Henley on his "Beast" tour, he sang all his great solo material from the first two albums, plus 3-4 of his best Eagles songs - it was arguably the equal or better than any other concert I've ever seen. This guy is incredible. In fact, and this may offend some, but IMO he's better as a solo concert act than the combined Eagles are. Dirty Laundry, Johnny Can't Read, Building The Perfect Beast, All She Wants To Do Is Dance, Sunset Grill, Driving With Your Eyes Closed, Boys Of Summer, plus all of the great "End Of the Innocence" songs I mentioned? AND his Eagles penned songs that I mentioned? That is very, very difficult to top for any act out there.. Thios album is superb and I highly recommend it.Read full review...

There are many great songs on this album

I am a huge Eagles fan, and when Don Henley put out this album, I had to have it and I was hugely impressed by it. He has a distinct voice and fantastic lyrics. In my opinion this album and "Building the Perfect Beast" are must have albums if you enjoy Don Henley songs.

Tracks:

The End Of The Innocence
How Bad Do You Want It?
I Will Not Go Quietly
The Last Worthless Evening
New York Minute
Shangri-La
Little Tin God
Gimme What You Got
If Dirt Were Dollars
The Heart Of The MatterRead full review...

Extraordinary depth, exceptional vocal and percussion,

I like the quality of sound reproduction...It would be great to test speakers out with the crystal clear vocals and solid percussion combinations.
The affect is deep, personal, and unique in all the different songs. It reflects the true nature of the artist and can easily relate to all of us in some way....Read full review...

MY AUNT 83 YEARS OLD IT MADE ENJOYMENT 4 HER

MY AUNT ,WANTED THIS CD ONLY EBAY HAD IT ,IT BROUGHT HER SO MUCH ENJOYMENT PLAYING IT,SHES 83,,,,,,YOU SHURE CAN GIVE SOME ONE AT THERE GOLD;N YEARS.ENJOYMENT THROUGH EBAY

Don Henley's best. Great lyrics, great songs, just fantastic all around!

Don Henley's best. Great lyrics, great songs, just fantastic all around!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: ladyhamilton

Great CD

Don Henley sole is really a great set of songs. Eagles re one of the best bands out there. Was sad for their loss.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: happytimesforever

great album! gold!

there is not a bad song on this album. a masterpiece in my opinion... if your a eagle's fan, or don henley fan, or a fan of good music; you'll love this album! good mood music for the bedroom,-wink, wink... just good music, good lyrics, and great vocals by mr. henley... I travel the road, and this is great driving music. you can't go wrong with this album! buy it now!!!Read full review...

don henley tape

about worn out I played it so much!! thanks

wow ! good songs ,all of them

our favorite cd from first to last song. great songs from don henley.
saw him weel eagles several years back didn't realize how much talent
all of them had or to really describe talent! awesome performance from each member.Read full review...