The 25 Best Don Henley Songs, Solo and with the Eagles

What is Don Henley's most famous song?

"The Boys of Summer" is Don Henley's most famous solo song, a 1984 top five hit that won a Grammy and the MTV award for Video of the Year. "Dirty Laundry", "The End of the Innocence" and "The Heart of the Matter" are his other signature solo songs, and with the Eagles he sang lead on "Hotel California", "Desperado" and "Witchy Woman".

Don Henley's biggest solo hits

1. "The Boys of Summer", 1984: a wistful, synth-driven look back at lost youth, written with Mike Campbell.
2. "Dirty Laundry", 1982: a biting attack on sensational TV news and a number three hit.
3. "The End of the Innocence", 1989: a piano-led title track written with Bruce Hornsby, a top ten hit.
4. "All She Wants to Do Is Dance", 1985: a danceable, politically sharp number nine hit.
5. "The Heart of the Matter", 1990: a reflective song about forgiveness.
6. "The Last Worthless Evening", 1989: a tender song about starting over.
7. "Sunset Grill", 1985: a moody portrait of a Los Angeles burger stand.
8. "Not Enough Love in the World", 1985: a gentle single from Building the Perfect Beast.
9. "Leather and Lace", 1981: his top ten duet with Stevie Nicks.
10. "Taking You Home", 2000: a tender song for his daughter from Inside Job.

Don Henley The End of the Innocence songs

The End of the Innocence, released in 1989, is his most acclaimed solo album. Besides the title track, "The Last Worthless Evening" and "The Heart of the Matter", these are its highlights:

11. "I Will Not Go Quietly", 1989: a fiery rocker with backing vocals from Axl Rose.
12. "New York Minute", 1990: a haunting song about how quickly life can change.
13. "How Bad Do You Want It?", 1990: a driving rock single.
14. "If Dirt Were Dollars", 1989: a sharp song about greed in the 80s.

More Don Henley solo songs

15. "Johnny Can't Read", 1982: his first solo single.
16. "Drivin' with Your Eyes Closed", 1985: a rock radio favorite from Building the Perfect Beast.
17. "The Garden of Allah", 1995: a dark, dramatic song from his greatest hits album.
18. "For My Wedding", 2000: a heartfelt wedding song from Inside Job.
19. "Take a Picture of This", 2015: a reflective song from his country album Cass County.

Eagles songs sung by Don Henley

20. "Hotel California", 1977: the Eagles' signature song.
21. "Desperado", 1973: a timeless piano ballad.
22. "Witchy Woman", 1972: an early Eagles hit he co-wrote with Bernie Leadon.
23. "Best of My Love", 1975: the Eagles' first number one.
24. "One of These Nights", 1975: a soulful number one.
25. "Wasted Time", 1976: a gentle, orchestral ballad from Hotel California.

Who is Don Henley?

Don Henley was born on July 22, 1947, in Gilmer, Texas, and grew up in nearby Linden. He moved to Los Angeles with his band Shiloh and in 1971 co-founded the Eagles with Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. As the band's drummer and one of its lead singers, he co-wrote many of its biggest songs with Frey. After the Eagles split in 1980, he began a successful solo career, and the band reunited in 1994. The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

The story behind The Boys of Summer

"The Boys of Summer" began as an instrumental by Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Henley wrote lyrics about getting older and looking back at a summer romance, and its shimmering synthesizers and guitars made it one of the defining songs of 1984. It won the Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, and its black-and-white video won Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The story behind Dirty Laundry

"Dirty Laundry" is a biting satire of television news that thrives on tragedy and scandal. Released in 1982 on his first solo album, it features guitar solos by the Eagles' Joe Walsh and Toto's Steve Lukather and reached number three on the Hot 100, his highest-charting solo single. Its message about sensational news and the hunger for bad news still sounds current decades later.

Don Henley and Glenn Frey

Henley and Glenn Frey wrote most of the Eagles' biggest songs together, from "Desperado" and "Hotel California" to "Life in the Fast Lane" and "Heartache Tonight". After Frey died in January 2016, Henley kept the Eagles going with Frey's son Deacon and country star Vince Gill, and the band played a long farewell tour in the years that followed.

The story behind The End of the Innocence

Bruce Hornsby wrote the music for "The End of the Innocence" and played its elegant piano part, and Henley wrote lyrics about lost innocence, both personal and national, at the end of the 80s. The song reached the top ten and won Henley another Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

Walden Woods

In 1990 Henley founded the Walden Woods Project to protect the land around Walden Pond in Massachusetts, the woods made famous by Henry David Thoreau, from development. He organized benefit concerts and recordings to raise money, and the project went on to protect much of the area and create an institute for Thoreau scholarship.

Don Henley albums to start with

• I Can't Stand Still (1982): with "Dirty Laundry".
• Building the Perfect Beast (1984): with "The Boys of Summer" and "Sunset Grill".
• The End of the Innocence (1989): his masterpiece.
• Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits (1995): the essential collection.
• Cass County (2015): a warm country album with guests including Dolly Parton and Mick Jagger.

Don Henley songs for a wedding

"For My Wedding" is a thoughtful choice for a ceremony, "Leather and Lace" is a lovely duet for a first dance, and "Best of My Love" and "Desperado" are Eagles favorites for slow dances. For more, see our rock love songs.

Don Henley songs for a road trip or a summer evening

For a drive, play "The Boys of Summer", "All She Wants to Do Is Dance", "Sunset Grill", "Drivin' with Your Eyes Closed" and "Hotel California". For a summer night, "The Boys of Summer" is the perfect soundtrack, and the Eagles' "Take It Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling" keep the mood relaxed as the sun goes down. For more, see our songs about summer and road trip songs.

Don Henley songs for a memorial or a hard time

"The Heart of the Matter", "New York Minute" and "Wasted Time" are often chosen when someone is grieving or trying to forgive, and the Eagles' "Desperado" is a gentle, moving tribute at a memorial for someone who walked their own road. For more, see our songs about grief.

A song as thoughtful as Henley's

Don Henley's songs look back at the people and places that shaped us. A personalized song can do the same for someone you love: their name, the summers you remember and the stories only you two share. It makes a great birthday, anniversary or Father's Day gift.

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