Don Henley’s Lyric Aficionado Collective
An introduction to this exciting new project for fans of Don Henley!
For those old enough to remember, navigating legacies is like trying to untangle headphone wires—complicated, frustrating, and sometimes surprisingly rewarding.
Some legacies endure, like Rosa Parks or John Lennon. Some were labeled as negative legacies but got better with time, like President Jimmy Carter. Some infamously crash near the end, like Joe Paterno’s.
Some people don’t care about their legacy. Linda Ronstadt was willing to be bold and brave by stepping outside her musical comfort zone. Everyone from agents, to her label, to close friends, worried that Ronstadt was self-sabotaging her career each time she switched genres, or languages altogether. But she persevered because she was authentic.
Some people say they don’t care about their legacy. But that’s just a facade; they deeply care and see it as tied to their identity. Think Donald Trump.
Some people care about their legacy but do things that diminish it. Think Pete Rose.
Some people have legacies that aren’t truly understood.
This is where I come in.
Hello!
No, this is not a column on my legacy. You can stop there Carly Simon, I’m not that vain!
But I am starting a new project!
I know, I know. I have lots of projects, most of which are half-baked at best. But this one is a dousy.
This idea has been pitched to an NYT best-selling author of ten books… and they gave me the green light.
This idea has a short-term and long-term structure already built.
This idea is highly personal to me, so I have a great incentive to do it right.
So get ready, folks! We're diving into Don Henley's world—the legend, the recluse, and the genius behind his iconic tunes.
Project Background
One of the great American music mysteries is the absence of Don Henley’s name among the great songwriters of rock & roll. But I think I know why: Henley, unlike most of his contemporaries, does not have an abundance of writing to dive into from the back half of his career.
Post-1989, Henley has only released two solo and two Eagles albums, with one of the latter only partially full of new material. In comparison during that same stretch, Bruce Springsteen has released thirteen new albums; fourteen for Bob Dylan; and Joni Mitchell has dropped six new compositions.
It’s just… strange. That’s the word I keep coming back to most often.
During his peak, let’s say 1975-1985, Henley was a top-five lyricist in classic rock. One of These Nights and Hotel California has stood the test of time and was largely written and sung by Henley. I Can’t Stand Still, Henley’s debut album, produced “Dirty Laundry,” while Building the Perfect Beast (1984) produced hits such as “The Boys of Summer,” “All She Wants to Do Is Dance,” and “Sunset Grill.”
Stretching time further, while not as commercially successful, The End of Innocence (1989) is probably Henley’s best solo album, from start to finish.
As we all know, in 1994, hell indeed froze over, the Eagles reunited, and that’s where Henley has spent the bulk of the second half of his illustrious career: touring.
But for a long time, Henley was there in the songwriter’s rockin’ spotlight. He navigated the messy breakup of his beloved band, embarked on a successful solo career, later became involved with his non-profit, and then, remarkably, Henley became somewhat of a recluse.*
*That last piece is a key part of the long-term project which I’ll discuss in the future. There’s an untold story about why Henley decided to symbolically bow out of the songwriting business while simultaneously raking in money for his part in the Eagles’ reunion.
But we’re lucky! Even without working late into his life, we still have many songs Henley graced us with. We will begin to talk about several of those in the weeks ahead!
Don Henley’s Lyric Aficionado Collective
TOGETHER, let's ensure that Don Henley's voice and writing endure the test of time! Here’s how it’s going to work:
Each Tuesday, I will pick one song written by Henley and write a deep dive about it. You can read all about it right here. There will be obvious choices, but hopefully also ones a bit more obscure, or even ones you may have forgotten about.
These weekly dives will be free for all to read and comment.
I will also pick a time once per month to chat through the Substack feature where we talk about all things Don Henley. This feature will only be open to paid subscribers.
Finally, once a month, I will host a Zoom call with someone in the music industry to talk about their relationship to Henley’s music plus anything else they want to jam out to. Again, this meeting will be open to paid subscribers only.
Don Henley’s Lyric Aficiando Collective has a backbone to it. Some real pizzazz.
I’m feeling good about this project! So let’s take the rest of May and June to do a giveaway and incentivize those who may be on the fence:
Any new paid subscribers will be eligible to win a Don Henley memorabilia item that I will unveil later.
New subs who want to be part of the Henley Collective can email me their suggestions for songs to write about. Those suggestions will go right to the top of my priority list!
New subs will also be eligible for another giveaway — part of the long-term project — to be announced at a later date.
Join the Henley Collective for a journey like no other! Dive deep into the soulful melodies and untold stories of Don Henley's iconic songwriting. Here's what sets us apart: every week, we'll explore a new Henley masterpiece, from the classics to the hidden gems, in exclusive deep dives. As a member, you'll have access to engaging discussions, monthly Zoom calls with industry insiders, and the chance to shape the conversation by suggesting songs for future exploration. Plus, paid subscribers unlock even more perks, like exclusive chats and giveaways. Join us and become part of a passionate community celebrating the genius of Don Henley's lyrics!
A Final Word
If I haven’t communicated it clearly enough, writing is now my career. This is what I do for a living. This work helps pay the bills for my family of four. I hope you can understand my decision to paywall some of the Henley-specific content while building a great community together.
I plan to continue making the rest of my writing and podcasting free. But to do that, I need to be a better salesman and gain new paid subscribers while convincing my current free subs to upgrade. I can’t write for free forever and live in current-day America!
Thank you for supporting independent writing. Your contributions make it possible for me to do fun projects like this.
Email me or comment below if you cannot afford a paid subscription. You may also donate paid subs if you have the means and I will give those out on a first-come first-serve basis.
Before I wrap up, let’s hear from you. What is your favorite song written by Don Henley? Drop a comment below ⬇️
See you next Tuesday for the first song release!