Don Henley took some time before completing his highly anticipated third album, The End of the Innocence. Although he manages to duplicate much of the magic of his previous album, Henley has backed off of the synthesizers and expanded his musical palette. He uses background vocals to great effect, whether it's the tragic ballad "New York Minute" (with vocal group Take 6) or the angry rocker "I Will Not Go Quietly" (with Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses). His collaboration with Bruce Hornsby on the opening title track show a mature Henley singing about disillusionment over a beautiful piano riff that gives the song a timeless air of nostalgia. While he still tackles political issues and writes about small-town life in America, Henley also mixes in romantic ballads, including the closer "Heart of the Matter." In this epic song, Henley explores the emotional complexity of relationships and coming to terms with oneself during the aftermath. Throughout the album, he manages to balance being cynical yet hopeful, and his great melodies allow his poignant lyrics to penetrate. This album is highly recommended for those who like their pop music with a message. ~ Vik Iyengar, All Music Guide
Gary Myerberg (A&R), Ed Goodreau (Assistant), Ken Nahoum (Cover Photo), Ken Nahoum (Photography), Maxine Willard Waters (Vocal Harmony), Bob Vogt (Engineer), David Paich (Keyboards), Sheryl Crow (Vocals (Background)), Larry Klein (Bass), W. Axl Roase (Vocal Harmony), Ric Wilson (Digital Editing), Jai Winding (Keyboards), Stanley Jordan (Vocal Harmony), Jeri Heiden (Art Direction), Jeff Porcaro (Drums), John Corey (Engineer), Randy Staub (Assistant Engineer), Bruce Hornsby (Piano), Take 6 (Vocals (Background)), Jai Winding (Keyboard Bass), Don Henley (Vocals), Brian Scheuble (Assistant Engineer), Don Henley (Drums), David Delgrosso (Creative Director), Steve Jordan (Wah Wah Guitar), Charley Drayton (Vocals (Background)), Marlene Bergman (Layout Design), Ed Goodreau (Assistant Engineer), Stan Lynch (Basic Track), Mark McKenna (Engineer), Steve Jordan (Drums), Danny Kortchmar (Programming), Axl Rose (Vocal Harmony), Mike Campbell (Producer), Take 6 (Vocal Harmony), David Paich (Piano), Danny Kortchmar (Basic Track), Alberto Tolot (Photography), Greg Ladanyi (Producer), Tom Banghart (Assistant Engineer), Julia Waters (Vocals (Background)), Randy Staub (Assistant), Marc DeSisto (Engineer), Stephen Marcussen (Mastering), Melissa Etheridge (Vocal Harmony), Steve Madaio (Trumpet), Stanley Jordan (Guitar), David Paich (Strings), Sabrina Heraux (Production Coordination), Stephen Danelian (Photography), Steve Jordan (Vocals (Background)), Brian Scheuble (Engineer), Richard Wachtel (Guitar), Danny Kortchmar (Producer), John Corey (Keyboards), Wayne Shorter (Sax (Soprano)), Charlie Drayton (Vocals (Background)), Julia Tillman Waters (Vocals (Background)), Don Henley (Vocals (Background)), Stanley Jordan (Vocals (Background)), Randy Wine (Assistant Engineer), Rob Jacobs (Mixing), Rob Jacobs (Engineer), Rob Jaczko (Mixing), Greg Goldman (Assistant), Stan Lynch (Percussion), Julia Waters (Vocal Harmony), Bruce Hornsby (Keyboards), Eddie King (Engineer), John Corey (Guitar), Axl Rose (Vocals (Background)), Stan Lynch (Producer), Carmen Twillie (Vocals (Background)), Michael Fisher (Percussion), Danny Kortchmar (Guitar), Jim Keltner (Percussion), Edie Brickell (Vocal Harmony), Stan Lynch (Engineer), Bob Glaub (Bass), Stanley Jordan (Drums), Patty Smyth (Vocal Harmony), Jeff Levison (Digital Transfers), Shelly Yakus (Mixing), Stan Lynch (Drums), Danny Kortchmar (Keyboards), Charlie Drayton (Vocal Harmony), Waddy Wachtel (Guitar (Acoustic)), Steve Jordan (Guitar (Electric)), Stephen Barncard (A&R), Randy Wine (Assistant), Ivan Neville (Vocals (Background)), John Corey (Producer), Melissa Etheridge (Vocals (Background)), Mike Morongell (A&R), Greg Ladanyi (Engineer), David Ashton (Assistant Engineer), J.D. Souther (Vocals (Background)), Bruce Hornsby (Producer), Valerie Carter (Vocals (Background)), Edie Brickell (Vocals (Background)), Carmen Twillie (Vocal Harmony), Mike Campbell (Keyboards), Bob Ludwig (Digital Mastering), Shelly Yakus (Engineer), Don Henley (Producer), Fred Bova (A&R), Maxine Willard Waters (Vocals (Background)), Mike Campbell (Guitar), Steve Jordan (Vocal Harmony), John Corey (Basic Track), Valerie Carter (Vocal Harmony), Tom Banghart (Assistant), Ivan Neville (Vocal Harmony), Pino Palladino (Bass), Greg Goldman (Assistant Engineer), Jim Keltner (Drums), Patty Smyth (Vocals (Background)), Don Henley (Vocal Harmony)
Released in 1989 (see 1989 in music), The End of the Innocence is the third album by Don Henley. It is his best selling album, selling over 6 million copies in the United States, peaking at #8. In 2003, the album was ranked number 389 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
