I bought this classic album - containing two Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 - soon after it came out in November 1984 on cassette (I still have it) via the Columbia House Records & Tapes Club. It was a massive success for a couple reasons.
First among them: Indelible pop/rock songs co-written by the artist in conjunction and various combinations with members of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers (Mike Campbell, Stan Lynch, Benmont Tench), Henley's frequent Eagles collaborator JD Souther, and the album co-producer Danny Kotchmar. "The Boys of Summer," in particular, has been covered by many musicians. California pop/punk band The Ataris had a major hit with its cover in 2003.
Then there was the stellar crop of studio guests including most of the aforementioned, plus Go-Go Belinda Carlisle, The Motels' Martha Davis, Patty Smyth, Lindsey Buckingham, Sam Moore, Jim Keltner, Waddy Wachtel, Charlie Sexton and others.
Check out more details from the press release:
As the Eagles continue their Sphere residency in Las Vegas, Nevada, UMe has released a 40th Anniversary vinyl edition of Don Henley's triple-platinum 'Building the Perfect Beast' album. It is available now as a 2LP set for the first time, remastered from the original analog tapes and pressed on 180-gram vinyl.
The album features the hit singles "The Boys of Summer,” “All She Wants to Do Is Dance," “Sunset Grill,” and “Not Enough Love in the World." The new 2LP release features the vinyl debut of the album's complete track list, as “A Month Of Sundays” was only available previously on the CD, cassette, and digital versions.
Order Building The Perfect Beast HERE now.
A newly remastered digital version of the album is also available now for streaming and download.
In addition to featuring four hit singles, Building The Perfect Beast garnered five Grammy nominations and won the award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male for "The Boys Of Summer." Don Henley was the biggest winner of the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards, taking home four Moonmen, including Video of the Year for “The Boys of Summer,” which was also the year's most nominated video.
Track listing:
SIDE ONE
THE BOYS OF SUMMER
YOU CAN’T MAKE LOVE
MAN WITH A MISSION
SIDE TWO
YOU’RE NOT DRINKING ENOUGH
NOT ENOUGH LOVE IN THE WORLD
BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST
SIDE THREE
ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS DANCE
A MONTH OF SUNDAYS
SIDE FOUR
SUNSET GRILL
DRIVIN' WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED
LAND OF THE LIVING
EAGLES – LIVE IN CONCERT AT SPHERE dates:
Friday, December 6
Saturday, December 7
Friday, December 13
Saturday, December 14
Friday, January 17
Saturday, January 18
Friday, January 24
Saturday, January 25
Friday, February 14
Saturday, February 15
Friday, February 21
Saturday, February 22
Friday, March 14
Saturday, March 15