Don Henley — The Boys of Summer
Album: Building the Perfect BeastAvg rating:
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Length: 4:41
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Nobody on the road
Nobody on the beach
I feel it in the air
The summer's out of reach
Empty lake, empty streets
The sun goes down alone
I'm driving by your house
Though I know you're not home
But I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
I never will forget those nights
I wonder if it was a dream
Remember how you made me crazy?
Remember how I made you scream
Now I don't understand what happened to our love
But babe, I'm gonna get you back
I'm gonna show you what I'm made of
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
I see you walking real slow and you're smilin' at everyone
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
Out on the road today, I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac
A little voice inside my head said, "Don't look back. You can never look back"
I thought I knew what love was
What did I know?
Those days are gone forever
I should just let them go but-
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got that top pulled down and that radio on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got that hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, baby
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
Nobody on the beach
I feel it in the air
The summer's out of reach
Empty lake, empty streets
The sun goes down alone
I'm driving by your house
Though I know you're not home
But I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
I never will forget those nights
I wonder if it was a dream
Remember how you made me crazy?
Remember how I made you scream
Now I don't understand what happened to our love
But babe, I'm gonna get you back
I'm gonna show you what I'm made of
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
I see you walking real slow and you're smilin' at everyone
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
Out on the road today, I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac
A little voice inside my head said, "Don't look back. You can never look back"
I thought I knew what love was
What did I know?
Those days are gone forever
I should just let them go but-
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got that top pulled down and that radio on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got that hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, baby
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
Comments (271)add comment
Nothing profound to say about this excellent song. But whenever I hear it I think of Sledge Hammer by Peter Gabriel. The reason being I recorded the VH1 top 50 videos of whatever year that was on a VHS tape because I thought Sledge Hammer was just the coolest video I ever saw (still do!). Anyway, Boys Of Summer was #2, so every time I went to watch Sledge Hammer, I got the last bit of Boys Of Summer.
I told you it wasn't a profound observation.
I told you it wasn't a profound observation.
Teen angst for nice beach side boys?
Brings back memories of January-February 1985 when this song was in heavy rotation on FM radio.
Rockit9 wrote:
My sentiments exactly! Big Fat 9.
A drummer using a drum machine with a nice touch. This tune does stand the test of time. Also love his 1 of a kind voice.
My sentiments exactly! Big Fat 9.
I was able to see this record tour, some lil keyboard player by the name of Stevie Winwood was playing piano in the band...wow what a show!!!
The best of the genre.
It always stirs up memories of listing to this song on FM radio during my summers in a beach town. I'll be back to that town soon, as my summers fade into fall. Thanks Don.
SchoepTone wrote:
Exactly. Don't like the Eagles at all. Boring middle aged mens dentists waiting room soft rock but this song is a definite classic.
Don Henley is a case of being better than the sum of its parts. He is so much more interesting as a songwriter outside of the Eagles. This song is a bonafide classic.
Exactly. Don't like the Eagles at all. Boring middle aged mens dentists waiting room soft rock but this song is a definite classic.
I've never liked any of his music. I must be a pariah. Both the music and lyrics always sound more like parodies of songs than songs, like they're trying to appeal to a big audience. I guess Hotel California is a bit of an exception, but even that one seems like it's begging to be heard. Even that one seems like a campy B movie. Just me?
This song... air conditioning be damned, all windows open and step on it!
10!!
10
Hello 80’s!
I sure do miss the 80s!
A drummer using a drum machine with a nice touch. This tune does stand the test of time. Also love his 1 of a kind voice.
I hate this song with the fire of a thousand burning suns, and I always have.
Awesome song. Takes me right back to the 80's when I'd finished school and was working full-time. Glorious.
I could hear Tom Petty singing this.
Certainly evokes the off-season regret/loss well.
How about some 'Dirty Laundry' Bill?
rtrt wrote:
I wonder if he just means he did this FM pop hit?
Bill's just said that a lot of people think Don Henley has a lot to atone for - at least I think that's what he said.
Anyone explain more?
Anyone explain more?
I wonder if he just means he did this FM pop hit?
Bill's just said that a lot of people think Don Henley has a lot to atone for - at least I think that's what he said.
Anyone explain more?
Anyone explain more?
I was just reading somewhere that Tom Petty's guitarist took this song idea to Tom and he passed. Then he was meeting with Don about something and played it for him and Henley got pretty excited, wrote the lyrics and made a huge hit out of it. Later Tom goes, well I guess I should have paid more attention to the idea.
Out on the road today
I saw a Vote Trump sticker on a Redneck Truck
I saw a Vote Trump sticker on a Redneck Truck
Bring me back to 1987! the 1st time I eard it on my road trip in USA 
, each times I'm back there, i lv this song 
Rick form france
, each times I'm back there, i lv this song Rick form franceDon Henley is a case of being better than the sum of its parts. He is so much more interesting as a songwriter outside of the Eagles. This song is a bonafide classic.
Radio friendly -- guilty pleasure fun.
Bill another overplayed song going to hit the next button
nina wrote:
This must be a joke or a mistake.
Thank god for PSD!
This must be a joke or a mistake.
It took me years to realize that this song wasn't "Poisoned Summer", which is what I thought I was hearing!
ick wrote:
Probably Green Day.
Rush is dad rock in my house!
Probably Green Day.
Rush is dad rock in my house!
Empty lake, empty streets in the age of corona.. 19may-23:23
Fits perfectly in a "Miami-Vice"-soundtrack.
Ick. Unpleasant back when this came out, and it has not aged well....
I file this song under the category of songs I never need to hear again. Heard it one to many times redone and over done by various artist over the years.....
treatment_bound wrote:
....don't look back, you can never look back.
Nice.
Out on the road today, I saw Fox News sticker on a Ford Hatchback.
....don't look back, you can never look back.
Nice.
Skydog wrote:
1984 was memorable to me also, our daughter was born, the Detroit Tigers won the World Series, I led a 6 week worker strike against the company I worked for, and threw a radio out the window when this song came on
Wow! Your team won the World Series and a song titled "The Boys Of Summer" could not resonate with you?!?
1984 was memorable to me also, our daughter was born, the Detroit Tigers won the World Series, I led a 6 week worker strike against the company I worked for, and threw a radio out the window when this song came on
Wow! Your team won the World Series and a song titled "The Boys Of Summer" could not resonate with you?!?
Eric_Denison wrote:
Agreed. And I also like the cover by The Ataris, possibly even a bit more than the original.
Back in '84 this song was everywhere to the point I began to dread hearing it again. Now it sounds pretty good, still holds up and brings back memories of some good times.
Agreed. And I also like the cover by The Ataris, possibly even a bit more than the original.
BCarn wrote:
And what will YOUR kids call "Dad Rock". Silly comment man.
Probably Green Day.
And what will YOUR kids call "Dad Rock". Silly comment man.
Probably Green Day.
Back in '84 this song was everywhere to the point I began to dread hearing it again. Now it sounds pretty good, still holds up and brings back memories of some good times.
jnhashmi wrote:
Yep.
Timeless and still practically perfect.
Yep.
thewiseking wrote:
And what will YOUR kids call "Dad Rock". Silly comment man.
Dad Rock
And what will YOUR kids call "Dad Rock". Silly comment man.
Timeless and still practically perfect.
Other than liking the "Deadhead sticker on a Csdillac" lyric, I didn't think much of this song in 1985. 2005 it felt like the soundtrack for my divorce and now in 2019 it can still move me to tears when the elements line up just so.
Thank god for PSD!
What a perfect driving / riding song! Still so good after all these years. I'm cranking it up!!!!To quote Pepe Le Pew out of context, "I prefer girls."
Great track - then and now. pxd
thewiseking wrote:
As well as the 60s, 70s, 90s, 00s, and teens. What's your point?
Never forget, there was alot of dreck in the 80s.
As well as the 60s, 70s, 90s, 00s, and teens. What's your point?
thewiseking wrote:
There was a lot of good stuff - most of which didn't get much airplay - then there was this sort of stuff.
Never forget, there was alot of dreck in the 80s.
There was a lot of good stuff - most of which didn't get much airplay - then there was this sort of stuff.
Never forget, there was alot of dreck in the 80s.
Very representative of the quite good Californian pop-rock of the mid 80's. Maybe it's even definition.
The theme for the summer of 1985.
thewiseking wrote:
Skydog wrote:
oh no you don't, you ain't blaming this crap on me
Dad Rock
Skydog wrote:
oh no you don't, you ain't blaming this crap on me
easmann wrote:
smart
gave DH a 3 : P
Slick Pop? Check. Overplayed on terrestrial radio? Check. Superb example of clever songwriting, evocative lyrics, and "just right" delivery nonetheless? Check. I cannot hear this song without various images floating unbidden through my mind and if I don't hear it too often I really enjoy it. If there's anything I've learned here it's that no two people like exactly the same stuff and it would be Twilight Zone weird if they did. Oh, yeah, the original Rod Serling Twilight Zone.
smart
gave DH a 3 : PSounds even lamer after Portishead. If that's possible?
sunybuny wrote:
On 12/26/1985 it was -30 and the snow was steel gray in Ohio. My boss called me into his office and said they were cutting back staff. This song was still being played in rotation and I decided no more snow. I was living in Tampa 2 weeks later. No job, no home, no friends- but it was warm.
Best thing that ever happened to me. Met DH 6 months later and have never, ever regretted the move. Thanks Don - I still smile when I hear this song.
Best thing that ever happened to me. Met DH 6 months later and have never, ever regretted the move. Thanks Don - I still smile when I hear this song.
On 12/26/1985 it was -30 and the snow was steel gray in Ohio. My boss called me into his office and said they were cutting back staff. This song was still being played in rotation and I decided no more snow. I was living in Tampa 2 weeks later. No job, no home, no friends- but it was warm.
Best thing that ever happened to me. Met DH 6 months later and have never, ever regretted the move. Thanks Don - I still smile when I hear this song.
Best thing that ever happened to me. Met DH 6 months later and have never, ever regretted the move. Thanks Don - I still smile when I hear this song.
From the days when I would sit and watch MTV like it was a program. A little kid enjoying the TV when visiting someone's home. Little dock rat's acculturation.
YUCK
Bakaretsu wrote:
No, this is way more overplayed. Because that is, at least, a good song. Sure, we're all burned out on it, but it's a good song.
As overplayed as hotel California
No, this is way more overplayed. Because that is, at least, a good song. Sure, we're all burned out on it, but it's a good song.
1984 was a good year.... 
Never have and never will like this song.
this was NOT my 80s
VH1 wrote:
1984 was memorable to me also, our daughter was born, the Detroit Tigers won the World Series, I led a 6 week worker strike against the company I worked for, and threw a radio out the window when this song came on
Yep, 1984 was indeed a very great summer for me! Hearing that song reminds me...oh long ago now...
1984 was memorable to me also, our daughter was born, the Detroit Tigers won the World Series, I led a 6 week worker strike against the company I worked for, and threw a radio out the window when this song came on
VH1 wrote:
Ditto!
Yep, 1984 was indeed a very great summer for me! Hearing that song reminds me...oh long ago now...
Ditto!
thewiseking wrote:
oh no you don't, you ain't blaming this crap on me
Dad Rock
oh no you don't, you ain't blaming this crap on me
Dad Rock
As overplayed as hotel California
Yep, 1984 was indeed a very great summer for me! Hearing that song reminds me...oh long ago now...
Maybe it helps to have grown up in a summer resort town to get the feeling of this song. I did, and it's very close to home.
...and yet I hear this in the 'war on drugs' sound.
Out on the road today, I saw Fox News sticker on a Ford Hatchback.
NO! 
Or tune into annoying FM station for the same thing. No commercials here though so I shall just mute it until RP offers PSD on Sonos/Tune-in.
I dunno ... I think I have hit my lifetime quota of this song.
Radio-friendly unit-shifter.
kcar wrote:
And yet...this is quite true as well. Provided you get quite hammered and do not attempt karaoke.
Oh Don Henley, you mystical magical Top 40 shaman.
"You stay classy, RP!"
Curls of love : )
And yet...this is quite true as well. Provided you get quite hammered and do not attempt karaoke.
Oh Don Henley, you mystical magical Top 40 shaman.
"You stay classy, RP!"
Curls of love : )
AndyJ wrote:
Words to live by! Thanks for sharing...
Always driving away... "The One That Got Away"
I guess we all have one special person we think about and ... for me there is my blind giant ego... It has been shrunk by life and the lessons stayed.
"Don't look back. You can never go back" Real life has no second chances or do overs... Just endless opportunities to -not- make that mistake again... unfortunately, there are unlimited opportunities for new mistakes and blind ego to fly full-speed into the fog of certainty.
Words to live by! Thanks for sharing...
Relayer wrote:
Thanks for that little nugget! I never noticed before...The sound is right out of Southern Accents
This album should have been called "Don Henley & The Heartbreakers"....and I mean that in a good way. Mike Campbell does an amazing job of writing and playing here.
Thanks for that little nugget! I never noticed before...The sound is right out of Southern Accents
This song is sweet monotony that works for me.
A hotel motel, and the roadshows is not a home.
Nobody on the road ... Marvelous song ...
I sure would like to hear some Eagles on RP. RIP Glen Frey.
On_The_Beach wrote:
Agreed.
That could explain why I was able to collect a whole playlist of covers.
It works. Well.
With the inevitable "I'm way too cool for Don Henley" comments aside, this was and is a great song.
Agreed.
That could explain why I was able to collect a whole playlist of covers.
It works. Well.
When I hear this I always think: over produced.........but I like it.
This album should have been called "Don Henley & The Heartbreakers"....and I mean that in a good way. Mike Campbell does an amazing job of writing and playing here.
Sorry, bad white crapper, but this is a classic, even iconic song. Not sure why the hate. And the Decemberists are more interesting than most acts out there doing formula music. One man's ceiling is another man's floor.
You got that hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, baby
When starting on a positive note, please try finishing on one.
hayduke2 wrote:
There... fixed.
hayduke2 wrote:
I'll listen to this completely horrible piece almost as a way of paying penance for some of the derisive things I may have written about other songs. (remainder redacted)
There... fixed.
Well here is one happy bunny, thanks for spinning this and taking me down memory lane Bill.
Well, it is the end of the summer weekend.
On_The_Beach wrote:
hear hear!
With the inevitable "I'm way too cool for Don Henley" comments aside, this was and is a great song.
hear hear!
With the inevitable "I'm way too cool for Don Henley" comments aside, this was and is a great song.
AndyJ wrote:
very well said
Always driving away... "The One That Got Away"
I guess we all have one special person we think about and ... for me there is my blind giant ego... It has been shrunk by life and the lessons stayed.
"Don't look back. You can never go back" Real life has no second chances or do overs... Just endless opportunities to -not- make that mistake again... unfortunately, there are unlimited opportunities for new mistakes and blind ego to fly full-speed into the fog of certainty.
very well said NCEyeballKid wrote:
Don't forget "Debbie Gibson is pregnant with my two headed love child". So many good songs in the Mojo catalog...
ï«LPCity wrote:
The following year 1990, Nixon recorded a solo album on Enigma called Otis. On this album Nixon continued his assault on pop culture, most notably in the song "Don Henley Must Die." Several years after its release, Henley jumped onstage with Nixon at The Hole in the Wall in Austin, Texas, to perform a new version of the song called "Rick Astley Must Die." When Henley jumped out of the crowd, the dumbfounded Nixon immediately asked, "Is Debbie Gibson here too?" Nixon later praised Henley in this way: "He has balls the size of church bells!"
And of course there was "Stuffin Martha Muffin". Would love to hear some Mojo Nixon on RP.
The following year 1990, Nixon recorded a solo album on Enigma called Otis. On this album Nixon continued his assault on pop culture, most notably in the song "Don Henley Must Die." Several years after its release, Henley jumped onstage with Nixon at The Hole in the Wall in Austin, Texas, to perform a new version of the song called "Rick Astley Must Die." When Henley jumped out of the crowd, the dumbfounded Nixon immediately asked, "Is Debbie Gibson here too?" Nixon later praised Henley in this way: "He has balls the size of church bells!"
And of course there was "Stuffin Martha Muffin". Would love to hear some Mojo Nixon on RP.
Don't forget "Debbie Gibson is pregnant with my two headed love child". So many good songs in the Mojo catalog...
ï«LPCity wrote:
The following year 1990, Nixon recorded a solo album on Enigma called Otis. On this album Nixon continued his assault on pop culture, most notably in the song "Don Henley Must Die." Several years after its release, Henley jumped onstage with Nixon at The Hole in the Wall in Austin, Texas, to perform a new version of the song called "Rick Astley Must Die." When Henley jumped out of the crowd, the dumbfounded Nixon immediately asked, "Is Debbie Gibson here too?" Nixon later praised Henley in this way: "He has balls the size of church bells!"
And of course there was "Stuffin Martha Muffin". Would love to hear some Mojo Nixon on RP.
The following year 1990, Nixon recorded a solo album on Enigma called Otis. On this album Nixon continued his assault on pop culture, most notably in the song "Don Henley Must Die." Several years after its release, Henley jumped onstage with Nixon at The Hole in the Wall in Austin, Texas, to perform a new version of the song called "Rick Astley Must Die." When Henley jumped out of the crowd, the dumbfounded Nixon immediately asked, "Is Debbie Gibson here too?" Nixon later praised Henley in this way: "He has balls the size of church bells!"
And of course there was "Stuffin Martha Muffin". Would love to hear some Mojo Nixon on RP.
Sounds a bit like queen (breakthru) sometimes don't you think?
It's an hard 8 for me!
It's an hard 8 for me!
Always driving away... "The One That Got Away"
I guess we all have one special person we think about and ... for me there is my blind giant ego... It has been shrunk by life and the lessons stayed.
"Don't look back. You can never go back" Real life has no second chances or do overs... Just endless opportunities to -not- make that mistake again... unfortunately, there are unlimited opportunities for new mistakes and blind ego to fly full-speed into the fog of certainty.
LPCity wrote:
Your theory may be accurate for some folks, and I liked a few of their tunes, but not really very much by The Eagles. I can't say I "hated" their stuff, but I often found the majority of their music to be bland, thin, and pale - like skim milk. I have felt that way since first hearing them in the 1970s - long before "The Big Lebowski" was even imagined. I found their solo efforts to be even less appetizing, particularly this song. I imagine many of the "classic rock" folks who rail on about how much they despise '80s music somehow manage to like this tune - a song which uses a weak drum machine track and was recorded BY A DRUMMER! To each his own; there is certainly worse music than this.
I'm not surprised to see so many negative comments about this song. The Eagles and Don Henley have become an easy target for people to bitch about, helped in no small part by the Big Lebowski and constant classic rock airplay.
All that aside, this is a good song and building the perfect beast was an excellent album, very much of it's time and place. Of course I was living in So. Cal. during that time so my point of view is obviously biased just a bit.
Your theory may be accurate for some folks, and I liked a few of their tunes, but not really very much by The Eagles. I can't say I "hated" their stuff, but I often found the majority of their music to be bland, thin, and pale - like skim milk. I have felt that way since first hearing them in the 1970s - long before "The Big Lebowski" was even imagined. I found their solo efforts to be even less appetizing, particularly this song. I imagine many of the "classic rock" folks who rail on about how much they despise '80s music somehow manage to like this tune - a song which uses a weak drum machine track and was recorded BY A DRUMMER! To each his own; there is certainly worse music than this.
This is okay, but I'd prefer some old Eagles instead.
Bright and personalized acoustic performance of KT Tunstall's version of the song "The Boys of Summer", composed in 1984 by Don Henley (Eagles drummer and vocalist) and Mike Campbell. This song is included as a bonus-track of 2013 album KT "Invisible Empire / Crescent Moon".
Dear brother,
You were definitely a boy of summer. Remember this from our crazy week in Key West? The three of us miss you, and quietly celebrated your birthday Friday.
Love,
Hud
PS: Thanks, Bill.
You were definitely a boy of summer. Remember this from our crazy week in Key West? The three of us miss you, and quietly celebrated your birthday Friday.
Love,
Hud
PS: Thanks, Bill.
S-curvy wrote:
So given this yardstick, maybe RP can throw some Partridge Family music into the mix ... to help prop up that time and place sentimentality stuff -- the Partridge Family are just so much more fun and cheerful, and times were so much better then. The problem for me is that this cut always has and always will suck, Don Henley's voice has always been shrill and whiny, unsurprisingly not unlike most of Tom Petty's contemporaneous work, and unsurprisingly again, they have long been staples in the Dinosaur Rock's Top 40 rotation. God help us overcome this.... Leave them in the commercial radio bin, please.
A new addition to my very small list of sub-5's, and to think of all those snarky comments about Dengue Fever and the screechy vocals; at least with DF I cannot understand the vocals, whereas these lyrics cannot be escaped.
So given this yardstick, maybe RP can throw some Partridge Family music into the mix ... to help prop up that time and place sentimentality stuff -- the Partridge Family are just so much more fun and cheerful, and times were so much better then. The problem for me is that this cut always has and always will suck, Don Henley's voice has always been shrill and whiny, unsurprisingly not unlike most of Tom Petty's contemporaneous work, and unsurprisingly again, they have long been staples in the Dinosaur Rock's Top 40 rotation. God help us overcome this.... Leave them in the commercial radio bin, please.
A new addition to my very small list of sub-5's, and to think of all those snarky comments about Dengue Fever and the screechy vocals; at least with DF I cannot understand the vocals, whereas these lyrics cannot be escaped.
If the Partridge Family floats your boat, then maybe you should upload a few of their songs. You seem to know their catalog...
As far as your "in-depth" analysis that this cut "always has and always will suck" Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
ppopp wrote:
You might be on to something here ... but maybe it's not a trick at all, maybe he is completing the Ying with his Yang, sharing his No that compliments his so, so many Yeses. That's it!! RP is sending us a secret message, "That we should all love all the other really cool stuff on RP because we clearly can't love this."
There can be no hot without an opposite cold....
Somebody please hand me that bong again.
Bill is just trying to **** with us by playing this middle-of-the-road nonsense. It's a bit like how we know and trust our own minds, but every once in a while it'll **** with us with a dodgy dream.
You might be on to something here ... but maybe it's not a trick at all, maybe he is completing the Ying with his Yang, sharing his No that compliments his so, so many Yeses. That's it!! RP is sending us a secret message, "That we should all love all the other really cool stuff on RP because we clearly can't love this."
There can be no hot without an opposite cold....
Somebody please hand me that bong again.
Bill is just trying to **** with us by playing this middle-of-the-road nonsense. It's a bit like how we know and trust our own minds, but every once in a while it'll **** with us with a dodgy dream.
LPCity wrote:
So given this yardstick, maybe RP can throw some Partridge Family music into the mix ... to help prop up that time and place sentimentality stuff -- the Partridge Family are just so much more fun and cheerful, and times were so much better then. The problem for me is that this cut always has and always will suck, Don Henley's voice has always been shrill and whiny, unsurprisingly not unlike most of Tom Petty's contemporaneous work, and unsurprisingly again, they have long been staples in the Dinosaur Rock's Top 40 rotation. God help us overcome this.... Leave them in the commercial radio bin, please.
A new addition to my very small list of sub-5's, and to think of all those snarky comments about Dengue Fever and the screechy vocals; at least with DF I cannot understand the vocals, whereas these lyrics cannot be escaped.
I'm not surprised to see so many negative comments about this song. The Eagles and Don Henley have become an easy target for people to bitch about, helped in no small part by ... constant classic rock airplay.
All that aside, this is a good song and building the perfect beast was an excellent album, very much of it's time and place. Of course I was living in So. Cal. during that time so my point of view is obviously biased just a bit.
So given this yardstick, maybe RP can throw some Partridge Family music into the mix ... to help prop up that time and place sentimentality stuff -- the Partridge Family are just so much more fun and cheerful, and times were so much better then. The problem for me is that this cut always has and always will suck, Don Henley's voice has always been shrill and whiny, unsurprisingly not unlike most of Tom Petty's contemporaneous work, and unsurprisingly again, they have long been staples in the Dinosaur Rock's Top 40 rotation. God help us overcome this.... Leave them in the commercial radio bin, please.
A new addition to my very small list of sub-5's, and to think of all those snarky comments about Dengue Fever and the screechy vocals; at least with DF I cannot understand the vocals, whereas these lyrics cannot be escaped.
BobLoblaw wrote:
The following year 1990, Nixon recorded a solo album on Enigma called Otis. On this album Nixon continued his assault on pop culture, most notably in the song "Don Henley Must Die." Several years after its release, Henley jumped onstage with Nixon at The Hole in the Wall in Austin, Texas, to perform a new version of the song called "Rick Astley Must Die." When Henley jumped out of the crowd, the dumbfounded Nixon immediately asked, "Is Debbie Gibson here too?" Nixon later praised Henley in this way: "He has balls the size of church bells!"
This song reminds me of why Mojo Nixon wrote the song "Don Henley Must Die".
The following year 1990, Nixon recorded a solo album on Enigma called Otis. On this album Nixon continued his assault on pop culture, most notably in the song "Don Henley Must Die." Several years after its release, Henley jumped onstage with Nixon at The Hole in the Wall in Austin, Texas, to perform a new version of the song called "Rick Astley Must Die." When Henley jumped out of the crowd, the dumbfounded Nixon immediately asked, "Is Debbie Gibson here too?" Nixon later praised Henley in this way: "He has balls the size of church bells!"
I like this...NHMick wrote:
I remember when this song came out, I was working my first job in the kitchen of a pizza restaurant and asked one of the waitresses out on a date (my first date - yikes! I was 15). So I always associate this song with a bit of teen dating anxiety, the clatter of pots and Spanish chatter of my co-workers, and the comingled smells of salad dressing, marinara sauce and over-risen pizza dough.
I remember when this song came out, I was working my first job in the kitchen of a pizza restaurant and asked one of the waitresses out on a date (my first date - yikes! I was 15). So I always associate this song with a bit of teen dating anxiety, the clatter of pots and Spanish chatter of my co-workers, and the comingled smells of salad dressing, marinara sauce and over-risen pizza dough.
I'm not surprised to see so many negative comments about this song. The Eagles and Don Henley have become an easy target for people to bitch about, helped in no small part by the Big Lebowski and constant classic rock airplay.
All that aside, this is a good song and building the perfect beast was an excellent album, very much of it's time and place. Of course I was living in So. Cal. during that time so my point of view is obviously biased just a bit.
This song reminds me of why Mojo Nixon wrote the song "Don Henley Must Die".
Yachts, suntans, smiles and BLOCK ISLAND!! Those were great days and lots of great boys of summer 
woah, never thought i;d hear this on RP (so Top 40!) ...but that's what makes Bill's place so amazing to hang out with.
and I admit to singing along! :)
and I admit to singing along! :)
One good line in the song - "Out on the road today, I saw a DEADHEAD sticker on a Cadillac!"
This song still takes me back to the Hermosa Strand on my bike, Walkman on, beautiful days on the beach
This song has been played to death on classic rock stations around my parts. I still love it every time it comes on.
I wonder if he just means he did this FM pop hit?
Seems like a reasonable guess to me