Don Henley has a voice as smooth as butter, and he doesn’t get his flowers nearly enough. Both as a solo artist and as a member of Eagles, Henley’s vocal prowess has made countless songs even better. Let’s look at just a few examples that prove Don Henley has a voice unlike any other!
1. “The Boys Of Summer” (Don Henley)
This solo track from 1984 is one of Don Henley’s finest, and his vocal performance is on another level. “The Boys Of Summer” was released as the lead single from Building The Perfect Beast, and it made it to no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year.
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We’re not surprised this song charted so high. Between Henley’s passionate vocals and the guitar and synth stylings of Mike Campbell (of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers), this song is quite a gem.
2. “Dirty Laundry” (Don Henley)
Another Don Henley solo classic, “Dirty Laundry” proves that Henley has a voice that just can’t be matched. This 1982 song is a standout from his solo debut, and the lyricism of the track is as enticing as Henley’s vocal track.
“Dirty Laundry” explores the mass media boom of the 1980s and sensationalism in news reporting. Joe Walsh contributes the guitar solo at the beginning of the song, too.
3. “Life In The Fast Lane” (Eagles)
“Life In The Fast Lane” is a definitive Eagles song from the legendary 1977 album Hotel California. It peaked at no. 11 on the Hot 100, in part because of Henley’s stunning vocals.
Henley’s voice is distorted just slightly on this song, and the way he holds that iconic note proves he’s got a lung capacity that could rival other classic rock greats.
4. “Desperado” (Eagles)
Another Eagles classic, Don Henley’s voice on the 1973 single “Desperado” is incredible. What’s also incredible is that he only had five takes to record what would be the final vocal track for the song, and you wouldn’t have guessed it. Henley doesn’t sound rushed or pressured. Few can capture the spirit of the Wild West quite like he can with just his voice alone.
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