On November 19, 1984, “Geffen” label released “Building the Perfect Beast”, the second Don Henley studio album. It was recorded 1983 – 1984, at “Record One”, “Bill Schnee Studio”, “The Villa” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Greg Ladanyi and Mike Campbell.
Personnel:
- Don Henley – lead and harmony vocals, chant voices, drums, percussion, keyboards, synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements, art direction
- Lindsey Buckingham – guitar, harmony vocals
- Charlie Sexton – guitar
- Danny Kortchmar – synthesizers, organ, guitar, horns, omnichord, percussion, guitar synthesizer solo, horn solo, synthesizer arrangements, keyboards, arrangements
- Mike Campbell – synthesizers, guitar, percussion
- Steve Porcaro – synthesizers, programming
- Benmont Tench – keyboards, acoustic piano, synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements
- David Paich – acoustic piano, synthesizers , synthesizer arrangements
- Michael Boddicker – programming, sequencing, synthesizers, E-mu Emulator, synthesizer arrangements
- Albhy Galuten – synclavier
- Randy Newman – synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements
- Bill Cuomo – synthesizers, programming, percussion
- Larry Klein – bass
- Pino Palladino – bass
- Tim Drummond – bass
- Ian Wallace – drums
- Kevin McCormick – African drums
- Jim Keltner – additional drums
- Maren Jensen – intro and interlude composer
- Jerry Hey – horn arrangements
- Belinda Carlisle – harmony vocals
- Sam Moore – harmony vocals
- Martha Davis – chant voices, harmony vocals
- Michael O’Donahue – chant voices
- Carla Olson – chant voices
- Patty Smyth – chant voices, harmony vocals
- J. D. Souther – chant voices
- Waddy Wachtel – chant voices
- Marie-Pascale Elfman – the French Girls ensemble
- Dominique Mancinelli – the French Girls ensemble
- Niko Bolas – recording, mixing
- Greg Ladanyi – recording, mixing
- Richard Bosworth, Tom Knox.- additional engineer
- Richard Bosworth, Dan Garcia, David Schober, Duane Seykora – engineer assistant
- Allen Sides – horns recording
- Mark Ettel – horns recording assistant
- Mike Reese, Doug Sax – mastering
- Jeri McManus –graphic coordinator, art direction
- DiMaren Jensen – art direction.
- Herb Ritts – photography
Track listing:
- The Boys of Summer – Don Henley, Mike Campbell
- You Can’t Make Love – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar
- Man With a Mission – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, J.D. Souther
- You’re Not Drinking Enough – Danny Kortchmar
- Not Enough Love in the World – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Benmont Tench
- Building the Perfect Beast – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar
- All She Wants to Do Is Dance – Danny Kortchmar
- Sunset Girl – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Benmont Tench
- Drivin’ with Your Eyes Closed – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Stan Lynch
- Land of Living – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar