Tag Archives: Bill Schnee Studio

Don Henley: Building The Perfect Beast

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:

  1. The Boys of Summer – Don Henley, Mike Campbell
  2. You Can’t Make Love – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar
  3. Man With a Mission – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, J.D. Souther
  4. You’re Not Drinking Enough – Danny Kortchmar
  5. Not Enough Love in the World – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Benmont Tench
  6. Building the Perfect Beast – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar
  7. All She Wants to Do Is Dance – Danny Kortchmar
  8. Sunset Girl – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Benmont Tench
  9. Drivin’ with Your Eyes Closed – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Stan Lynch
  10. Land of Living – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar