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Posted On: September 24th 2026, 05:30 pm
Artist – Don Henley
Album – The End of the Innocence
Year – 1989
Geffen Records – GHS 24217
When I look back on my life, there’s a bunch of songs that stuck with me because I remember my mother playing them. We have previously discussed “In My Life” by The Beatles and the “Faith” album by George Michael. “Heart of the Matter” fits that bill.
Up until I was in my mid-20s, I’m not sure that I heard another song on this album, but “Heart of the Matter” was easily one of my all-time favorite songs by that point. I didn’t know he was a former member of “The Eagles” (the band, not the Football team), I had no idea that he was a drummer, and other than “The Boys of Summer” which was hammered into my head every summer by Major League Baseball (it has absolutely nothing to do with baseball), I don’t think I could have told you a single thing additional bit of information about him.
Maybe that’s one of the reasons I do this. It’s obviously self-serving as I love introducing you to music. I also love showing off my record collection, that goes without saying. Maybe I love doing this with you because I know how much I loved those songs my mom turned me on to.
During that same era I got into Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel, I bought “Building the Perfect Beast” and “The End of the Innocence” by Don Henley. To this day, I don’t particularly care for “Building the Perfect Beast,” but this album? There something intoxicating about it.
From the moment the first note was struck on the title track, to the conclusion of “Heart of the Matter,” Henley perfectly encapsulated the transition from being an innocent child to being a grown man with responsibility and people depending on you.
He weaved through cynicism and heartbreak, through optimism and romance, through expediency and patience, while never breaking the thread that tied it all together. The desire to push through isn’t lost when the mood is somber, and sobriety isn’t abandoned when you’re confronted with the highs that the album has to offer.
“What are these voices, outside love’s open door that make throw off our contentment and beg for something more?” – Don Henley
Album – The End of the Innocence
Year – 1989
Geffen Records – GHS 24217
When I look back on my life, there’s a bunch of songs that stuck with me because I remember my mother playing them. We have previously discussed “In My Life” by The Beatles and the “Faith” album by George Michael. “Heart of the Matter” fits that bill.
Up until I was in my mid-20s, I’m not sure that I heard another song on this album, but “Heart of the Matter” was easily one of my all-time favorite songs by that point. I didn’t know he was a former member of “The Eagles” (the band, not the Football team), I had no idea that he was a drummer, and other than “The Boys of Summer” which was hammered into my head every summer by Major League Baseball (it has absolutely nothing to do with baseball), I don’t think I could have told you a single thing additional bit of information about him.
Maybe that’s one of the reasons I do this. It’s obviously self-serving as I love introducing you to music. I also love showing off my record collection, that goes without saying. Maybe I love doing this with you because I know how much I loved those songs my mom turned me on to.
During that same era I got into Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel, I bought “Building the Perfect Beast” and “The End of the Innocence” by Don Henley. To this day, I don’t particularly care for “Building the Perfect Beast,” but this album? There something intoxicating about it.
From the moment the first note was struck on the title track, to the conclusion of “Heart of the Matter,” Henley perfectly encapsulated the transition from being an innocent child to being a grown man with responsibility and people depending on you.
He weaved through cynicism and heartbreak, through optimism and romance, through expediency and patience, while never breaking the thread that tied it all together. The desire to push through isn’t lost when the mood is somber, and sobriety isn’t abandoned when you’re confronted with the highs that the album has to offer.
“What are these voices, outside love’s open door that make throw off our contentment and beg for something more?” – Don Henley
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