Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits

Don Henley

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 1995)
• Original Release Date: November 20, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000000OUU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,323 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Rock > Singer-Songwriters

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Just as Don Henley's work with the Eagles in the 1970s chronicled a culture that was rapidly spinning out of control, his '80s output cataloged and criticized a decade of greed, cruelty, and prurient interest in the misfortune of others. But this is music, not journalism, and despite the overt seriousness of such songs as "Dirty Laundry," "All She Wants to Do Is Dance," "The Boys of Summer," and especially the somber, elegiac "The End of the Innocence," Henley's field reports were tuneful in the extreme. The two new tracks on Actual Miles--"The Garden of Allah" and "You Don't Know Me at All"--didn't quite click, but otherwise this greatest-hits package couldn't be more solid. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic hits collection, April 28, 2002

By	Brad (CT) - See all my reviews

I am a big fan of Don Henley with and without the Eagles, and while his social commentaries do get a bit tiresome at times, there is no denying the quality of the music, which is the bottom line for me. From the opening biting social commentary of "Dirty Laundry" to the closing unlisted track "Everybody Knows", most of these tracks are stellar.

"The Boys Of Summer" and "The End Of The Innocence" are two of Don's biggest and best hits that are of course included here. In fact, every top 40 Don solo song that is not a part of a duet is here. In addition, none of the three new tracks are really ballads--interesting since Don has had so many great slower hits.

I take exception to those who think "I Will Not Go Quietly" should not be here. That is a great hard-rocking track that rock radio played a lot of in the summer of 1989. To me, it helps to show the diversity that does in fact make up Don Henley's great solo music.

For sure, you can't go wrong if you are a fan of the Eagles and/or Don with this collection. While some of his hits are much better than others, this collection provides just what a greatest hits collection should provide--all the biggest hits along with some great album tracks and interesting new material. Definitely a recommended purchase.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite CDs, July 5, 2000

By	Elizabeth S. "elizh77" (High Point, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This collection, without a doubt, is one of my favorite CDs I own. It is always in my car- the CD cover has even begun to fade. I'm not exactly sure why certain songs such as "I Will Not Go Quietly" or "Not Enough Love In The World" are considered greatest hits, but I enjoy hearing them anyway. Of the three newer songs, "Garden of Allah" is far and away the best.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don's most memorable songs, April 2, 2000

By A Customer

Don Henley is one of my favorite male singers of all time, with or without the Eagles (which, behind Fleetwood Mac, is my favorite band), and a truly great songwriter, littering his lyrics with wit and wisdom. "The Boys of Summer" is my all-time favortie song of any genre... the sound is the perfect soundtrack for driving the California coast! And "The End of the Innocence" is so true... an absolutely gorgeous masterpiece that manages to include an important message. The collection only falters in that it nearly draws exclusively from 2 albums, with "Dirty Laundry" the sole representative from his first solo effort. In my opinion, "Johnny Can't Read" should have been inluded over "I Will Not Go Quietly". The "new" songs offer little new, and pale next to the classics. So... If you are just a casual fan, this collection will probably suit you and works well as an intro to Don's amazing talent. It leaves you craving more, however. Therefore I suggest buying the 3 proper CD's, which ususally are bargain priced anyway. Can't wait for the latest Don Henley release coming next month!